NALANDA UNIVERSITY: History of Nalanda University | India’s Lost Knowledge | who is Bakhtiyar khilji

Nalanda Vishvavidyaalay:
For centuries, India was home to some of the greatest centers of learning, where seekers of wisdom traveled from distant lands to engage in debates, exchange ideas, and study under legendary scholars. Among them, Nalanda University stood as the world’s first residential university, a beacon of knowledge that shaped civilizations for nearly 700 years.

But this grand institution, which once housed over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, met a tragic end in 1193 CE when Bakhtiyar Khilji’s forces set it ablaze. Its vast library—Dharma Gunj (The Mountain of Knowledge)—burned for months, consuming centuries of wisdom in philosophy, science, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and Buddhism.

What You’ll Learn in This Video:

✅ The origins of Nalanda University under Kumaragupta I in the 5th century CE
✅ How Nalanda became Asia’s intellectual epicenter, attracting students from China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and beyond
✅ Subjects taught—Buddhist philosophy, Vedas, Sanskrit grammar, logic, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, political science, and the arts
✅ Famous scholars like Aryabhata, Xuanzang, Yijing, Dharmapala, and Shilabhadra, who shaped knowledge across civilizations
✅ The great library of Nalanda—Dharma Gunj, which housed thousands of manuscripts on Hinduism, Buddhism, science, and literature
✅ The destruction of Nalanda and why this event marked a turning point in India’s knowledge traditions
✅ The intellectual loss and how it impacted future generations
✅ The rediscovery of Nalanda’s ruins after being forgotten for nearly 600 years
✅ The modern revival of Nalanda University in 2014 and its role in global education today

The Fall of Nalanda – An Irreplaceable Loss

The attack on Nalanda was not just an act of war—it was an assault on knowledge itself. When Bakhtiyar Khilji and his army stormed the university, thousands of unarmed monks and scholars lost their lives. The magnificent library, home to one of the largest collections of ancient manuscripts, was set on fire, and historical accounts suggest that its flames burned for months.

Persian historian Minhaj-i-Siraj recorded this event in Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, stating that Nalanda was reduced to ruins. Tibetan sources lamented that an ocean of knowledge was lost that night. This tragedy led to a centuries-long intellectual decline in India, with Buddhist scholars fleeing to Tibet, Nepal, and Southeast Asia, carrying with them the last surviving fragments of Nalanda’s wisdom.

Nalanda’s Rediscovery & Revival – Can We Restore What Was Lost?

After being forgotten for nearly 600 years, British archaeologists rediscovered Nalanda’s ruins in the 19th century. Excavations uncovered monasteries, lecture halls, stupas, inscriptions, and remnants of grand architecture, shedding light on its lost glory.

In 2016, UNESCO recognized Nalanda as a World Heritage Site, and in 2014, the Government of India re-established Nalanda University to reclaim its intellectual legacy. Today, the new Nalanda University offers courses in Buddhist studies, ecology, history, and international relations, keeping the spirit of the ancient institution alive.

But the question remains—can we ever truly restore what was lost?

A Lesson from History

The destruction of Nalanda University is one of the greatest intellectual tragedies in human history. It serves as a reminder that knowledge is the foundation of civilization—but also fragile. The flames may have burned its walls, but they could never extinguish its spirit.

As we revive Nalanda today, we reconnect with a past that shaped the very foundations of knowledge and civilization.

kin of Nalanda

🔥 What do you think about the destruction of Nalanda? Do you believe we can fully revive what was lost? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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