Buddha and his disciples in Nalanda

Once, when the Buddha was staying at Nalanda, one of his disciple said to him: "Lord, Nalanda is rich, prosperous, crowded, full of people who have faith in you. It would be good if you were to get a monk to perform extraordinary feats and miracles. In this way Nalanda would come to have even more faith". The Buddha refused this request because he wanted people to follow the Dhamma out of understanding, not because they had been impressed by miracles or psychic feats.

Nalanda

Nālandā University was the ancient seat of Buddhist learning in India.The name is a Sanskrit word that means giver of knowledge ,( possibly from Nalam, lotus , a symbol of knowledge and da, to give).the micro analysis of the word “Nalanda” suggests that it was a question among the knowledge seekers literally “not giving enough” which seems a philosophical mark.
Another story about Nalanda, owes its name to a naga (serpent) who lived in a tank, not very far from the royal capital Rajagriha. The Chinese legend accounts for the naga being injured while digging the foundation of a monastery. The soothsayers observed that this is a very superior site. If you build here a Sangharama (monastery), it must of necessity become highly renowned. Throughout the five Indies it will be a model. For a period of a thousand years it will flourish still. Students of all degrees will here accomplish their studies. But many will spit blood because of this wound given to the Naga. It's also said that the name Nalanda was named on a village Nalak, where university was established.Excavations in the 1860s by Alexander Cunningham led to the discovery of the official seal with the inscriptions Sri Nalanda Magavihara Arya Bhikshu Sanghasya (Venerable Community of Monks in the Great Vihara of Sri Nalanda.)
It is located about 55 miles south east of Patna, and was a Buddhist center of learning from 427 CE to 1197 CE partly under the Pala Empire.Ashoka the great, laid a Stupa in the memory of beloved disciple of lord Buddha named Sariputra.Later, Kumar Gupta , a king gave huge donation to start a university in 427CE. It has been called “one of the first great universities in recorded history”.
Buddha is believed to have travelled to Nalanda a number of times. He often stayed here at the Pavarika mango grove which was later purchased by the merchants and gifted to the Buddha. The town is depicted as prosperous and accounts for numerous buildings. One of them was a beautiful bathing hall supported by a hundred pillars.
Nalanda was developed as a research center in various fields of studies.Mahayana and Theravada schools were developed here. Nagarjuna, professor of Nyaydarshan was prominent among students as he widely known as the founder of Mahayan Buddhism. Mahayana as known as Tantra Buddhism, which is quite dissimilar with Indian Buddhism practices. One of the professor called Santarakshita went to Tibet in 7th century and he saw people of Tibet were mainly practicing Chinese religion related to magical powers so with the help of one of his Tibetan disciple, he mixed Buddhism practices with magic , a way to spread Buddhism.Later the disciple was known as monk Rinpochhe.
It was said that there were 10000 students lived and a 1500 professors were teaching at Nalanda. The most interesting part to get an admission in the university was entrance test, which was an oral exam taken by a professor (dwarpala)at one of the gate of the university. It was famous that Buddhist and Brahmans took part in shastrartha (logical discussion), the one who lost accepted the other religion without a bloody fight. Dharti dharmah(Religion which to be worn).
The student teacher relationship was based on reverence, respect and affection.
The university was an architectural and environmental masterpiece. It had twelve separate compounds, 10 temples, meditation halls, classrooms, lakes and parks.the Many-mouth earthen stove are made to heat the chemicals at various temperatures . The eight-folded well are pretty to see in the ruins campus of the university. It had a nine-story library where monks meticulously copied books and documents so that individual scholars could have their own collections.
Chinese traveller cum student Xiuan Xiang scribbled a good account for the Nalanda, in the 7th CE . Nalanda has been described by King Yashovarman in the 7th century AD as ‘rows of monasteries with their series of turrets licking the clouds’.

Ruins of Nalanda: In 1193 , the university was destroyed by Turk Invader Bakhtiyaar ji khilaji . Monks were killed and according to folk stories, the library was burning for the next six months. Now where the Great university enlightened the world, only ruins stands.

Revival:
The Government of India has taken steps to build an international university in the name of Nalanda, which stands in the vicinity of ruins of Nalanda.

External Links :

1. http://www.navnalanda.com/ancient%20nalanda%20mahavihara.html
2. http://bstdc.bih.nic.in/Nalanda.htm