Why didn't the teachings of Buddha flourish in Bharat? Bhaktiar Khilji's barbarism destroyed the bhikku-s.

[Guest guest]

Srinivasan Kalyanaraman <kalyan97@g...> wrote:

 

In the history of thought, the teachings of the Buddha and Mahavira

were a continuum from the veda, the inquiry into satyam, dharma and

vrata. While the teachings of the Buddha were carried by the bhikku-s

into the hinduised states of South East Asia, Mongolia and farther

into Korea and Japan, extending eastwards into a vast territory from

Afghanistan (see George Codes' magnum opus, titled Hinduised states of

South East Asia), the teachings of the Buddha did not flourish in

Bharat.

 

The reason?

 

Bhaktiar Khilji's barbarism which resulted in the beheading of the

bhikku-s in Bharat, who were running the earliest universities of

human civilization.

 

Dhanyavaadah. Kalyanaraman

 

The six Buddhist universities of ancient India

 

D. Amarasiri Weeraratne

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It is well-known that with the rise of Buddhism in India there dawned

the golden age of India's culture and civilisation. There was progress

in all aspects of Indian civilisation under the impact of Buddhism.

This is very much in contrast to what happened in the Roman empire in

Europe with the rise of Christianity. With the coming of Christianity

into power the Dark Ages dawned upon Europe. During this era whatever

progress that was achieved by the Greeks and the Romans received a

set-back and came to a stand-still. Schools and centres of philosophy

were closed down. The famed library at Alexandria was burnt down by a

Christian mob led by a prelate. Hypatia the learned philosopher and

teacher was dragged into a Church and her flesh was torn off her body.

As a result of these barbarities Europe was plunged into the darkness

of ignorance and poverty for a thousand years. The Dark Ages of

European history was really the golden age of the Christian Church,

because it did the conversion of the barbarians to Christianity during

this time. The great philosophers and intellectuals of Europe who left

their mark on human civilisation were all pre-Christian pagans who

lived prior to the rise of Christianity, e.g. Socrates, Plato,

Aristotle, Seneca, Pliny, etc. The Christian era was masked by an

absence of such men. Illiteracy and religious intolerance prevailed

during the Dark Ages.

 

At the end of this period the Muslims had conquered parts of the Roman

empire and established their rule in Spain, Portugal and parts of

France. They introduced the learning of the Greeks and Romans as well

as knowledge gathered from their contacts with India. This set the

pace for Martin Luther's reformation which broke the power of the

Catholic Church. The ensuing liberal policies persuaded by the

Protestants brought about the Renaissance, after this the Europeans

pushed back the power of the Churches and began to make progress in

civilisation.

 

In contrast to this with the rise of Buddhism in India, there arose

many centres of learning which did not exist before. Buddhist monks

could opt for a life of meditation in the forests, or a life of

teaching, preaching, propagating the Dharma as a result of the

activities of the teaching monks, seats of learning arose. These seats

of monastic learning (Pirivenas) gradually developed and some of them

became full-fledged universities. As a result Buddhist India came to

have five major universities which achieved wide fame. These five were

1. Nalanda, 2. Vickramasila, 3. Odantapuri, 4. Jagadalala and 5.

Somapura.

 

Nalanda University

 

Nalanda is the best known of ancient India's universities. It's site

has been discovered and it's ruins have been preserved by India's

Department of Archeology. It is situated in Bihar State, the ancient

Magadha country. Magadha is well known as the cradle of Buddhism.

Bihar is so called because it had a large number of Viharas or

Buddhist monasteries. Nalanda was a prosperous city during the days of

the Buddha. He visited it during his preaching itineraries. When in

Nalanda, the Buddha sojourned at Ambavana the mango-park with his

disciples. Nalanda was also the home town of Ven. Sariputra, King

Asoka had erected a Stupa at the spot where he was cremated.

 

We get a comprehensive account of Nalanda university from Hieun Tsang

the brilliant Chinese scholar who came there for his studies during

the reign of King Harsha-Siladitya. Back in China he wrote this famed

"Ta - Tang - Si - Yu - Ki" Buddhist Travels in the western world. This

has been translated into English by Samuel Beal a British scholar who

was once the ambassador to Peking, China.

