Imagine… there was no internet, no modern buildings, no technology. Still, there was such a grand university on the soil of India, where students from every corner of the world came to gain knowledge. Nalanda, situated on the sacred land of Bihar, is such an education center which gave India the recognition of “Vishwa Guru”. Nalanda University is believed to have been established in the Gupta period, around the 5th century. It is said that it was established during the time of Kumargupta I. At that time, India was considered the world leader in the field of education, culture and knowledge. Nalanda was a symbol of that pride.
Today, thousands of students study in big universities, in India only in the 5th century, such a huge university existed, where more than 10 thousand students used to get education simultaneously. This was not an ordinary educational institution, but a center of knowledge famous all over the world.
When 10 thousand students learned together
About 10,000 students and more than 1,500 acharyas used to study and teach together in Nalanda. Imagine that scene of students discussing knowledge in the long streets, gurus and disciples debating on the scriptures sitting under the shade of trees. Apart from India, students came here from countries like China, Tibet, Korea, Japan and Indonesia. The famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang studied here for many years and passionately described the grandeur and discipline of Nalanda in his writings. He wrote that the Acharya here was not only a scholar but was also a person of good character and disciplined.
What was taught?
Along with Buddhism, many subjects like Vedas, grammar, logic, mathematics, astronomy, Ayurveda, philosophy and literature were taught in Nalanda. The aim of education here was not just to get a degree, but to make the human being better and aware. Students were also taught moral values, discipline and social service.
The huge library was the biggest identity
The library of Nalanda was counted among the largest libraries in the world at that time. It is said that millions of manuscripts and books were present in it. This library was spread over several floors and was considered a treasure of knowledge.
The legacy is still alive
Today the ruins of Nalanda are present in Bihar, which tell the story of its greatness. This site is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In recent years, Nalanda University has been re-established here in a new form, so that the education tradition of ancient India can be revived. In the 12th century, the invader Bakhtiyar Khilji attacked Nalanda. The university was set on fire. It is said that the fire in the library continued to burn for several months. It was not just the burning of a building, but the destruction of centuries of knowledge, research and culture. That day India lost a precious chapter of its history.
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