1) Magnificence of the golden past - Brief introduction to the great universities/mahaviharas of medieval Eastern India....Forgotten monuments of past... 
2)We take great pride in our ancient universities like Nalanda. But beyond that they are just the dark pages of our history for most people (courtesy to our schoolbooks). Present thread gives very brief look into that glorious past of ours.
Image: Seal of Nalanda University
Image: Seal of Nalanda University
1) Nalanda or "Sri Nalanda Mahavihariya Arya Bikshusamghasya" as the seal in previous image reads was unarguably one of the most celebrated of the universities of the Medieval India.
2) Ruins of monumental temples at Nalanda - Originally built in the Pancharatna style befit to the Mahavihara of the stature of Nalanda they would have looked as grand as surviving grand temples of present like Brihadeshwara/Puri.
3) These dormitories of Nalanda at one time housed ~3000 monks, students & teachers. Students came not only from India but from entire East & Central Asia, Tibet & beyond. Talented teachers were recruited from as far as Kashmir and Afghanistan...Truly a global university! 🙏
4)This copper plate charter from the Nalanda recording the donations from the king of Sumatra (Indonesia). IT gives further idea about the widespread popularity that Nalanda enjoyed once upon a time! Patronage came not only from Buddhist but also Hindu elites.
5) Its 3 multi storey libraries housed the books written not only on Buddhist theological subjects but secular subjects like Logic, Philosophy, Mathematics, Medicine and Grammar.
Read this thread for further info about those libraries of Nalanda
twitter.com/i/moments/8554…
Read this thread for further info about those libraries of Nalanda
twitter.com/i/moments/8554…
6) Its glorious history came to an abrupt end in 13th century with the Jihadi inavsion of Khilji. The last recorded lesson in history of Nalanda was on Sanskrit Grammar by an aged monk named Rahul Sribhadra & sponsored by a local Brahmin named Jayadeva....
7) Somapura Mahavihara. Known as "Shri Somapure Shri Dharmapaladeva Mahavihariya arya bhiksu sangghasya", it was originally established by King Dharmapala of Pala dynasty in 8th century. It was further patronized by subsequent Pala rulers of Bengal and Bihar.
8) Monumental nature of its central temple/stupa and entire campus is impressive. When fully functional and not in ruins it must have been an impressive sites to behold with!
Terracotta panels running through the platform of the temples gives a glimpse into the mind of a medieval ordinary artisans and day to day lives of the people
10)Spacious Living quarters surrounded the main temple/stupa and housed monks/students and teachers.
11) Graphical reconstruction of Somapura Mahavihara
12) Also compare it with Scenic temples of Bagan in neighbouring Myanmyar. They show strong influence of Pala-Sena architectural style from Eastern India.
Basically This is how Somapura and other Mahaviharas would have also looked like once upon a time...😍😔
Basically This is how Somapura and other Mahaviharas would have also looked like once upon a time...😍😔
13) Vikramshila Mahavihara - Named after the Pala king Dharmapala who bore an epithet of Vikramshila and established this Mahavihara.
Its institutional structure included Adhyaksha, 6 Dwarpanditas, Mahapandita, 108 Pandita, 160 Upadhyayas and >1000 Bhikshus/students
Its institutional structure included Adhyaksha, 6 Dwarpanditas, Mahapandita, 108 Pandita, 160 Upadhyayas and >1000 Bhikshus/students
14) Just Like Somapura, beautiful terracotta panels surrounded the entire platform of central stupa/temple of Vikramshila
15)Tibetan sources mention that during their last days, in anticipation of Jihadi invasion Vikramshila along with Odantpuri was heavily fortified by the military of Sena rulers. It none the less failed to stop the Jihadi onslaught & ultimate destruction of those Mahaviharas.
16) Vikramshila museum being visited by then President of India (along with future president of India)
Nothing is hidden. Defaced and mutilated sculptures recovered from Vikramshila are staring us in the eyes. But well when one wears the glasses of secularism....
Nothing is hidden. Defaced and mutilated sculptures recovered from Vikramshila are staring us in the eyes. But well when one wears the glasses of secularism....
17) Other two great universities Jagaddala & Odantapuri are still mostly buried beneath the earth and waiting archaeological excavations.
18) Togather these five great Mahaviharas/universities formed a circuit of educational institutes with high degree of coordination and state control and the far spread acclaim.
19) They were not only the great centers of education but also centers of art and culture. Intricately carved stone sculptures adorned their walls and Temple.
On side note: Look at the Pancharatna Stupa/Temple model of Mahavihara type on the last sculpture.
On side note: Look at the Pancharatna Stupa/Temple model of Mahavihara type on the last sculpture.
20) Their libraries were filled with beautifully painted hand written manuscripts written on diverse variety of subjects.
For eg this rare 1000 years old manuscript from Nalanda which managed to reach Tibet safely.
For eg this rare 1000 years old manuscript from Nalanda which managed to reach Tibet safely.
21) Beautiful bronze murtis were subject of devotion of studious yet pious monks...
22) Unfortunately all of these vanished in Jihadi invasions. But all was not lost. With the barbaric destruction of those Mahaviharas monks fled to the safe places like Nepal, Tibet and East India and along with it brought Buddhism, Indian art and culture to those regions.
23) For eg look at this 17th century bronze from China and Compare it with one from Bihar from previous tweet. Such striking resemblance even after >500 years!
Via Nepal & Tibet Pala art reached all the way to Chinese imperial courts even though it vanished in its homeland!
Via Nepal & Tibet Pala art reached all the way to Chinese imperial courts even though it vanished in its homeland!
Civilization had fallen but it soul remained alive!
Past can't be revived but lets at least remember that glorious past and strive to reach to the same heights of excellence in future. Lets these ruins be inspirations for us and may we achieve same excellence in education again!
Past can't be revived but lets at least remember that glorious past and strive to reach to the same heights of excellence in future. Lets these ruins be inspirations for us and may we achieve same excellence in education again!
