[Buddha-l] Nalanda's library destruction

[Ngawang Dorje]

Hi Dan,

Here's the passage from Tabaqat-i-Nasiri:

"Great plunder fell into the hands of the victors. Most of the inhabi­tants of the place were Brahmans with shaven heads. They were put to death. Large numbers of books were found there, and when the Muhammadans saw them, they called for some persons to explain their contents, but all the men had been killed. It was discovered that the whole fort and city was a place of study (madrasa). In the Hindí language the word Behár (vihár) means a college."


Regards,
Rahula


________________________________
 From: Dan Lusthaus <vasubandhu at earthlink.net>
To: Buddhist discussion forum <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Nalanda&#x27;s library destruction
 

Hi Rahula,

By the 18th century, Tibetans had largely replaced the historical Buddhist 
India with an Indian Imaginaire of their own devising. The Persian, etc. 
sources are much closer to the actual events.

As Dharmasvamin explains, there was no rebuilding after the "Turushka 
raiders" left. They continued to terrorize the neighborhood, even after 
Nalanda was in ruins and no one remained.

It's your choice -- history or edifying fairy tales.

Dan