Nalanda

Nalanda, Bihār State, India, an ancient seat of learning, probably founded in the 5th century AD. It flourished until the 12th century and at its height had 2000 teachers and 10,000 students. Teachings included the study of the Buddhist scriptures of both the Mahayana and Theravada schools, the Vedas, philosophy, mathematics, logic, theology, and medicine. Attendance was free, since the university was supported by revenue and food donations collected from local villages.

It is known that the Gupta emperor Kumaragupta (ruled about 415?-445) established a college of fine arts at Nalanda and that Xuanzang (also spelled Hsuan Tsang), the Chinese chronicler, was first a student and then a teacher here during the 7th century. Nalanda was at the height of its splendor during the reign of Harsha of Kanauj (ruled 606-647) and continued to flourish into medieval times. The facility was totally destroyed by invading Turks during the 12th century, effectively ending the tradition of Buddhist learning in India.

The site now lies in ruins, but excavation work has revealed a complex of lecture halls, dormitories, gardens, and many stupas, in addition to stone images of the Buddha. Many of the finds, including Buddhist and Hindu bronzes of the Gupta, post-Gupta, and Pala periods, are displayed in the Nalanda Museum. An international center for Buddhist studies was established in Nalanda in 1951.