About the two most ancient Universities of India that still speaks her glory.
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Author: Gayathri Krishnan
Ancient India boasted of many feathers in her glorious cap, one among them being the universities that imparted learning to many countries of the world.
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Takshashila University - Situated in the north-west corner of the subcontinent now near Rawalpindi in Pakistan, Takshashila was one of the most ancient Universities in India, if not the world. In 1980 Takshashila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Built in the valley between the Jhelum and Sindhu rivers it was a chief town in the state of Ghandhar. According to the Ramayana it was founded by King Bharata in the name of his son Taksha.
Students of all castes and creed- Hindus and Buddhists alike studied in the University. Subjects taught were arts, literature, music, philosophy, religion, law, chemistry, biology, astronomy, medicine, architecture, sculpture, geography and history. Even subjects like elephant riding, snake charming, removing ill omens, sorcery, witch craft, archery, agriculture and accountancy were taught. Whew…what a long list of topics.
Medical conferences were held in the University that attracted scholars from Syria, Babylon, China, Persia, Arabia and Phoenicia. The University had a host of reputed teachers like Chanakya, Dhaumiya Muni, Atreya and Nagarjuna and the student’s grade was determined by how good his teacher was. It was here that Chanakya taught Chandragupta who went on to found the Mauryan Empire.
When Alexander the Great invaded Punjab in the 4th century BC Takshashila was already an institution of very high repute. He took with him to Greece many teachers from Takshashila.
But all good things come to an end. Takshashila was invaded by Persians, Greeks, Parthians, Shakas and Kushanas from the North and the West and razed to the ground. The final blow came from the Huns in AD 450. When the Chinese traveler Huen Tsang (AD 603-64) visited Takshashila, the university had lost almost all of its glory and grandeur.
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Nalanda University - We come to know a lot about Nalanda University (in today’s Bihar), from the works of Huen Tsang. Chanakya the author of Arthasastra was born here and many scholars including Nagarjuna, Buddhagosha, Aryadeva, Kamalasheela, Karnapati, Chandrapala, Dantabadra, Dhyanachandra and Jyotipala taught here. Buddha spent a long time here and it was in Nalanda that he won over spiritual disputes with Upali Grihapathi and Deegh Tapasi who became his followers. Mahavira spend fourteen years in Nalanda propagating the Jain religion. The University became more popular after the decline of Takshashila University and after Ashoka became Emperor. He built a stupa for Buddha’s favorite disciple Sariputta who had been in Nalanda.
The ruling Gupta kings patronized Hinduism as well as Buddhism and this helped the University flourish. The campus was a very beautiful one with green gardens, lotus ponds and lakes and high terraced hostels for monks and scholars. Emperor Harshavardana donated many lands to the University and even the common people of the neighboring towns contributed food to Nalanda.
Unlike Takshashila, Nalanda University was more modern. It had a management and academic council to take charge of all affairs. Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religions were taught along with mathematics, science, medicine, Fine arts and vocational subjects. Education and boarding were free, but the selection process was a tough one. Only a few were able to pass through the entrance tests conducted by the ‘Dwarapanditas’ scholars at the door). Even so when Huen Tsang visited the university there were ten thousand students with 1500 teachers.
Students stayed in single or double rooms in hostels with alcoves on the walls for lamps and books. Women students too studied there though they were not allowed to meet men students.
The University had a huge library called ‘Dharmaganja’ which was housed in three buildings called Ratnabodi (Ocean of Pearls), Ratnasagar (Sea of Pearls) and Ratnaranjak (Pearls of recreation).
Like Takshashila, the Nalanda University fell prey to the swarming armies of Bakhtiyar Khilji in the 13th century.
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List of Universities In India, Universities India, Scholarships, Career Options, Study Aboard, Education Loan, Training Institutes. If you want more visit http://www.studyguideindia.com/
List of Universities In India
ancient India is really amazing and wondering.
INDIA IS GREAT