We all know that Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) has traveled extensively across India covering most of the important Buddhist sites in this country. It was his recorded narrative that we get to see the past of India’s Buddhism and its influence on our society. Hiuen Tsang visited Nalanda between 637 and 642 CE and spent almost two years here. During that period, he was initially a student but later became a teacher parting. Even though the duration of his stay was small his influence and recorded experience are truly praiseworthy. The testament to this was the reason for the building of Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall in Nalanda.
Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall
To commemorate the work done by Xuanzang a construction of a memorial hall was proposed by Jagdish Kashyap. He was a Buddhist scholar and back in 1950’s he was then the director of the Nav Nalanda Mahavihara. He wanted to build a memorial to honor Xuanzang by constructing a memorial hall in his name. For this, he had also urged Zhou Enlai who was then the Premier of the People’s Republic of China to send relics belonging to Xuanzang to be kept at the memorial hall.
1957 Dalai Lama on behalf of the Chinese government gifted a relic belonging to Xuanzang along with some Buddhist spiritual text. Originally the relic was kept at the Temple of Great Compassion in Tianjin. Along with this, a set of valuable books consisting of forty-one volumes of Tripitak and funds of around four lakhs were also sent as a gift for this initiative. These were received by then-the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru in the year 1957. The Government of India provided additional funds of five lakhs for this initiative.
Ironically the same Dalai Lama escaped to India just two years later fleeing Tibet which was gripped by the cultural revolution in China.
The construction work started in 1957 and was completed in 1984 taking almost twenty-seven years. We all know that in the early 1960’s there was the Sino-Indian War and that could very well be the reason why the memorial hall took so many years to be constructed. With public sentiments not in favor of the aggressor it was perhaps put on the backburner.
In 2001 the Memorial Hall administration was handed over to the Nav Nalanda Mahavihara.
The relic containing a small skull bone which was encased inside a crystal casket was never brought to this memorial hall initially and remained at the old Patna Museum. Only in 2003 initiatives were taken to move this relic to the place where it was originally intended. Additional funds were also allocated for the much-needed repair of the Memorial Hall. Initiatives were also started to construct an extension on the north and south sides of the Memorial Hall.
In 2007 the relic arrived at the Xuanzang Memorial Hall in Nalanda.
In 2022 it was decided to start the construction of the much-awaited Xuanzang Museum which was initially planned along with the Memorial Hall. As of 2024, the construction is on and hopefully will be completed within a year.
Jagdish Kashyap The Man Behind The Memorial Hall
I felt that it is also important to know a little more about Jagdish Kashyap the man who initiated the construction of the Memorial Hall.
Bhikshu’ Jagdish Kashyap (Jagdish Narayan) was born in Ranchi to Shyamnarayan Lal (father) & Bataso Devi (mother) on the 2nd of May 1908, they were originally from Ronia a village in Khidir Sarai in Gaya district. After doing his initial schooling from Ranchi he went on to do his college education from Patna and later from Banaras Hindu University.
Initially, he was into Arya Samaj rising to the position of a preacher later on in life in Sri Lanka he was introduced to Buddhism which he adopted as his future way of life. He came back to India and post-independence in 1951 he became the director of Pali Institute which we now know as Nava Nalanda Mahavihara. He was instrumental in starting and developing this institute which is now a deemed university. During his lifetime he translated many Tripitaka texts around forty-one volumes.
He died on the 28th of January 1976 in Rajgir.
What To See At Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall
The whole building complex has been designed as a traditional Chinese temple. Right from the main gate to the actual Memorial Hall will give you a feel that you are somewhere in mainland China. The two new extension wings that are currently being constructed are also in a similar fashion.
After entering the main gate right in the middle, you will find a large statue of Hiuen Tsang. On the left side after entering the gate you will find a memorial column dedicated to the Tripitaka master Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang). On the right hand, you will see a decorated bell housed within a small enclosure.
The main hall consists of a Buddha statue right across the main gate. Surrounding this on the walls you will find beautiful murals and paintings depicting the life of Buddha. On the left of the statue, you will find a stone structure resembling the footprints of Buddha.
All around the room, you will find exhibits telling you the journey of Xuanzang. Unfortunately, due to security reasons, you will not find the relic on display out here.
On the North and South side of the Memorial Hall, you will see construction in full swing for the Xuanzang Museum.
Location Of Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall
The Memorial Hall is located very near to the ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara Archaeological Site right next to Surajpur Lake. It can be easily visited on foot from the Nalanda Mahavihara Archaeological Site or you can visit this place if you have come with your vehicle. There is ample free parking space available outside the memorial complex. I have seen many visitors visiting this place in e-rickshaws which take you around the various tourist attractions around Nalanda complex.
This is a ticketed place and remains open seven days a week between 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry tickets would cost Rs. 15 for adults and Rs. 5 for a child. Typically, it would take around forty-five minutes to an hour to cover this place.
Location Of Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall On Map
Other Blogs on Nalanda
Nalanda Mahavihara Archaeological Site
References
Colbase
Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
Live Hindustan
The Telegraph
Nava Nalanda Mahavihara
Times Of India
Prabhat Khabar