Educational Institutions - Taxila, Nalanda and Vallabhi

Question 1

Takshila University Intro

Answer 1

1. Takshila was a famous University of Ancient India (5th CE BC), located on the banks of river Indus river at the crossroads of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.
2. It was a center of Buddhist learnings, especially Mahayana Buddhism.
3. In the mid - 19th Century, famous archaelogist Sir Alexander Cunningham uncovered the remains of Takhsila.
4. It was a higher education center and offered over 60 courses in a variety of subjects such as Vedas, Vedanta, Vyakaran, Ayurveda, Surgery, 18 crafts (Sippas), Military education including warfare and archery, Astronomy, Agriculture, Commerce, Politics etc.
5. This university educated over 10,500 students from all over Aryavrat and as far away as Greece, Arabia and China.

Question 2

Teachers at Takshila

Answer 2

It was a residential campus and housed thousands of teachers. Among the notable teachers who claimed to have taught at Takshilla are -
1. Panini, a renowned Sanskrit scholar, and grammarian. There, he wrote his best work - Ashtadhyayi (8 chapters). It is a book on Sanskrit grammer.
2. Chanakya - the powerful PM of C Maurya, the founder of Maurya Empire is also said to have taught in Takshilla.
3. Kumaralata, the founder of the Sautrantika School, was also an exceptional teacher at Takhshila university and drew students from as far as China. (Acc. to Yuan Chwang, a 3rd Century Buddhist monk and traveler.)

Question 3

Students at Takshila

Answer 3

Several of the Buddha’s contemporaries and close followers are reported to have studied at Takshila, including -
1. Jivaka, Rajgriha’s court doctor and Buddha’s personal doctor.
2. Charaka, the Indian ‘father of medicine’ and one of the foremost Ayurvedic gurus.
3. Though C Maurya, the eventual ruler of the Mauryan empire, was born in Patna (Bihar) in Magadha, Buddhist literature claims that Chanakya took him to Takshila for his study and education.

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

1. The university’s operations appear to have come to an end w the destruction by Toramana, an Alcon Hun ruler in the 5th CE AD.
2. Hindus and Buddhist regard Takshilla as a place of religious and historical sanctity, as it was the seat of Vedic learning.
3. The institution is significant in Buddhist tradition because it is thought to be the birthplace of the Mahayana Sect of Buddhism.

Question 5

Nalanda University Intro

Answer 5

1. Nalanda University is considered as the 1st residential university by historians. It was built by Kumaragupta of the Gupta period in 5th century BC.
2. It is located in Rajgir District in Nalanda, Bihar.
3. It was an abode of learning, eminence and intellectual sharing.
4. Prominent rulers of the time, including King Harshvardhana of Kannauj, Pala rulers and many scholars patronised Nalanda.
5. It mainly belongs to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.

Question 6

Valabhi University

Answer 6

1. Valabhi University was a major Buddhist (Hinayana sect) study centre between 600 and 1400 CE.
2. It was located in the Bhavnagar region of Gujarat in North India.

Question 7

Nalanda University Conclusion

Answer 7

1. Nalanda University was destroyed by Mohd Bhaktiyar Khaki, with an intent to evade the roots of knowledge of Buddhism and Ayurveda. He set fire to the library of Nalanda.
2. The University was featured in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009.
3. Nalanda University was resurrected in 2010 and is designated as an institution of national importance. Currently, it is working under the Ministry of External Affairs.

Question 8

Nalanda University - Features

Answer 8

1. It is also referred to as ‘one of the first greatest universities in recorded history’.
2. Major monks who have been reported to study here are followers of Mahayana sect such as Asnaga and Vasubandhu.
3. Mahayana Buddhism was the primary subject of instruction.
4. Other subjects were also taught such as grammar, logic, epistemology and science.
5. The University had 10 temples, mediation centres and world’s largest library which housed not only religious manuscripts but a vast collection of books on all kinds of subjects.
6. Famous scholars of Nalanda are - Nagarjuna (Madhyamika Shunyavad) and Aryabhatta, the astronomer.
   7.During King Harsha’s reign, Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang visited Nalanda University and wrote a detailed account of it.
   8.A large number of students had come to study from China, Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, and other Asian countries.
   9.I Tsing, a chinese scholar, stated the Nalanda University housed 2000 students and was supported by money from 200 villages.
   10.A treasure trove of sculptures, coins, seals and inscriptions have been discovered in the ruins, many of which are now on display at nearby Nalanda Archaeological museum.
   11.The monastery’s regulations were stringent, and everyone had to abide by them.
   12.Throughout the day, there were discussions, and the old and young assisted one another.

Question 9

Valabhi University Background

Answer 9

1. It was a Hinayana Buddhist learning center between 600 CE and 1400 CE, built by Bhattarka, the Maitraka King.
2. The Maitraka kings acted as patrons of the university.
3. During the period 480 - 775 CE, Valabhi was the capital of the Maitraka Kingdom.
4. The patron kings fell victim to an Arab assault in 775 CE and the university suffered a brief setback as a result of this.
5. In the 12th CE, the loss of its patron monarchs had inevitably led to the gradual demise of all of its eduational operations.

Question 10

Valabhi University features

Answer 10

1. Along with Buddhist ideas, Brahmanical sciences were also taught.
2. Aside from religious sciences, following courses were available -
   * Niti (Political science, Statesmanship).
   * Varta (Business, Agriculture)
   * Administration
   * Philosophy
   * Accounting, Law and economics.
   1.It drew students from all over the countries, even neighbouring countries.
3. Students who earned a degree from this university were held in high regard throughout the country and were appointed to high administrative positions in king’s courts.
4. Gunnamati and Sthiramati, two well known Buddhist scholars, are said to have attended this university.
5. Xuanzang, a Chinese pilgrim, came to Valabhi in the 7th CE, while Yijing came at the end of the century.
6. The institution according to Yijing was on par with the Buddhist monastic center of Nalanda.