Transcription
Nalanda, this name you must have heard at some point or perhaps even read in your books. Nalanda, though a small name, has a very grand history, achievements, and position behind it. Today, there are countless international schools, colleges, and universities in the world, but the title of the world's first international university belongs to this very Nalanda. While today Indian children prefer to go abroad for higher education, there was a time when children from all over the world used to come to India, and right here in Nalanda, because it was one of the most renowned colleges in the world, it was called a center of excellence in its time. Built like a Buddhist monastery, this university was more than 500 years older than Oxford and the oldest considered university in Europe, Bologna University. The story of its existence dates back about 1500 years ago when it was known as a world-famous university in the Indian state of Bihar. Nalanda Mahavihara is also included among the world's earliest residential universities and holds its name among the world's great oldest universities. But alas, today we cannot see it in its physical form because today we only see its ruins before us. Earlier, children from all over the country and the world used to come here to study, and today there is no shortage of people from all over the country and the world coming to see its ruins. The ruins of Nalanda have been preserved in a museum, which bear witness to the time when Nalanda Mahavihara was at its peak of progress. Now the question is, what was there in Nalanda that made it so special, so famous, and so important? And what happened that Nalanda suddenly got lost somewhere in India? How did Nalanda decline? Who was responsible for it? What gift did Nalanda give to India, and what did we lose with the fall of Nalanda? All this and much more related to Nalanda University, we will learn in today's documentary, which is named Nalanda University, and you are watching Infinity Small TV. So, let's begin this journey of Nalanda University so that we can learn about this great and invaluable heritage of India. Nalanda Mahavihara, meaning Nalanda University, holds its place in Indian history as a famous ancient center of learning. It has its own historical significance, and after all, it is one of the oldest universities in the world. Spread over approximately 14 hectares, this Nalanda University remained the largest center of education worldwide for about 700 years after its establishment. Built on the Mahavihara system, this university was like a residential complex where students lived and learned Buddhist teachings and philosophy. Do you know how special the name Nalanda is? We will know this by understanding its meaning, because the word Nalanda is made up of three Sanskrit words: Na, Alam, and Da, which means an unstoppable flow of knowledge, meaning a flow of knowledge that never stops. Similarly, the word Mahavihara is also quite special in itself, because 'Maha' means grand, and 'Vihara' here means monastery, meaning a monastery of monks. Thus, Nalanda Mahavihara was a grand residential institution for Buddhist monastic scholars, which continued to fill those who sought knowledge with wisdom. Nalanda University, whose full name was Nalanda Mahavihara, was one of the three major learning centers established in India between the 4th and 9th centuries. These three learning centers, or universities, were Taxila, Vikramshila, and Nalanda. Among these, Taxila came into existence first, and today it is located in Pakistan. Chanakya, the world-famous economist and politician, used to be a teacher at this university. Like him, Panini is also a name who was a teacher at this university. Panini was a great scholar of Sanskrit grammar. Following the Gurukul system, this university imparted education in Vedic literature, Vedangas, and Upanishads. Similarly, Vikramshila University, located in the Bhagalpur district of the Indian state of Bihar, was also a prestigious university. It was established in the 8th century by King Dharmapala. Not only from India but also from abroad, students used to come here for education. This was also a Buddhist monastery. And now, if we talk about Nalanda, this vast Buddhist monastery located in the Magadha empire, about 95 kilometers southeast of Patna, near the city of Bihar Sharif, is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site today. It remained a center of education from the 5th century CE to the 12th century CE. It is believed that Buddha visited here many times, which is why Nalanda was also known as a center of Buddhist education during this period. During the Gupta Empire, in the 5th century CE, Nalanda Mahavihara flourished. It was built by the Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I to make it a center of knowledge where scholars from all over the world would be drawn. The Gupta