The Buddhist Monasteries of Paharpur: Bengal's Lost University

Before Nalanda, before Oxford, there was Somapura Mahavihara — the great monastery of Paharpur, built in the 8th century by the Pala emperor Dharmapala. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the ruins of what was once the largest Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas, a center of learning that drew scholars from China, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. They discuss the unique cruciform design of the central temple, the terracotta plaques that depict daily life in medieval Bengal, and the monastery's links to the great Buddhist philosopher Atisha Dipankara. They also trace its decline after the Sena dynasty's rise and its rediscovery by British archaeologists in the 19th century. Along the way, they touch on the monastery's water management system, its influence on Javanese temple architecture, and its status today as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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