 

It has been called the treasure house of accurate information by

European Archeologists. They found the information given there

invaluable for them to locate the sacred shrines of the Buddhist in

India. Indians and their scholars were hopelessly ignorant of these

places and could do nothing to help the archeologists. I - Tsing

(675-685) was another Chinese monk who came to India and studied at

Nalanda. He too like Hiuen Tsang has left an account of his travels.

In this he gives an account of Nalanda and his stay there. At the time

of Fa-Hion's visit it was an ordinary Buddhist monastery. Lama

Taranata the Tibetan historian also gives an account of Nalanda in his

works.

 

It appears that King Kumara Gupta (AC 415-455) built the first

monastery at Nalanda. It was a seminary for training Buddhist monks.

It's site was not too for nor too close to the city. Hence it was

selected as an ideal centre for the pursuit of Buddhist studies by

monks. Nalanda University was an expansion and extension of this

seminary. King Buddha Gupta (AC 455-467) Jatagatha Gupta (AC 467-500)

Baladitya (500-525) and Vijra (525) made additions and expansions to

the buildings. King Baladitya made a shrine-room a house of worship

which was 300 feet high. His son Vijra built the fifth monastery. King

Harsha Siladitya built the sixth monastery and surrounded the

university buildings with 9' high wall. In the 10th century when Hieun

Tsang entered the university, there were 10,000 resident students.

They came from all parts of India and foreign lands. It was India's

leading University. It's chancellorship was reserved for India's

foremost Buddhist scholar when Hieun-Tsang visited Nalanda Silabhadra

Maha Thera held the post. At that time there were 10,000 students,

1510 teachers, and about 1,500 workers at Nalanda. Students from

foreign lands such as Tibet, China, Japan, Korea, Sumatra, Java and

Sri Lanka were found there. Admission to Nalanda was by oral

examination. This was done by a professor at the entrance hall. He was

called Dvara Pandita. Proficiency in Sanskrit was necessary, as it was

the medium of instruction. All Chinese monks going to India for higher

studies in Buddhism had to go to Java and brush up their Sanskrit.

Hieum Tsang reports that of the foreign students only 20% managed to

pass the stiff examinations. Of the Indian students only 30% managed

to pass and gain admission. Therefore the standard required were high.

Casts, creed and nationality were no barriers in keeping with the

Buddhist spirit. There were no external students at the university.

Nalanda was maintained by the revenue from seven villages which were

granted by the king. The study of Mahayana was compulsory for

Buddhists. One could also study the doctrines of 18 other Buddhist

sects. One could also study secular subjects like science, medicine,

astrology, fine-arts, literature etc. The six systems of Hindu

philosophy were also taught. One could study Hinayana forms of

Buddhism. This included the Theravada commerce, administration and

astronomy were also taught. The observatory of the university was

situated in a very tall building. Lectures, debates and discussions

were part of the educational curriculum. Hieun Tsang states that 100

lectures were delivered there every day. The discipline was exemplary.

 

Nalanda university occupied an area of 30 acres. There were three

large libraries bearing the names Ratna-Sagara, Ratna-Nidi and

Ratna-Ranjana. One of these was nine storeys high. Nalanda was graced

by the presence of India's most brilliant Buddhist luminaries. Some of

them were Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Dharmapala, Silabhadra, Santarakshita,

Kamalaseela, Bhaviveka, Dignaga, Dharmakeerty etc. The works they left

behind are mostly available 14 Tibetan and Chinese translations. The

originals perished when Muslim invaders under Bhaktiar Khilji set fire

to Nalanda and beheaded the monks. (AD 1037), Prior to that Nalanda

flourished for a thousand years, a lighthouse of wisdom and learning,

the first of it's kind in the world. Bhaktiar Khilji the invader of

Magadha set fire to Nalanda. When the monks were about to have their

meals. This is revealed in the archeological remains which show food

abandoned in a great hurry. Charred rice from the granaries also tell

this sorry tale. Nalanda's ruins and excavations are preserved in a

Museum by the Indian government. On 19.11.58 the President of India,

Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the Nava Nalanda Viharaya at a site close

to the ancient university. Master of the Tripitaka Ven. Jagadish

Kashyap was appointed head of the institution on 12. 01. 1957 the

Dalai Lama handed over the ashes of Nalanda's famed alumni - Hieun

Tsang to the Indian government, headed by Pandit Nehru. The Chinese

government donated five lakhs of rupees for a mausoleum which

enshrines these relics. The Muslims carried the university idea to the

West, and after that universities came up in the western - world.

