#nalanda

I drew the accessories as they wore it the time these two got burned,the library of Alexandria(43 BC) and Nalanda(1193 CE)

(I tried to draw burn scars since both were burned)

Also,the forehead accessories are supposed to represent the different gods of knowledge

Nalanda had both hindu and buddhist manuscripts,plus of course it was located in modern day Bihar,so I included a swan on the headpiece,associated with saraswati,the hindu goddess of knowledge

A lot of knowledge gone indeed. Takshashila was conquered by the Hunas, Sveta-Hunas and Alchon Hunas and there was the Turk Shahi and Hindu Shahi dynasties (both were Hindu and Buddhist rules, the Hunas embraced Hinduism). This coincided with the decline of the Kushan Empire and the Gupta Empire. Four centuries later, Ghazni would invade the region.

Origins of Nalanda University:

Nalanda University was founded in the 5th century CE, during the reign of the Gupta Empire, which is often referred to as a golden age of Indian culture and learning. The university was established by Kumaragupta I, a Gupta emperor, and it quickly became a prominent center for Buddhist studies. The name "Nalanda" is derived from the Sanskrit words "Nala" (lotus) and "da" (giver), symbolizing the university as a giver of knowledge.

Glory During the Gupta Empire:

Under the Gupta Empire, Nalanda flourished as a major center of learning and attracted students and scholars from various regions, including China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, and Southeast Asia. The university was renowned for its comprehensive curriculum, which included subjects such as philosophy, logic, grammar, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and the arts. The institution was characterized by its impressive architecture, with numerous monasteries, temples, and libraries, and it is estimated to have housed around 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers at its peak.

Great Indian Scholars:

Nalanda was home to many great Indian scholars, including:

Nagarjuna (c. 150–250 CE): A pivotal philosopher in Mahayana Buddhism, Nagarjuna is best known for developing the concept of "emptiness" (śūnyatā) and founding the Madhyamaka school of thought, which emphasized the middle path between existence and non-existence.

Vasubandhu (c. 4th–5th century CE): A prominent philosopher and one of the founders of the Yogacara school of Buddhism, Vasubandhu made significant contributions to Buddhist philosophy and psychology. His works, including the "Abhidharmakosa," are foundational texts in Buddhist studies.

Dharmakirti (c. 7th century CE): An influential logician and epistemologist, Dharmakirti's writings on logic and perception shaped Buddhist philosophy and had a lasting impact on Indian and Tibetan thought.

Shantarakshita (c. 8th century CE): A philosopher and abbot of Nalanda, Shantarakshita played a crucial role in the spread of Buddhism in Tibet and is known for his works on logic and philosophy.

Visits from Monks and Scholars:

Nalanda became a melting pot of cultures and ideas, drawing many eminent scholars and monks. Notable figures include:

Xuanzang (Hsuan-tsang): A Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the 7th century to study at Nalanda. His detailed accounts of his journey and the teachings he encountered are invaluable historical documents that provide insight into the university's operations and the broader cultural context of the time.

Yijing (I-tsing): Another Chinese monk who visited Nalanda in the late 7th century, Yijing studied Sanskrit and Buddhist texts and later wrote about his experiences, contributing to the understanding of Buddhist practices and education in India.

Atisha: A Tibetan scholar who studied at Nalanda in the 11th century, Atisha played a crucial role in the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet.

Books and Manuscripts:

Nalanda was renowned for its vast library, known as Dharmaganja, which housed thousands of manuscripts and texts on various subjects. Scholars at Nalanda produced and preserved a wealth of knowledge, including commentaries on Buddhist scriptures, philosophical treatises, and scientific works. The library was said to contain texts in multiple languages, including Sanskrit, Pali, and Tibetan, making it a crucial repository of knowledge in ancient India.

Destruction of Nalanda:

The destruction of Nalanda University in the late 12th century was a catastrophic event that not only marked the end of one of the world's oldest centers of learning but also resulted in the irrevocable loss of a vast repository of knowledge. The university, which had flourished for several centuries, was renowned for its extensive library, Dharmaganja, which housed thousands of manuscripts covering a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and Buddhist texts.

The library was said to have been so vast that it took months to burn all the manuscripts after the invasion, symbolizing the immense loss of intellectual heritageThe invasion by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193 was a turning point for Nalanda. Khilji's forces not only destroyed the physical structures of the university but also targeted the scholars and monks who had dedicated their lives to the pursuit of knowledge.

Most commonly romantic poetry like Ghazals -a form of Arabic poetry that made its way over to South Asia: odes of long lost lovers, tragedy, separation, stuff to pull at your heart strings. And, shairi, another Arab/Persian kind of poetry that is built on monorhymed quatrains or four sixteen syllable lines (keeping to the same rhyme scheme) with a caesura used between lines 8//9 to break up the first half from the second. During the British Occupation, they were simply called, Nautch girls or dance girls. But this is far from all they did or were capable of. The name itself, Tawaif, is the term for a HIGHLY SKILLED courtesan. They were trained to the upmost of artistic forms.

They were not there to perform sex acts - that was often incidental and not contractual. And the women had the power to rebuff men's advances.

The Tawaifs of India were regarded as some of the greatest performing artists of their time with documented praise and examples from travelers such as Xuanzang, a Chinese pilgrim, notable traveling Buddhist Monk and scholar who frequented India, remarking on the Tawaifs skill, beauty, and performances during once such visit to the Sun Temple in Multan. Al-Biruni, often regarded as the father of Comparative Religion studies, an Iranian polymath and scholar, regarded on their skill and larger numbers during the 11th century CE upon a visit, Ganikas, another entertainer, are a public dancing girl (very common in cities from the Vedic period upward) who received classical arts training (most obviously dancing) and often performed from public settings up to royal private ones - and would compete to become Nagarvadhu - the most beautiful woman and most highly talented in forms of art (dance mostly).

Many young girls would leave or were taken to be taught these skills, and yes, there were schools for this too as well as private tutelage. People don't often realize this, but Ancient India was a place of extreme learning with all kinds of schools for different disciplines. A place of academies. Something I've talked about, like places like Nalanda, the world's oldest residential university that attracted people from far as Greece to Japan.

Shantideva's Prayer

May all Beings everywhere Plagued by sufferings of body and mind Obtain an ocean of Happiness and joy By virtue of my merits. May no living creature suffer, Commit evil, or ever fall ill. May no one be afraid or belittled, With a mind weighed down by depression. May the blind see forms And the deaf hear sounds, May those whose bodies are worn with toil Be restored on finding repose. May the naked find clothing, The hungry find food; May the thirsty find water And delicious drinks. May the poor find wealth, Those weak with sorrow find joy; May the forlorn find hope, Constant happiness, and prosperity. May there be timely rains And bountiful harvests; May all medicines be effective And wholesome prayers bear fruit. May all who are sick and ill Quickly be freed from their ailments. Whatever diseases there are in the world, May they never occur again. May the frightened cease to be afraid And those bound be freed; May the powerless find power, And may people think of benefiting each other. For as long as space remains, For as long as sentient beings remain, Until then may I too remain To dispel the miseries of the world.