Centres of Education in Ancient India: Famous Universities!

With numerous well-known educational institutions that thrived throughout the subcontinent, ancient India was a major center of learning. Scholars from all over the world were drawn to institutions like Takshashila, Nalanda, and Vikramashila because of their renowned academic environments. Philosophy, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and grammar were among the many subjects taught at these centers. By fusing intellectual pursuit with moral and spiritual instruction, they were instrumental in the creation and dissemination of knowledge.

A major part of the UGC NET History syllabus covers ancient education. This article will examine the Mahaviharas as Centres of Education for the UGC NET History Exam. Each year one or two questions are taken from this section.

In this article the readers will be able to know about the following: 

• Introduction to Education in Ancient India
• Main Centres of Ancient Indian Education

Introduction to Education in Ancient India

Based on the principles of knowledge, discipline, and moral growth, education was a highly esteemed and essential component of ancient Indian society. It was mainly taught in Gurukuls, where students resided with their gurus and received all-encompassing education in a variety of subjects, including philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, the arts, and the Vedas. Learning was focused on developing one's character, self-discipline, and spirituality in addition to theoretical knowledge. Prominent educational institutions such as Takshashila, Nalanda, and Vikramashila became international centers of learning, drawing scholars and students from far and wide. India and the rest of the world were impacted by the intellectual and cultural breakthroughs made possible by this antiquated educational system.

Fig: Centres of Education in Ancient India

Takshashila, Nalanda, and Vikramashila, the principal hubs of ancient Indian education, were well-known for their sophisticated education and drew pupils from all over Asia. In ancient India and beyond, these establishments were crucial in forming intellectual, cultural, and spiritual ideas.

Taxila or Takshashila

Beginning at least in the sixth century BCE, Takshashila, also called Taxila, was one of the first and most important educational hubs in ancient India. Situated in modern-day Pakistan, it drew students from China, Greece, and Central Asia, among other places. Medicine, law, military science, politics, grammar, and philosophy were just a few of the many subjects that were offered at the university. Notably, Takshashila was linked to academics like Chanakya and Panini, demonstrating its profound intellectual impact.

Mahavihara Somapura

One of the biggest and most significant Buddhist monastic universities in South Asia was Somapura Mahavihara, which is now in Paharpur, Bangladesh. The Pala emperor Dharmapala constructed it in the latter part of the eighth century, and it developed into a thriving Mahayana Buddhist center. Other Buddhist monasteries in the area and Southeast Asia were impacted by its imposing architecture and well-organized design. Monks and students traveled from Tibet, China, and Myanmar to visit the vihara.

Nalanda

Perhaps the most renowned ancient university in Indian history is Nalanda University, which was founded in Bihar, India, in the fifth century CE. It offered courses in Buddhist texts, logic, grammar, medicine, and mathematics, and it had more than 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The university had a huge library called "Dharma Gunj," which was well-known for its enormous manuscript collection. There, academics from all over Asia studied and taught, including the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang.

Valabhi University

From the sixth to the twelfth centuries CE, Valabhi University, located in modern-day Gujarat, was a significant academic hub. It provided secular instruction in political science, law, and economics, despite being best known for its focus on Hinayana Buddhism. It attracted students from all over India and was backed by the Maitraka kings. Because of its scholarly contributions and high academic standards, Valabhi was frequently compared to Nalanda.

Sharada Peeth

Located in what is now Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Sharada Peeth was a long-standing educational institution and a hallowed temple. In addition to being an essential location for the study of Hindu philosophy, grammar, and the arts, it played a crucial role in the creation of the Sharada script. In order to gain knowledge from Sharada Peeth's learned priests and sages, scholars came from all over India. Being one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas in Hindu tradition, it also had religious significance.

Pushpagiri Vihara

An important Buddhist university that flourished starting in the third century CE was Pushpagiri Vihara, which is thought to be located in Odisha. Although its precise location is still up for debate, it is mentioned in inscriptions and in the accounts of Chinese pilgrims. The university was well-known for its contributions to Vajrayana and Mahayana Buddhism. It advanced Buddhist scholarship and missionary work in concert with other institutions such as Nalanda and Vikramashila.

Odantapuri University

One of the first Buddhist monastic universities in Bihar was Odantapuri University, founded in the eighth century CE by the Pala king Gopala. Later establishments such as Vikramashila and Jagaddala were modeled after it. Among other things, it provided instruction in logic, medicine, and Buddhist texts. Along with many of its sister institutions, the university was ultimately destroyed during the 12th-century Muslim invasions.

Vikramashila

A significant hub of Buddhist scholarship in Bihar, India, Vikramashila was established by King Dharmapala in the latter part of the eighth century CE. It gained notoriety for its specialized instruction in Tantric Buddhism and was founded in response to what was thought to be a decline in academic performance at Nalanda. The university had a well-structured faculty system and a strict admissions procedure. Additionally, it sent scholars overseas to spread Buddhist teachings and kept close ties with other monasteries.

Bikrampur Vihara

Located in modern-day Bangladesh, Bikrampur Vihara was a thriving hub for Buddhist culture and education. It contributed significantly to the preservation and dissemination of Buddhist teachings in the area, despite being less well-known than Nalanda or Vikramashila. The ascent of well-known Buddhist scholars like Atisha Dipankara, who subsequently helped Buddhism spread throughout Tibet, was intimately associated with it. The vihara was a component of a larger system of educational establishments during the Pala period.

Jagaddala Mahavihara

In what is now Bangladesh, a Pala king established Jagaddala Mahavihara in the eleventh century CE. It functioned as a scholarly center for textual translation and philosophical discussion and was well-known for its emphasis on Vajrayana Buddhism. The university contributed to a rich academic exchange by working with other important centers like Vikramashila and Nalanda. The invasions that caused Buddhist institutions in eastern India to collapse coincided with Jagaddala's decline.

Conclusion

In addition to being centers of academic achievement, ancient Indian educational institutions served as a foundation for the advancement of culture and religion. A tradition of holistic education that blended intellectual pursuits with moral and spiritual principles was promoted by universities such as Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, and others. Scholars and students from all over Asia were drawn to these institutions, fostering a thriving intellectual and philosophical exchange. Their contributions to fields like logic, mathematics, philosophy, medicine, and Buddhist studies had a long-lasting effect on world knowledge systems. Their legacy continues to inspire contemporary education and scholarly traditions worldwide, despite the fact that many of these centers were ultimately destroyed or declined as a result of invasions and shifting political environments.

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Previous Year Questions on Centres of Education in Ancient India

1. Which of the following universities in ancient India attained celebrity as seats of both Brahmanical and Buddhist learning during Siddha-Nagarjuna’s time?

Options: A. Nalanda

1. Takshashila
2. Dharmaganja
3. Sridhanya Katak

Answer: D. Sridhanya Katak