[Solved] Why did Nalanda Mahavihara decline? | History Analysis

Assertion (A): Till the end of twelfth century Nalanda Mahavihara lost its glory. Reason (R): State protection ceased to be available to Mahavihara.

[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

The survival of massive educational institutions in ancient India was directly linked to continuous royal patronage (land grants and revenue).

Authentic Source Evidence

Nalanda was patronized by the Guptas, Harsha, and the Palas. When the Pala dynasty weakened and state priorities shifted, the university lost its primary financial base, making it vulnerable.

Analytical Breakdown

Assertion (A): True. Nalanda was destroyed around 1197 CE by Bakhtiyar Khalji.

Reason (R): True. The decline of the Pala dynasty and the lack of strong central patronage in Bihar by the late 12th century significantly weakened the institution's ability to maintain its defenses and operations.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Who finally destroyed the Nalanda library?"

The Turkic invader Bakhtiyar Khalji destroyed the university and its legendary library, known as Dharma Gunj.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Nalanda's end was a combination of shifting political structures (loss of state support) and catastrophic external invasion."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Bakhtiyar Khalji 4 Land Grants 4 Agrahara 4