The University of Nalanda c8.25

c8.25

Buddha, we learn from *Vinaya Texts*, had no particular *vihāra* of his own. He usually put up in an *ārāma* of some "*Setthi*", i.e., rich merchant, or sometimes in the *ārāmas* of King Bimbisāra. We have observed that Buddha permitted the use of *vihāras*, *addhāyogas*, storied dwellings, attics and caves.¹ If some were to think that these abodes, meant as they were for the use of *Bhikkhus*, must be nothing more than a hut, there can be no greater misconception of the Buddhist habitations. Buddha, we shall see in a future Chapter, was very liberal in his views as regards dress, etc. He even allowed the use of silk robes. In the case of *vihāras* and *Saṅghārāmas*, the same broad-mindedness and reforming zeal are visible. Instead of huts of Puritan simplicity, we find descriptions of *vihāras* in *Mahāvagga* and *Cullavagga*, which simply astound us. The *vihāras* were full-fledged houses. Verandah, covered terraces, inner verandhas, overhanging eaves, store-rooms, and service halls gradually came to be built as the number of *Bhikkhus* increased.² Furniture was also luxurious; cushions, chairs, armchairs, sofas, bedsteads, all were there, provided they were given as a gift to the *Saṅgha*, or provided they became the property of the *saṅgha* without being paid anything for them.³ Even, so early as *Pātimokkha* which was, perhaps, the earliest Buddhist compendium of *Vinaya* rules,⁴ a bedstead, chair, mat, stool, etc., formed the furniture of the cell of a *vihāra*.⁵ There was a ceiling usually of cloth, which prevented any dust or serpent, etc., from falling from the roof.⁶ Another fact which leads us to conclude that *vihāras* were much better, more spacious, and better decorated than the Ṛṣiāśramas is that the walls of *vihāras* were coloured red, and white washed, while the floor was coloured black.¹ Roofs of *vihāras* were usually made of brick, stone and cement.² That is to say, they were just like terraces. If we are told that straw also was used for preparing the roof, we think, that it must be for some temporary structures. Anātha Piṇḍika’s description of an *ārāma*, i.e., *Saṅghārāma* in *Cullavagga*³ will stand comparison with any college of to-day.