Nalanda University, once a beacon of ancient Indian learning and Buddhist scholarship, stood as one of the greatest educational institutions in the world during its time. Founded in the 5th century CE in the Magadha region of present-day Bihar, India, Nalanda attracted scholars from across Asia, including China, Tibet, Korea, and Southeast Asia. With a rich collection of manuscripts and a vast curriculum ranging from Buddhist philosophy to science, mathematics, and medicine, Nalanda symbolized intellectual excellence. However, its destruction marked a significant cultural and educational loss. Understanding who destroyed Nalanda University, and the historical context behind its fall, reveals much about the region’s turbulent past.
Origins and Rise of Nalanda University
Early Foundation
Nalanda was established during the Gupta Empire, most likely under the patronage of Emperor Kumaragupta I around the 5th century CE. It evolved into a major center of learning for both Mahayana Buddhism and secular subjects.
Golden Age of Education
At its peak, Nalanda University housed over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The university had a well-organized residential campus with libraries, lecture halls, dormitories, and temples. The Chinese scholar Xuanzang visited Nalanda in the 7th century and described it as a vibrant center of knowledge. He studied there for years and documented the academic rigor and spiritual discussions that characterized its atmosphere.
Who Destroyed Nalanda University?
The Invader: Bakhtiyar Khilji
The widely accepted historical account attributes the destruction of Nalanda University to Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turkic military general of the Ghurid Empire. Around 1193 CE, Khilji led an expedition into Bihar, targeting the strongholds of Buddhist learning and culture. During this campaign, he attacked and set fire to Nalanda, reducing its massive libraries to ashes and massacring its scholars and monks.
Reasons for the Attack
There are several theories about why Khilji attacked Nalanda:
- Strategic expansion: Khilji was expanding the Ghurid Empire’s reach into eastern India and wanted to eliminate centers of resistance or potential opposition.
- Religious motivations: Some historians argue that Khilji saw Buddhist institutions as heretical or non-Islamic and sought to destroy them as a form of religious conquest.
- Ignorance of cultural value: Another perspective suggests Khilji may have been unaware of Nalanda’s scholarly significance and treated it like any other military target.
Destruction of the Library
Nalanda’s famed library, known as ‘Dharmaganja,’ comprised three main buildings Ratnasagara, Ratnodadhi, and Ratnaranjaka. These buildings stored hundreds of thousands of manuscripts and scrolls. According to local legend, the library burned for several months due to the sheer volume of texts. The loss of these manuscripts meant the disappearance of centuries of accumulated knowledge.
Impact on Indian and Buddhist Education
Cultural Devastation
The destruction of Nalanda University was not just a physical attack on buildings but a profound blow to the intellectual and spiritual foundation of the region. It led to the decline of Buddhist learning in India and shifted the focus of Buddhist studies to places like Tibet and Southeast Asia.
End of an Era
Alongside the destruction of other Buddhist centers like Vikramashila and Odantapuri, the attack on Nalanda marked the end of a golden age of education in India. Many surviving monks and scholars fled to Nepal and Tibet, where they helped preserve parts of Nalanda’s legacy.
Sources of Historical Evidence
Accounts from Travelers
Much of what we know about Nalanda comes from foreign travelers. Xuanzang and Yijing, both Chinese pilgrims, documented the university’s structure, curriculum, and daily life in great detail. Their accounts serve as critical primary sources for historians studying Nalanda’s legacy.
Archaeological Findings
Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have uncovered the ruins of Nalanda, including monasteries, temples, and parts of the library complex. These findings align with the descriptions given by ancient travelers and confirm the vastness and sophistication of the university.
Medieval Historians
Later Persian historians like Minhaj-i-Siraj wrote about Bakhtiyar Khilji’s campaigns. In his chronicle Tabaqat-i Nasiri, he described Khilji’s conquests and briefly mentioned the attack on scholars and destruction of learning centers, which many interpret as a reference to Nalanda.
Nalanda’s Legacy and Revival
Global Recognition
Despite its destruction, Nalanda remained a symbol of ancient India’s educational and philosophical achievements. In 2016, the ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, acknowledging its global historical significance.
Modern Nalanda University
In 2010, the Indian government initiated a project to revive Nalanda as a modern international university. The new Nalanda University, situated near the ancient ruins, aims to embody the spirit of global scholarship and intercultural dialogue that once defined the original institution.
Debates and Controversies
Was Khilji Solely Responsible?
While Bakhtiyar Khilji is most commonly blamed for the destruction, some scholars argue that Nalanda may have been in decline before the invasion due to reduced patronage and political instability. However, the majority consensus still holds that Khilji’s military actions were the direct cause of the catastrophic destruction.
Loss of Manuscripts
It is often debated how many texts were truly lost and whether any parts of the library’s collection survived. Some suggest that a few monks might have escaped with important texts, which were later translated and preserved in Tibet.
The question of who destroyed Nalanda University is closely tied to one of the most painful episodes in the history of education and cultural heritage. The evidence overwhelmingly points to Bakhtiyar Khilji as the primary figure behind its destruction in 1193 CE. This act of devastation not only ended a flourishing academic era in ancient India but also symbolized the vulnerability of knowledge in the face of war and intolerance. Today, efforts to revive the spirit of Nalanda serve as a reminder of the resilience of human curiosity and the enduring value of wisdom across generations.