Established in 5th century AD by Gupta ruler Kumara Gupta I (reigned 415-455 AD), Nalanda was a centre of scholarship in ancient India. During the rule of Harsha, the fame of Nalanda university reached far and wide. Under the Pala ruler Dharampal, the glory of the university reached its zenith.
During its heyday, the Mahavihara used to accommodate over 10,000 students and over 2000 teachers.
Given the Nalanda University's standing in the world of education, it’s no wonder that it had some of the most famous alumni and teachers throughout history.
Here is a look at some of the most notable Nalanda Monastery alumni and teachers and what they have accomplished.
Nagarjuna, a famous 2nd century AD Buddhist philosopher who was an authority on the Mahayana form of Buddhism, had studied at Nalanda. He propounded the world famous Buddhist philosophy of Sunyata (the Void). He wrote Madhyamika Karika which forms the basic text of the Madhyamika (Intermediate), one of the two philosophical schools of Mahayana Buddhism, other being Yogacharya.
The Buddhist philosopher Vasubandhu (4th to 5th century C.E.) was a Buddhist philosopher during the rule of Gupta empire. Vasubandhu and his half brother Asanga are amongst the Seventeen Pundits of Nalanda Mahavihara who were the most important and influential Mahayana Buddhist masters.
Dharmapala was a sixth century Buddhist scholar who studied at Nalanda.
Dharmakirti was a seventh century AD Buddhist philosopher who was a teacher at the Nalanda University. He is associated with the Yogacara and Sautrantika schools of Indian Buddhism.
Hiuen-Tsang or Xuanzang was a renowned Chinese traveler who came to India during the rule of Harshvardhan (606 AD- 647AD) and studied at Nalanda.
Candrakīrti or Chandrakirti
Chandrakirti was a Buddhist scholar in the monastery of Nalanda. He was a noted commentator on the works of Nagarjuna. Prasannapadā is his famous work.
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