 

Vickramasila

 

Vickramasila is said to have been situated on the banks of the Ganges

near the northern part of Magadha. Although it's site was

undiscovered, the Indian newspaper 'Searchlight' of 25.4.80 carried an

account of the discovery of the ruins of Vickramsila by Dr. B. S.

Varma, Superintending Archeologist in charge of the discovery of the

ruins of the Vickramsila Excavation Project.

 

According to this Vickramasila was situated at Antichak Village,

Kahalagon, Bagalpur District Vickramasila was said to be a sister

institution of Nalanda and was said to have been founded by a monk

called Kamapala, under the patronage of King Dharmapala. (AC 770-810).

The King granted land-endowments for it's upkeep later King Yasapala

also patronised the institutions by liberal land endowments. Under the

Pala Kings Vickramasila rose to 9 positions when it rivalled Nalanda

and bade well to outshine it. In the centre of the university was the

main lecture-hall. It was called 'Vidyagriha'. There were six

entrances to this building and near each entrance was a monastery for

resident monks about 150 teachers were accommodated in each monastery.

Like Nalanda Vickramasila was also surrounded by a high-wall. There

were six 'Dvara Panditas' i.e Professors who examined candidates

seeking admission. Here too high standards were maintained. 108

Professors were engaged in teaching and administrative duties. The

curriculum of studies was similar to that of Nalanda. Here preference

was given to the Tantric form of Buddhism.

 

Dipankara Sri Gnana who is also known as Atisha (AC 960-1055) was the

more-famous of the scholars of Vickramasila. His fame spread far and

wide as the propagator of Buddhism in Tibet Tibetans hold his name in

the highest veneration. When he was at Vickramasila he was invited to

teach and propagate Buddhism in Tibet. He postponed it for some time

till he completed his work at Vickramasila and then undertook the

task. Vickramasila achieved it's high water mark of prosperty and fame

under him. Sri Gnana's period was the golden era of Vickramasila. In

1038 Sri Gnana left Vickramsila for Tibet to organise Buddhist studies

in that country. Vickramasila was managed by a staff of Professors.

They constituted the Board of Education, Board of Administration,

Board of Discipline and the Board in charge of entrance examinations.

Inaugurated in about 800 A.C. it graced the land until it was

demolished by the Muslim invaders.

 

Odantapuri

 

Odantapuri was considered the second oldest of India's universities.

This was situated in Maghada, about 6 miles away from Nalanda. Acharya

Sri Ganga of Vickramasila had been a student here. Later he joined

Odantapuri King Gopala (660-705) was the patron who helped to found

this university. According to the Tibetan records there were about

12,000 students at Odantapuri. Our knowledge of this seat of learning

is obscure, and we are not in a position to give more details. This

too perished at the hands of the Muslim invaders. It is said they

mistook the universities with their high walls for fortresses. They

thought the Buddhist monks were "Shaven headed Brahmins" who were

idolaters.

 

Somapura

 

Somapura was situated in East Pakistan. King Devapala (AC 810-850) is

said to have erected the Dharmapala-Vihara at Somapura. The ruins of

these buildings cover an area of about 1 square mile. There was a

large gate and the buildings were surrounded by a high-wall. There

were about 177 cells for monks in additions to the shrines and image

houses. A common refectory and a kitchen are among the ruins, Remains

of three -strayed buildings are to be seen. This university flourished

for about 750 years before it was abandoned after the Muslim invasion.

 

Jagaddala

 

King Ramapala (1077-1129) is said to be the founder of this

University. Jagaddala University was the largest construction works

undertaken by the Pala Kings. This was a centre for the study and

dissemination of Tantric Buddhism. It followed the methods, practices,

and traditions of Nalanda. According to Tibetan works many books were

translated to the Tibetan language at Jagaddala. The Buddhist teacher

Sakya Sri Bhadra, seeing that Nalanda, Vickramsila, and Odantapuri

were in ruins after the Muslim invasion, entered Jagaddala for his

studies. It is said that his pupil Danaseela translated ten books to

Tibetan Sakya Sri Bhadra was responsible for the propagation of

Tatntric Buddhism in Tibet. He lived for seven years at Jagaddala. In

1027 the Muslim invaders sack and destroyed Jagaddala.

