2025-06-20 Fri

Nalanda was a distinguished Buddhist Mahavihara (monastery) located in Bihar during the ancient and early medieval periods. Established by Emperor Kumaragupta I of the Gupta Empire in 427 CE, it is currently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A seal discovered at the site refers to a monarch named Shakraditya as its founder, and scholars generally identify with Emperor Kumaragupta I.

Nalanda is often regarded as the world's first residential university, drawing Students from throughout Eastern and CENTRAL Asia. These students pursued a wide array of subjects, including philosophy, theology, metaphysics, medicine, logic, grammar, astronomy, mathematics, and Buddhist principles. Information about Nalanda is largely derived from Buddhist manuscripts and travelogues authored by Chinese and Tibetan pilgrims. A prominent account was provided by Hiuen Tsang, who resided at Nalanda in the 7th century CE and documented his experiences in detail.

The decline of Nalanda began in the late Pala period, culminating in its devastation by the Invasion led by Bakhtiyar Khilji around 1200 CE.

For centuries after, Nalanda remained largely forgotten. Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, a Scottish surgeon and geographer, conducted a survey of the site in 1811-12, reporting the discovery of various Brahmanical and Buddhist images to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It was not until the 1860s that Alexander Cunningham recognized the region as the one mentioned in Hiuen Tsang's travelogues.

Excavations conducted by the ASI from 1915 to 1937 and again from 1974 to 1982 uncovered significant ruins aligned along a central pathway, which runs from north to south, flanked by six temples to the west and eleven monasteries to the east. Among these, Temple No. 3 has been constructed in seven stages with numerous minor shrines and stupas surrounding it. Based on its architectural style and the intricate stucco images adorning the temple's exterior walls, archaeologists have dated this remarkable structure to the 6th century CE.

Numerous sculptures crafted from stone, bronze, and stucco have been retrieved from Nalanda and its surrounding areas, including various representations of the #Buddha and other Buddhist deities, such as Marichi, Maitreya, Vajrapani, and Avalokitesvara. Additionally, sculptures depicting Hindu deities, including SHIVA -Parvati and Mahishasura-Mardini, were also found. The excavations yielded a wealth of artifacts, including #copper plates, terracotta items, pottery, Coins and seals, many of which are currently on display at the Nalanda Archaeological Museum.

Various scholarly sources indicate that the Nalanda Mahavihara covered an area of approximately 16 square kilometers; however, only 1.5 square kilometers of the ruins have been excavated by the ASI thus far.

On 06 June 1997, India Post issued a series of four Stamps to commemorate the 'INDEPEX-97' international Stamp Exhibition. One of these stamps, valued at Rs 2, features the ruins of Nalanda University, emphasizing its significance as a notable cultural and historical site.