Deities that are found from the Nalanda in the early part of 19th Century show the seat of Buddhist learning in early India.
The traditional sources state that Nalanda University in ancient India was visited by both Lord Mahavira and Gautama Buddha in 6th and 5th century BC.
Nalanda is also the place of birth and nirvana of Shariputra, one of the famous disciples of Gautama Buddha. Some of the deities of Buddhism and Hinduism traditions are Aryabhata, Aryadeva, student of Nagarjuna, Atisha, Mahayana and Vajrayana scholar Chandrakirti, student of Nagarjuna, Dharmakirti, logician, Dharmapala, Dignaga, founder of Buddhist Logic, Nagarjuna, formaliser of the concept of Shunyata, Naropa, student of Tilopa and teacher of Marpa, Shilabhadra, the teacher of Hiuen Tsang and Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang and Yijing. Other deities found in Nalanda ruins are Lord Vishnu, Khasarpana, Panini, Goddess Durga, Lord Krishna and Balarama.
Silabhadra
Silabhadra was a Buddhist monk and philosopher. He is best known as a teacher of Nalanda and the teacher of Hiuen Tsang.
Dharmapala
Dharmapala was a Brahmin Buddhist scholar in Pala Dynasty of Bengal. He was one of the main teachers of the Yogacara School in India. He was a contemporary of Bhavaviveka with whom he debated.
Dignaga
Dignaga was an Indian scholar and one of the Buddhist founders of Indian logic. His work laid the groundwork for the development of deductive logic in India and founded the school of Buddhist logic.
Nagarjuna
Nagarjuna is widely considered one of the most important Buddhist philosophers after Gautama Buddha. Along with his disciple Aryadeva, he is considered to be the founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism. Nagarjuna is also credited with developing the philosophy of the Prajnaparamita sutras.
Naropa
Naropa was an Indian Buddhist monk. He was the disciple of Tilopa and brother of Niguma. As an Indian monk, Naropa`s instructions inform Vajrayana, particularly his six yogas of Naropa relevant to the completion stage of "Anuttarayogatantra".
Aryabhata
Aryabhata was the first of the major mathematicians from the classical age of Indian mathematics and Indian astronomy. His works include the Aryabhatiya and the Arya-siddhanta.
Dharmakirti
Dharmakirti was a Buddhist scholar of India. He was one of the Buddhist founders of Indian philosophical logic. He was one of the primary theorists of Buddhist atomism, according to which the only items considered to exist are momentary states of consciousness.
Chandrakirti
Chandrakirti was a Buddhist scholar at Nalanda monastery. He was a disciple of Nagarjuna and a commentator on his works and those of his main disciple, Aryadeva. He was born into a Brahmin family in Samanta which is located in the southern part of India.
