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with which great religious teacher is nalanda associated? The great religious teacher of Nalanda university is Gautama the buddha. historical texts shows that both buddha and Mahavira visited the Nalanda university in 5th and 6th century. people ask with which great religious teacher is Nalanda associated not knowing that Nalanda consisted studies of various subjects, but the official teachers were Buddhist followers, and Buddhist doctrine were taught there, the teachers were also monks who used to teach there.   Nalanda university dates back to the times of buddha and Mahavira (5th century to 6th century BCE).  its located in the modern day Bihar. it was founded by kamargupta I in around 5th century CE, (450 CE), Kamargypta I is also called as father of nalanda university. it is believed that there were 2000 teachers and more than ten thousand Students.  buddha gave his one of the important teachings here in rajgir which is near to Nalanda, like  lotus sutra and prajnaparamita sutra. The first ever monastery gifted to buddha was by king bimbiasara in rajgir, that’s why this place holds strong in Buddhist followers. the first Buddhist council was initiated after the death of gautama the buddha around 483 BCE , and it was again in rajgir at saptaparni cave. it was a group of 500 arahant monks. in Nalanda university, many subjects were taught, like astronomy, medicine(ayurveda), grammar, metaphysics, logic, philosophy of language. it is also said that there were 30,000 Buddhist monks in Nalanda university.     Over the years there were many other religious teachers associated with Nalanda university, they are as follows: Image of Chandrakirti Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.   Chandra Kriti (600 – 650 C.E.): He was one of the significant person in Buddhist philosophy. he served as a teacher and a scholar in Nalanda university. one of the most prominent thing which he taught of Mahayana Buddhism is the concept of Madhyamaka which meant middle path and not going on extremes of both sides and another concept of madhyamaka was known as ”sunyata” or ”emptiness” silabhadra (lived between 6th and 7th century) he was a highly respected teacher in Nalanda university for teaching Buddhist philosophy. One of his famous Buddhist studies he taught was Yogacara also known as ‘mind-only’ school. it showed that everything we experience, is a construction of our mind. sidenote: in this context ‘school’ denotes tradition or system of thought within Buddhism. Cropped From Nagarjuna With 84 Mahasiddhas Via Himalayan Art Resources Nagarjuna Lived between 2nd and 3rd century (150 – 250 CE ). he was a buddhist monk and Mahayana buddhist philosopher and is considered to one of the greatest thinkers in history of Asian continent. he taught a alot of various things. one of them was using the concept taught by buddha which is ”the dependent-origination law”, he used this law to explain how things in this universe came into being. he also contributed to the concept of sunyata (emptiness) and madhyama pratipad. one of the best disciples of Nagarjuna was, The Arya deva. he is known for his development in the field of madhyamaka, also known as the middle way. Arya deva helped to simplify the concept of sunyata which can be easily understood by the wider audience. Buddhapalita  Buddhapalita was a 5th century Buddhist teacher and a philosopher. he is mostly recognized for his notable commentary on mulamadhyamakavrtti (fundamental verses on the middle way), which means it was a central text of madhyamaka school of Nagarjuna’s, in simple words his commentary on Nagarjuna’s middle school which he though of Mahayana Buddhist teachings of sunyata. sunyata basically meant that everything this this universe was empty as showing the world was made on dependent-origination. Buddhapalita commented on this by making this complex teaching in simple way for people to understand. he taught people Nagarjuna’s teaching in simple manner so that they could understand. he said that Nagarjuna said that everything in this universe is dependent on something, and they don’t exist on their own. he proved this by using someone’s ideas and reaching to a conclusion which didn’t make any sense and seemed impossible. dharmakriti (600 – 660 CE) Another great teacher in Nalanda university. dharmakriti was a logician and made huge contribution in buddhist epistemology and logic. he was good in pramana, which means whether the sources of the knowledge we acquire are tru or not and how to identify them whether they are true or not. dharmakriti refered as there are three primary sources of primary knowledge. a. perception Direct experience. it means you have experienced it directly and there is no need to ask from someone else. for example you see a tree, and touch it as well. now this is your direct experience and you have used your senses to interact with the surrounding which has a source of touch and sensory organ involved. b. inference Logical reasoning or deduction. in short it means using reasoning, for example if there is a smoke coming out from somewhere, it means that there is a fire lit somewhere, its like you draw conclusions from what we already know. c. testimony Reliable verbal communication, typically from authoritative sources. it means, a person who is trust worthy, who is believed to have experienced the thing, which we can share our experience as a reliable source. he used logic to defend the buddha’s teachings which were questioned in those days, he laid the foundation of logic and reasoning. Gunaprabha (700CE) He is another great teacher of Nalanda university. he is best known as the teacher of madhyamaka , also known as the middle way. he is known for his commentaries on madhyamaka, particularly on Mūlamadhyamakakārikā. Mūlamadhyamakakārikā when translated it means “fundamental Verses of the Middle way” basically they are the fundamental foundation of the madhyamnaka concept. The fundamentals are as follows: A. it says that all phenomenas, do not have independent or self existent nature, they are empty. it means that they are dependent on other things to exist in nature. the pratityasamudpada , …

