Old Nalanda University Ruins

This afternoon, Deepak took me to the Nalanda Archaeology Museum where I viewed many different, exquisitely carved Buddhas. The very fine detail was etched in sandstone, black stone, or bronze. The museum also contained other various, small artifacts and two enormous, stone storage jars. There is also a replica of the Nalanda ruins, which we visited next. This was a wonderful museum of archaeological finds.

Next, we headed to the ruins. Deepak is a wonderful tour guide and explained the significant meaning of the word "Nalanda."  “Nala” means a lotus flower stem, which is a symbol of generating wisdom or knowledge. “Da” means to give. So, Nalanda is a knowledge/wisdom giving place, a name befitting a university.

The old Nalanda University ruins are excavations of 8 Buddhist monasteries and many temples. All of the structures had a very thick, brick foundation and then four stories above that probably made out of wood. As a structure decayed or was destroyed, it would be razed to the level of the brick and then a new brick foundation was laid. On top of that again would be four stories. This building and razing occurred four times, so the ruins are quite high. The excavations have revealed clear examples of the four different brick layers.

a monk's chamber

meditating in an entryway  to a chamber

as the monks would go forth into a life of monastacism

steps to enter a monastery

a temple ruins

stupas and temples

a diesel powered generator used by the gardeners

gardeners hard at work

The temple where Buddha taught also has evidence of this building and rebuilding. Excavations here have revealed three different staircases from different time periods.

staircases from three different time periods

This university ceased its existence when conquerors moved through the land. Today, only part of this university has been excavated. Other areas that have potential for excavation are are being used as farm land by the local people, and so will not be excavated.

When we left the ruins, I was quite hungry because I had skipped lunch. We stopped at a food vendor and he mixed me up a delightful bunch of peanuts, dried chickpeas, onions, chile peppers, and lemon juice. I ate it out of a handmade newspaper cup with a palm leaf spoon. It was delicious!

on the street outside of the ruins

Buying a tasty snack from a street vendor