| Nava Vihāra | |
|---|---|
| Native name नवविहार (Sanskrit) | |
   | |
| Type | Buddhist monasteries |
| Location | Balkh, Ghor Province, Afghanistan |
| Built | Second century CE (possibly earlier) |
| Built by | Potentially founded by Kushan emperor Kaniska |
| Demolished | Damaged during various conflicts |
The Nava Vihāra (Sanskrit: नवविहार; Persian: نوبهار; lit. 'New Monastery') were two Buddhist monasteries close to the ancient city of Balkh in northern Afghanistan. Historical accounts report it as flourishing as an important centre of Buddhism between the seventh and eleventh centuries CE. It may have been founded considerably earlier, perhaps in or after the reign of the Kushan emperor Kaniṣka, in the second century CE.[1][2][3]
- ^ Historical reports referring to the monastery span from Xuanzang to Al Biruni.
- ^ History of Buddhism and Islam in Afghanistan, Last accessed 03 Jan 2008
- ^ van Bladel, Kevin (2011). "The Bactrian Background of the Barmakids". In Anna Akasoy and Charles Burnett and Ronit Yoeli-Tlalim (ed.). Islam and Tibet Interactions along the Musk Routes. Farnham, UK: Ashgate. pp. 43–88. ISBN 978-0-7546-6956-2.