period proved to be a golden era for Nalanda. During this period, India achieved many accomplishments in the fields of art, science, and literature, and Nalanda, which had become a center of knowledge, was also a part of all these achievements. The Gupta period is called the Golden Age for India. For this very reason, during this period, progress was seen in the fields of education and knowledge throughout India, including Nalanda. During the Gupta period, this Mahavihara saw significant growth in infrastructure and resources. Many buildings, libraries, lecture halls, and quarters for teachers and students were built on its campus. The reason for all this was to provide all comforts and facilities to those seeking education and to increase their numbers so that knowledge could be expanded and this Mahavihara of India could spread its fame of knowledge all over the world. The Gupta king Ashoka also did a lot for the development of this Mahavihara. He built many monasteries, viharas, and temples in Nalanda. This university, which came into existence during the Gupta period, flourished greatly, expanded considerably, and established its name as a great center of knowledge. Later, in the 7th century, King Harshavardhana of Kannauj also emphasized further improving this university. During King Harshavardhana's reign, Nalanda expanded and developed even more. After him, the Pal dynasty not only expanded the buildings, temples, and monasteries of Nalanda but also understood the importance of promoting this university. They made efforts to attract scholars and students from different parts of Asia in larger numbers to come here and receive education. Their efforts established the Mahavihara as a great center of knowledge and education in ancient India. But this flag of knowledge could not fly forever. Today, we cannot see that great Nalanda Mahavihara. It is not possible for us to see that university growing rapidly because today only its ruins remain of that center of knowledge, Nalanda, which show that Nalanda must have been a vast, grand, and developed center of education, but what kind of university it was, how many students and teachers lived there, what subjects were taught there, and which scholars were associated with that Mahavihara, we would never have known all this if Xuanzang had not been there. Xuanzang was a Chinese Buddhist monk of the 7th century, but not only that, he was also a scholar, traveler, and translator. The desire for knowledge brought Xuanzang to India, where he stayed in Nalanda and received education. He wrote extensively about Nalanda University in his Chinese travelogue. Today, based on this travelogue, we Indians have come to know what kind of university Nalanda was in its time. The title of his travelogue was "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions." Also, in his book "Si Yu Ki," he described the education system of India. After him, another Chinese traveler, Yijing, also came to India and received education in Nalanda. After leaving here, Yijing also wrote extensively about the life of monks in Nalanda. Based on these, today we know that Nalanda University, established in the Magadha empire in Bihar during the Gupta period, flourished during the time of Kumaragupta, King Harsha of Kannauj, and later the Pal Empire. This university had about 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. Nalanda was an architectural masterpiece. It was entirely built of shining red bricks. Its walls were high, and there was a grand gate for entry. Its compound had many temples, stupas, classrooms, and meditation halls. Statues of Lord Buddha were installed in the temples. There were also many lakes and gardens in this compound. The campus of Nalanda University was surrounded by prayer rooms and lecture halls and was quite open. Its gardens were very beautiful. From the outside, it looked like a fort. Its vast campus was divided into eight separate compounds. There were open-air classrooms and wells as sources of water. Besides the eight compounds, there were community kitchens, storage areas, temples, stupas, and memorials of those students and teachers who died while living there. In a classroom, more than 30 students could sit, and a raised platform was built at one end for the teacher, or 'acharya,' to sit. For students' accommodation, each student received a small square room with a window and a door. The walls of these rooms were so thick that they provided natural cooling in intense heat and kept the room warm in intense cold. It had about 300 rooms. Nalanda had many departments or schools, just like a university has today, such as the School of Historical Studies, School of Ecology and Environment Studies, School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy, and Comparative Religions. In the education of philosophy and religion, this university had a long-lasting influence on the