06/21/2024
This is an interesting look at what CHAT GPT responds to.
Who are the pass-outs from Nalanda University?
Nalanda University was an eminent center of learning in ancient India, and several notable scholars and students were associated with it. While exact records of all alumni are not available, some of the renowned individuals known to have been linked with Nalanda include:
1. Xuanzang (Hsuan Tsang): A Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and translator who traveled to India in the 7th century. He studied at Nalanda and later documented his journey and experiences in the famous work “Great Tang Records on the Western Regions.”
2. Yijing (I Ching): Another Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler, Yijing visited Nalanda in the 7th century. He stayed there for over a decade, translating numerous Buddhist texts into Chinese.
3. Dharmapala: A prominent Buddhist scholar and monk who became the head of Nalanda. He was an important figure in the development of Buddhist philosophy.
4. Shilabhadra: A renowned Buddhist philosopher and the abbot of Nalanda during the time of Xuanzang’s visit. He was Xuanzang’s teacher and a significant influence on Buddhist thought.
5. Aryabhata: Although not conclusively proven, some sources suggest that Aryabhata, the great Indian mathematician and astronomer, may have had connections with Nalanda.
6. Nagarjuna: An influential Buddhist philosopher and founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism. Some traditions associate him with Nalanda, although this connection is not definitively established.
These individuals and their contributions highlight the significance of Nalanda University as a center for intellectual and cultural exchange in ancient times