今天我們可以輕易地看到許多優秀的大學，但是沒有一所大學能像那爛陀那樣享有聲望和榮耀。儘管，那爛陀大學早在13世紀初在一夕間成為廢墟般。那爛陀寺將是印度歷史最悠久的大寺院(Mahāvihāra)，它不僅在教育領域做出了貢獻，而且發展了自己的文化和傳統，並帶給世界利益。本文的主題是基於「毀壞」和「衰落」這兩個特定的詞彙來探索那爛陀寺 (Nālandā Mahāvihāra) 之傾頹，此是一場突如其來的災難，亦或是一場逐漸衰落。根據學者研究，最普遍的結論，大多指向阿富汗侵略者穆罕默德（Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji，卒於西元1206），是他用大火燒毀的，從最上層火堆上之灰燼和木炭足以證實之。許多證據支持這一假設，但所有可用的證據似乎從未被彙集到一起進行批判性分析。本文旨在對這一假設進行詳細的探討，以揭示那爛陀衰落的原因。 本文之研究範圍限定在七世紀到十三世紀，特別是歷經兩個不同王朝，從戒日及波羅王直到12世紀後葉，國王之贊助及保護，均可見到。最主要一手資料來源是，曾於七世紀訪問過那爛陀的中國朝聖者玄奘和義淨的史料紀錄，進行一個批判性研究。 Nowadays it became easier to find plenty of good Universities (Mahāvihāra) in the world, but none has got that prestigious and privileged position as much respect as Nālandā did, despite the fact that N ā land ā University became aruin in the early 13th century. Nāland ā was perhaps the longest-lived of the Mahāvihāra of India and its contribution was not only in the field of education but also it has developed its own culture and tradition, and it benefited to all over the world. My topic of this paper is based on the two specific words – “Destruction” and “Decline” to ponder over the demise of Nālandā Mahāvihāra, either hastened by a sudden catastrophe or a gradual downfall. The most popular conclusion among scholars is the destruction by the Afghan invader, Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji (died1206) who burnt it down as evident by the piles of ashes and charcoal on the uppermost stratum by fire. Many proofs have advanced for this hypothesis, but the whole of the available evidence seems never have been brought together for critical analysis. This paper aims to investigate this hypothesis in detail to unearth the reasons for the decline of Nālandā. The scope of this paper is limited to the seventh to the thirteenth century, especially after two different monarchies, Harsha, and the Pala until a twelfth-century later, some Rajput kings' patronage or protection can be seen. The most important source of information is a critical study of the historical records of the Chinese pilgrims Xuanzang (玄奘) and I-Tsing (義淨) who visited Nalanda in the 7th century.AD.