culture of Asia. For students, living and eating in this campus was free, but to live and receive education here, they had to prove their own merit, which was not easy because the standard of teaching at Nalanda was very high, and it was necessary to clear an entrance test to receive education in this Mahavihara, just like it is today. You might be surprised to know that entrance tests were held in India centuries ago, and only those students who passed these examinations could stay and study in Nalanda. According to Xuanzang, the first entrance test for a student was taken by the gatekeeper of Nalanda himself, as he was a scholar who tested the knowledge level of students seeking admission to Nalanda, and only those students who passed his test could participate in the further process. During his conversation, Xuanzang experienced that I consider myself a scholar, but the knowledge of the gatekeeper of this Mahavihara is far greater than mine. Xuanzang was greatly impressed by this and his desire to gain knowledge in Nalanda became even stronger. Based on his knowledge, he also got this opportunity because he had passed the entrance test. Passed students also appeared for interviews before the university professors, and those who succeeded in these interviews got the opportunity to study under learned gurus from all corners of India. Not only were the entrance tests at Nalanda tough, but its examination system was also very strict. Students had to clear tests and exams to move to higher levels, just like today one has to pass exams to move from one class to another, it was the same back then. Now, it is difficult to say whether the exams were tougher then or today. These exams tested the students' mastery of their subjects. These tests revealed the students' understanding and reasoning abilities. By following such a tough process and moving to the next level of class, students became experts in their subjects, and when such learned students from Nalanda spread knowledge to every corner of the world, Nalanda's reputation grew even more. Even more students were ready to try their luck to study in Nalanda, hoping to get admission and become a part of this Mahavihara. The teaching method of the acharyas here was also very effective, or rather, the teaching method was very effective. There was one teacher for every seven students, so that the teacher could pay full attention to each student. They considered it their duty to solve every student's problem and help them progress. Not only bookish knowledge was imparted here, but emphasis was placed on the students' understanding. That is why lectures, debates, and discussions were very common in Nalanda's classrooms. This was the teaching method to enhance students' critical thinking. Here, teachers taught keeping in mind each student's learning abilities and needs. Nagarjuna, a renowned Buddhist philosopher, and Aryadeva, who wrote on Buddhist philosophy and expanded Nagarjuna's teachings, were both great scholars of Nalanda. Besides them, Shantideva, Dharmakirti, and Vasubandhu were also great scholars who made significant contributions to the advancement of Buddhist thought, logic, and knowledge. Although in Nalanda, in-depth knowledge was imparted on every subject, the achievements in mathematics and astronomy were considered the most special because Aryabhata, the father of Indian mathematics, was the head of this university. It is believed that he was the one who gave recognition to zero as a number, and we all know today that without zero, we wouldn't even have computers. In its early days, Nalanda University focused only on Buddhist education. At that time, its curriculum included subjects like Buddhist scriptures, philosophy, and logic. To propagate Buddhist education and philosophy, this university regularly sent its best scholars and professors to places like China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. This helped Buddhism spread and establish itself rapidly throughout Asia. However, later, the scope of education here began to expand, and along with Buddhist teachings, non-Buddhist teachings were also included in Nalanda's curriculum. In this way, instead of just imparting religious education, knowledge of many subjects like architecture, medicine, grammar, and mathematics was given. This university became so famous outside India that students not only came from every corner of India but also from many countries like China, Tibet, Korea, Japan, Persia, Turkey, and Indonesia. Its curriculum and education system were so innovative that students had the opportunity to study many subjects. They chose subjects of their interest based on their interests and abilities and gained in-depth knowledge in them. Knowing all this, your heart must also be filled with joy that India was so advanced in education at that time, so advanced that scholars from all over the world wanted to