| Temples & Legends Of Bihar |
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| Temples & Legends
Of India |
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NALANDA |
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| Suvishnu, a
Brahmanacontemporary of Nagarjuna, was supposed to have built 108 temples at Nalanda to
prevent the decline of both the Hinayana and the Mahayana schools of Buddhism.Aryadeva, a
philosopher of the Madhyamika School of Buddhism (Fourth Century A.D.), Asanga, a Buddhist
philosopher of the Yogachara school (Fifth Century A.D.) and Vasubandhu (brother of
Asanga) were actively associated with Nalanda.The excavations at Nalanda, according to the
archaeologists, do not, however, reveal anything substantial to suggest the occupation of
the site before the Guptas. The copper plates of Samudragupta and the coin of
Kumaragupta, discovered in the course of the excavations, are the earliest datable finds.
According to Hiuen Tsang, one Sakraditya built a monastery at Nalanda and several of his
successors, namely, Buddhagupta, Tathagatagupta, Baladitya and Vajra built somemonasteries
nearby. Sakraditya has been identified with Mahendraditya, i.e., Kumaragupta I (c.
413-455). Buddhagupta seems to be the same as Buddhagupta (c. 476-96) and Baladitya seems
to be the king who had to encounter the Huna chief, Mihirakula, early in the Sixth
Century. |
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