The University of Nalanda c8.23

c8.23

The vision of Buddha indeed came true. People carried out to the letter the wish of Buddha. Kings, wealthy merchants and even common people constructed *vihāras* and carved out monasteries in mountains. The *viharas* of Nālandā, and Vikramaśilā, and the caves at Ellora, Kārlā, and Nāsik and specially Kanheri,³ are living examples of the fact. A small inscription on a pillar in the *chaitya* cave at Kārlā says that the expenses of its construction were given by a particular person. From this, it appears that where a *vihāra* could not be built with the financial help of one person; many persons combined together, each donating something to the building fund of the project. Hence we said above that even common people built *vihāras*. Some of these *vihāras*, as we know, became famous centres of learning and abodes of distinguished professors.