come here. They considered it their good fortune to study in Nalanda. Do you know one of the main reasons for this? The library here, yes, the library, which is present in every university, but Nalanda's library was the greatest, the largest, and the richest. How? Let's find out. The library of Nalanda Mahavihara was filled with educational books, scholars' notes, and curriculum books. The name of this library was Dharmagunj, which means Mountain of Knowledge, or Mountain of Truth. This Dharmagunj was a nine-story building and had three parts: Ratna Ranjak, Ratno Dadhi, and Ratna Sagar. More than nine lakh books, filled with great texts, Upanishads, and profound knowledge, adorned these buildings, and this library was the pride of Nalanda. The university, which gained expansion and prestige, faced many attacks. Several times, this temple of knowledge was devastated and destroyed. Sometimes the reason was political, sometimes loot, and sometimes personal enmity. However, Nalanda faced three attacks. The first attack was by the Huns between 455 AD and 470 AD. When Samudragupta was the ruler of the Gupta Empire, the Huns attacked Nalanda. The Huns were a Central Asian tribal group. There is no specific reason known for their attack, except that they only wanted to steal valuable items kept in this university. So, this attack was not very serious, and it was not difficult for Nalanda to recover from it. Later, King Skandagupta compensated for the damage caused to Nalanda and also made some improvements to the campus and buildings of Nalanda. This was the time when the world-famous library, Dharmagunj, was established in Nalanda, and with it, Nalanda's glory increased even more than before. But then Nalanda faced a second attack. This attack was by the Gauda dynasty in the early 7th century. The king of Bengal attacked. At that time, King Harshavardhana of Kannauj was in power, and there was a dispute between King Harshavardhana and King Gauda. Due to this, Gauda attacked Nalanda, considered the pride of Harshavardhana's empire, and caused damage. Fortunately, this attack was also not very fatal, and after enduring it, Nalanda stood up again. As a beacon of knowledge, King Harshavardhana rebuilt this university, and the process of knowledge sharing continued in Nalanda. This process could have continued until today if Nalanda had not faced the third and most fatal attack. The end of the 12th century brought the end of Nalanda. The year was 1193 AD when the attack by Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed everything. That one attack caused such devastation that Nalanda could not recover, nor could it be rebuilt, nor could it preserve its existence. According to historians, Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji was the first Muslim ruler to conquer Bihar. Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turkic tribe from southern Afghanistan, was a cruel invader who wanted to seize everything, wanted his empire everywhere, and took control of every area in his path. But Nalanda was not an empire, so how did it become a victim of Khilji's cruelty? To tell the truth, Nalanda's teaching of helping others and its spirit of cooperation posed a threat to Nalanda's existence. Now, while using one's knowledge in the right place and in the right way is a superior quality, it proved to be the opposite for Nalanda. In fact, the regrettable story of Nalanda's existence being lost begins from where the cruel and selfish Khilji's health deteriorated. Despite the medicine of every hakim, there was no improvement in his health, and it continued to decline rapidly. At such a time, the worried Khilji was told that Rahul Shri Bhadra, the head of the Ayurveda department of Nalanda Mahavihara, could treat his illness. Hearing this, Khilji became enraged because he could not accept treatment from any non-Muslim. But as his condition worsened, he had to agree to meet Rahul Shri Bhadra and get treated. When Rahul Shri Bhadra came to treat Khilji, Khilji put a condition before him. He said, "Treat me without any medicine, and if you cannot do so, I will kill you." Also, it will be proven that no one has more knowledge than my hakim. Rahul Shri Bhadra accepted this condition. He was a great Ayurveda expert. He immediately found a solution to this condition and gave Khilji the Quran to read daily. He told Khilji that he had to read the Quran regularly, and he would soon recover. Hearing this, Khilji was greatly surprised, but for treatment, he started doing so. Soon, Khilji's health improved, and he recovered quickly. Hearing this, Khilji became restless, thinking how he was cured without medicine, and when he learned the truth, he was shocked. In fact, Rahul Shri Bhadra had applied medicine to the pages of the Quran, and when Khilji regularly read the Quran, he would lick his fingers to turn the pages. By doing so, the medicine