Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s2.t14.7

v1.c7.s2.t14.7

The Chinese accounts tell us that Nalanda accommodated about 1,500 teachers and 10,000 resident monk scholars during its heyday. The process of admission to the Mahāvihāra was elaborate and tough with only one or two out of 10 getting admitted. Once admitted, monks and scholars studied works related to Mahāyāna, Hīnayāna (18 sects), the Vedas and the five traditional areas of knowledge (*pancvidyå*), namely Hetuvada (logic), *Śabdavidya* (grammar and philosophy), *Cikitsāvidya* (medicine), *Silpakarmavidya* (fine arts) and *Adhyātmavidya* (metaphysics).