The University of Nalanda c9.43

c9.43

Long before Śakrāditya, Aśoka had chosen this place for building a temple and a vihāra. Moreover, Nālandā was very near, not more than 7 miles, from Rājagṛha, the capital of Magadha in the time of Jarāsandha and his successors, and afterwards the centre of Buddha's religious activities. This small distance from Rājagṛha was, we think of great importance. Precisely because it was a little distant from Rājagṛha that the monasteries were built there. For the Bhikkhus and the Brahmacārins alike lived in places which were a little away from very thickly populated places, and yet not so far away that they were not within very easy reach. Even the modern colleges are built on the same principle. In short, there must be facility of access and that, we think, Nālandā afforded sufficiently.