entered his mouth, which benefited his health. While an ordinary person would feel gratitude, praise the knowledge of Ayurveda, and be happy after recovering, the cruel Khilji lost his temper. He had completely recovered, but he could not tolerate that Ayurveda had such power to cure a dying person and that the treatment of his hakims was far inferior to Ayurveda. This feeling took root in him, and he became consumed by hatred, jealousy, and inferiority complex. He decided that he would completely destroy this knowledge, and this thought caused havoc in Nalanda. He learned that the library was the source of knowledge for the learned acharyas of Nalanda. At that very moment, he decided to destroy it and entered Nalanda with his army. He spared no one. He killed all the students and teachers living there. His army continued to eliminate anyone who came before them. People were burned alive. There was no mercy, no remorse, only the intention to destroy Nalanda's knowledge. Whether it was with the acharyas and students or in the Nalanda library, he wanted to destroy everything. His inferiority complex destroyed everything. The Nalanda library, known as the treasure of knowledge, was burned. More than 3 lakh books began to burn. A sun of Indian knowledge set. Nalanda, one of India's oldest universities, ceased to exist. Its library burned for about three months and turned to ashes, the treasure of knowledge. The cause of this destruction was only inferiority complex. If only this had not happened, if only Nalanda's existence had remained intact. Well, the Persian historian Minhaj-i-Siraj wrote in his book "Tabaqat-i-Nasiri" how thousands of Buddhist monks were killed to eradicate Buddhism and establish Islam. Amidst the scene of death in that difficult time, Xuanzang acted with his wisdom and tried to preserve Nalanda's invaluable heritage. He succeeded in saving some of Nalanda's burning books and, escaping the eyes of Khilji's army, took several Sanskrit books with him to his country, China. There, he wrote his travelogue and described everything related to Nalanda in detail. Xuanzang succeeded in taking about 700 books with him. He also translated some of them, and thus, even if only a small part of Nalanda's knowledge, we got it back. Thank you, Xuanzang. Besides Nalanda, Vikramshila University had also become a major learning center at that time, so Bakhtiyar Khilji also burned it to ashes. Alas, after the devastation that Nalanda Mahavihara witnessed, it got lost in history. Everyone forgot it. A long period passed, during which Nalanda remained in the abyss of anonymity. But in the year 1812, when the Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan Hamilton found clues of Nalanda Mahavihara underground, and after that, in 1861, Sir Alexander Cunningham identified these ruins as the ancient Nalanda University, Nalanda was mentioned again. Excavations were done, and what we see today are the ruins of Nalanda University spread over 5 lakh square feet, which were unearthed during the excavation. It is believed that this is only 10% of the university. Much more exploration and excavation are yet to be done. If you look closely at these ruins, you will still see marks of fire damage on many walls. But they say that no one can destroy knowledge. Knowledge has its own voice, its own language, which may be suppressed for some time, but cannot be silenced forever. This is what happened with Nalanda as well. The lost Nalanda was recognized again, appreciated, and preserved. In the past few years, efforts to rebuild this ancient Mahavihara have intensified. In 2009, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2014, the New Nalanda University was completed, which took the knowledge of ancient Nalanda as its basis and, with the help of modern advancements, gave India a new center of knowledge. This new Nalanda University, based on the historical legacy of the original Nalanda Mahavihara, has the potential to grow as a learning and research center. Built on about 450 acres of land in the Rajgir hills of Bihar, this new Nalanda is located a short distance from the ruins of ancient Nalanda. This is indeed a commendable effort to preserve India's heritage of knowledge, and India's knowledge has always been admired by the whole world. The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama himself once said that whatever Buddhist knowledge we have received has all come from Nalanda. So, shouldn't we be proud of our country's glory? Shouldn't we consider our knowledge superior? And shouldn't we play our role in respecting and spreading it? Think about it, and with this, this documentary on Nalanda University concludes here. What are your views on this? What do you say? Please give us your love and support. We will meet soon with more such documentaries. Until then, keep exploring Infinity Small TV. So, Ruby will say, for now, thank you.