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Bodh Gaya, a quiet village, a peaceful religious site which is considered as the holiest pilgrimage site for buddhists. Bodh Gaya is situated near the river Niranjana in Bihar state. It is the birthplace of Buddhism as it is the place where Lord Buddha gained enlightenment over 2500 years ago and founded the way out of suffering and taught the Dhamma based on compassion, reason and universal truths shorn of ritual and superstition. This, the holiest amongst holy places of the Buddha world, and one of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha is 80 km from Rajgir. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex, which is located there, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous as it is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained Enlightenment under what became known as the Bodhi Tree. Since antiquity, Bodh Gaya has remained the object of pilgrimage and veneration for both Hindus and Buddhists. In particular, archaeological finds including sculptures show that the site was in use by Buddhists since the Mauryan period.   Here are some places that you must see at least once in your life when you go to Bodh Gaya. 1. Mahabodhi Temple In Bodh Gaya, the Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it holds paramount significance. Mahabodhi Temple is one of the most important religious landmarks in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. Within this revered sanctuary, visitors have the opportunity to behold several remarkable features, including the Main Temple, The Bodhi tree, the seven sacred places, and the Bodhi Sarovar. a. Main Temple The main temple within the complex is the focal point of pilgrimage and veneration for Buddhists worldwide.  History   Ashoka visited Bodh Gaya. He is considered to be the founder of The original Mahabodhi Temple. A stone railing was put up around the perimeter of the temple in the 1st century AD., the part of which still remains.  In the 2nd century the shrine was replaced by the present Mahabodhi temple. Around 400 AD., the Chinese pilgrim Fa-hein recorded that the site contained several statues and monuments. The temple was refurbished in the Pala-Sena period (750-1200 AD), but after that it was deserted and fell into ruin. Mahabodhi was climbed bu Shaivite Hindus for a time. It was heavily restored by Sir Alexander Cunningham in the late 19th century and finally restored in 1882bby Burmese Buddhists.  In 2002 UNESCO declared it as a “World Heritage Site”.   The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built in brick that still survives today. The brickwork on the outside of the temple depicts scenes from Buddha life. – Bhumi Sparsha Mudra Inside the temple is a statue of Buddha called as Bhumi Sparsha Mudra also known as “Earth-touching gesture”. The statue is of black stone but it has been covered in gold and dressed in bright orange robes.  This colossal image of seated Buddha is touching the earth with his right hand symbolizing his calling upon Mother Earth to bear witness to his attainment of enlightenment. In this posture the Buddha accomplished the supreme enlightenment.   B. Bodhi tree Adjacent to the temple stands the famous Bodhi tree also known as Mahabodhi Tree, Bo Tree. It is a large sacred fig tree (peepal tree) located in Bodh gaya, Bihar, India. One of the chief revered locations, is believed to be the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. In religious iconography, The Bodhi Tree is recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed.  The tree itself is not the actual tree but a descendent of the original Bodhi tree. It is believed to be the sapling of the original Bodhi tree, which was taken away by King Ashoka’s daughter to Sri Lanka. It is agreed that the actual tree died and another was planted there using its sapling taken from Sri Lanka. Every time the tree was destroyed, a new tree was planted in the same place.  The tree is 80 feet high and about 120 years old. The Forest Research Institute of India has assisted in the upkeep of the tree since 2007 and the Cloning has been considered in 2008. The tree’s leaves can be bought by the pilgrims as mementos. The Bodhi tree is located behind the main temple in Bodh Gaya. Despite the bustling surroundings, sitting beneath its branches brings a deep sense of calm and peace. Meditators find themselves embraced by a sense of tranquility. A captivating ritual unfolds as numerous devotees patiently await the descent of a single leaf from this revered tree. Though a lot of time may pass waiting for the leaf, those with unwavering composure often choose to selflessly share their prized leaf with fellow seekers. Such acts of altruism and serenity exemplify the profound impact this ancient symbol of enlightenment holds over those who gather in its presence. bodhi Day Bodhi Day is celebrated on 8th December for Buddha’s enlightenment underneath the Bodhi Tree. Devotees greet each other by saying “Budu Saranai!” which means “may the peace of Buddha be yours.” Special meals are served, especially heart-shaped cookies (referencing the heart-shaped leaves of the Bodhi) and a meal of Kheer (dessert made of rice and milk rich in dry fruits) which is the Buddha’s first meal ending his six-year asceticism.   bodhi Puja Bodhi Puja translates to “the veneration of Bodhi-tree”. It is the ritual to worship the Bodhi tree and the deity residing on it known as Rukkhadevata in Pali and Vrikshadevata in Sanskrit. It is done by giving various offerings such as food, water, milk, lamps, incense, etc. (which is later then shared with the devotees so that it does not get wasted) and chanting the verses of glory of Bodhi tree in Pali. The most common verse is: “Ime ete mahabodhi lokanathena pujita ahampi te namassami bodhi raja namatthu te.” c. Seven Sacred Places There are Seven Sacred Places one must see when they visit the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. …

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