Debunking Myths About Nalanda's Destruction
📌 The most widespread myth is that Bakhtiyar Khalji burned and destroyed Nalanda in 1197 AD; however, Khalji never touched Nalanda.
📜 Primary sources like Minhaj-us-Siraj's *Tabqat-e-Nasiri* and the account of Tibetan monk Dharmswamin (visiting in 1234 AD) do not implicate Khalji in Nalanda's destruction.
🔍 Minhaj reported Khalji attacked Kila-e-Bihar (identified as Audand Bihar, a separate monastery near Odantpuri), mistaking it for a fort, but Nalanda is not mentioned in connection with him.

Alternative Causes of Damage and Fire
🔥 The myth that Turks burned Nalanda is unsupported by primary sources, although archaeological evidence shows partial burning and ash deposits.
📜 Two Tibetan Buddhist sources from the 17th and 18th centuries (Taranath and Sumpa Khanpo) suggest that Brahmins (Tirthaka) set fire to sections of Nalanda, like the Ratnabodhi library, in revenge after being mistreated by Buddhist monks.
🏛️ An inscription from 103 AD, centuries before any Turk arrived, documents a major fire that destroyed Nalanda, which was later partially restored under Mahipaladeva.

Gradual Decline of Nalanda
📉 Scholars suggest Nalanda's demise was a slow, gradual process, visible from the 9th to 10th centuries, rather than a sudden catastrophic event.
👑 The biggest factor in Nalanda's decline was the shift in patronage from the Pala rulers of Bengal to the establishment of newer Viharas like Odantpuri and Vikramshila.
💰 Internal issues, including feudal living and greed among monks hoarding wealth rather than supporting the university, led to social inequality and the local population withdrawing patronage.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ Historical narratives popular on platforms like WhatsApp often contain inaccuracies regarding major historical events, requiring verification against primary historical sources.
➡️ Primary sources closest to the event (e.g., **Minhaj's *Tabqat-e-Nasiri*) indicate Bakhtiyar Khalji attacked Audand Bihar, not Nalanda.
➡️ Nalanda's ultimate fate was determined by shifting political patronage and internal institutional issues**, culminating in a gradual decline rather than a single dramatic destruction event by a villain.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Oct 12, 2025, 16:49 UTC