 

Vallabhi

 

Vallabhi University achieved as much fame as Nalanda. The Maitraka

kings who ruled Western India constructed a monastery at Vallabhitheir

capital. While Nalanda was the centre for Mahayana Buddhism, Vallabhi

achieved fame as the centre for Hinayana Buddhism. The Maitraka kings

spent lavishly to maintain their university. They gave every

encouragement and assistance to Buddhist studies at this institution.

In the 7th century Vallabhi was as prosperous and famous as Nalanda.

Hieum Tsang visited Vallabhi, and reported in his "Ta-Tang-Si-Yu-Ki"

as follows:

 

-"The population of Vallabhi is very large. The country is rich and

prosperous. There are over a hundred millionaire families there.

Imported luxury goods are seen in this city. There are about 100

monasteries with about 6,000 Buddhist monks. Most of them belong to

the Sammitiya Sect. There are also many Hindu temples and a large

Hindu population in this past of the country. The Buddha had visited

this land during his ministry. There are stupas erected by King Asoka

to mark the spots hallowed by the Buddha's visit."

 

There are about 100 shrines and about 6,000 resident monks studying at

Vallabhi. They do not believe that Abhidharma was the teaching of the

Buddha. They believed in the Antarabhava doctrine and were exponents

of Puggalavada a traditions that disregards Abhidharma teachings that

are inconsistent with the Sutra-Teachings.

 

I -Tsing's record

 

I-Tsing records that foreign students were found at Vallabhi. They

come from many lands far and near from these facts we know that like

Nalanda-Vallabhi was internationally recognised. There was a large

library. This was maintained by a fund established by the King. An

inscription put up by King Guhasena confirms this. Precedence was

given to Sammitiya doctrines at this University. The course of studies

included Comparative Religion. The Six systems of Hindu Philosophy and

various other schools of Buddhism, Politics, Law, Agriculture,

Economics also formed a part of the curriculum.

 

I-Tsing records that the graduates of Vallabhi, displayed their skill

in the presence of the royalty, nobbles, and other eminent people. The

Elders Gunamoti and Sthiramatic were Nalanda's alumni and were

teaching there for a time. They are said to be the founders of

Vallabhi. As the founders came from Nalanda, Vallabhi followed the

Nalanda pattern in most of it's activities. It flourished from 475 to

1200 A.C. It met the same fate as other Universities at the hands of

the Muslim invaders.

 

Thus it would be seen that as long as Buddhism was a power to reckon

with in India, it rendered yoemen service in the field of learning and

culture. This is how it should be in a religion that teaches that

ignorance is the worst enemy of Mao and the cause of ace his

sufferings while knowledge (Pragnya) is his highest asset. Pragnya

wins all that is good in this world, and finally brings him the

highest happiness, mundane as well as supra-mundane.

 

When the Portuguese conquered the Kotte Kingdom there were flourishing

Buddhist Seminaries (Pirivenas) at Totagamauwa, Keragala, and Wattala.

The Sandesa poems of the period give glowing descriptions of them and

their rectors. They were all raised to the ground "leaving not one

stone upon another" according to Portuguese writers of the period.

Quyroz mentions the demolition of the Wattala Vijayabahu Pirivena and

the erection of the R. C. Church on it's land. Then followed an age of

ignorance, decay and corruption for some 200 years. Finally during the

reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha, Ven. Weliwita Saranankara started

his Buddhist revival opening his Seminary at Niyamakanda, Udunnwara.

His papillary successors opened the Vidyoda and Vidyalankara Pirivenas

in Colombo. These Seminaries were upgraded and converted to secular

Universities by the S.L.F.P. Government.

 

-ooOoo-

 

 

Source: The Island, Sri Lanka, 15 May 2003,

http://www.island.lk/index.html

 

http://www.saigon.com/~anson/ebud/ebdha240.htm

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