This is corroborated by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang travelogue.[55] The tradition of formalised Vedic learning "helped to inspire the formation of large teachings centres," such as Nalanda, Taxila, and Vikramashila.[56][57]
His successors, Budhagupta, Tathagatagupta, Baladitya, and Vajra, later extended and expanded the institution by building additional monasteries and temples.[60] Nalanda, thus flourished through the 5th and 6th centuries under the Guptas
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Xuanzang travelled around India between 630 and 643 CE,[72] visiting Nalanda in 637 and 642, spending a total of around two years at the monastery.[73] He was warmly welcomed in Nalanda where he received the Indian name of Mokshadeva[74] and studied under the guidance of Shilabhadra, the venerable head of the institution at the time. He believed that the aim of his arduous overland journey to India had been achieved as in Shilabhadra he had at last found an incomparable teacher to instruct him in Yogachara, a school of thought that had then only partially been transmitted to China. Besides Buddhist studies, the monk also attended courses in grammar, logic, and Sanskrit, and later also lectured at the Mahavihara.[75]
ijing notes that revenues from 200 villages (as opposed to 100 in Xuanzang's time) had been assigned toward the maintenance of Nalanda.[69] He described there being eight vihara with as many as 300 cells.[
so it seem ancient India was a amazing place of vash beauty and spirituality which attracted people from across the it's world it'sl living standards were also comparable to that of china or europe at that time
here is what 3rd century BCE patilaputra looked like modern day patna bihar
His successors, Budhagupta, Tathagatagupta, Baladitya, and Vajra, later extended and expanded the institution by building additional monasteries and temples.[60] Nalanda, thus flourished through the 5th and 6th centuries under the Guptas
Xuanzang's visit (630–643 CE)
[edit]
Xuanzang travelled around India between 630 and 643 CE,[72] visiting Nalanda in 637 and 642, spending a total of around two years at the monastery.[73] He was warmly welcomed in Nalanda where he received the Indian name of Mokshadeva[74] and studied under the guidance of Shilabhadra, the venerable head of the institution at the time. He believed that the aim of his arduous overland journey to India had been achieved as in Shilabhadra he had at last found an incomparable teacher to instruct him in Yogachara, a school of thought that had then only partially been transmitted to China. Besides Buddhist studies, the monk also attended courses in grammar, logic, and Sanskrit, and later also lectured at the Mahavihara.[75]
ijing notes that revenues from 200 villages (as opposed to 100 in Xuanzang's time) had been assigned toward the maintenance of Nalanda.[69] He described there being eight vihara with as many as 300 cells.[
so it seem ancient India was a amazing place of vash beauty and spirituality which attracted people from across the it's world it'sl living standards were also comparable to that of china or europe at that time
here is what 3rd century BCE patilaputra looked like modern day patna bihar
- Chandragupta Maurya made it his capital in the 4th century BCE. The city's population was around 400,000 during this period. to put that into perspective the total population of the white people in us colonies was not more than 200k in the 1600s
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