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Ancient universities of Bharat (view source)
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, 17:02, 2 October 2016Created page with "Most Indians today are well aware of the two famous ancient universities of India which also are one of the oldest universities in the world – Takshashila University (Taxi..."
Most Indians today are well aware of the two famous ancient
universities of India which also are one of the oldest universities in
the world – Takshashila University (Taxila) and Nalanda. But are these
the only knowledge centers that existed in ancient India? Education has
always been given great prominence in Indian society since the times of
the vedic civilization, with gurukul and ashrams being the centers of
learning. And with evolving times, a large number of centers of learning
were established across ancient India of which Takshashila and Nalanda
are the most famous ones known today. Below is a list of major ancient
universities that flourished across ancient India.
== Takshashila University ==
Taxila as it is called today, Takshashila University established
around 2700 years ago was home to over 10500 students where the students
from all across the world used to come to attain specialization in over
64 different fields of study like vedas, grammar, philosophy, ayurveda,
agriculture, surgery, politics, archery, warfare, astronomy, commerce,
futurology, music, dance, etc. Famous graduates of this University
include the ones like Chanakya, Panini, Charaka, Vishnu Sharma, Jivaka
etc. This is the world’s oldest university. Read more about Takshashila University of Ancient India.
== Nalanda University ==
Nalanda University was established by Shakraditya of Gupta dynasty in
modern Bihar during early 5th century and flourished for 600 years till
12th century. Nalanda was the world’s first university to have
residential quarters for both students and teachers. It also had large
public lecture halls. Students from countries like Korea, Japan, China,
Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey came to study in this university.
The library of this university was the largest library of the ancient
world and had thousands of volumes of manuscripts on various subjects
like grammar, logic, literature, astrology, astronomy, and medicine. The
library complex was called Dharmaganja, and had three large buildings:
the Ratnasagara, the Ratnadadhi, and the Ratnaranjaka. Ratnadadhi was
nine stories tall and stored the most sacred manuscripts including the
Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Samajguhya.
In 2010, the parliament of India passed a bill approving the plans to
restore the ancient Nalanda University as a modern Nalanda
International University dedicated for post-graduate research. Many east
asian countries including China, Singapore and Japan have come forward
to fund the construction of this revived Nalanda University.
Ruins of Nalanda University
== Vikramashila University ==
Vikramashila University was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty
during late 8th century and flourished for 400 years till 12th century.
It was located in the Bhagalpur district of modern day Bihar. It gave
direct competition to Nalanda University with over 100 teachers and over
1000 students listed in this University. This university was well known
for its specialized training on the subject of Tantra (Tantrism). One
of the most popular graduates from this University was Atiśa Dipankara, a
founder of the Sharma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism who also revived
the Buddhism in Tibet.
Ruins of Vikramashila University
== Valabhi University ==
Valabhi University was established in Saurashtra of modern Gujarat at
around 6th century and it flourished for 600 years till 12th century.
Chinese traveler Itsing who visited this university during the 7th
century describes it as a great center of learning. Gunamati and
Sthiramati, the two famous Buddhist scholars are said to have graduated
from this University. This University was popular for its training in
secular subjects and students from all over the country came to study in
this University. Because of its high quality of education, graduates of
this University were given higher executive posts.
== Pushpagiri University ==
Pushpagiri University was established in ancient Kalinga kingdom
(modern day Odisha) and was spread across Cuttack and Jajpur districts.
It was established in 3rd century and flourished for the next 800 years
till 11th century. The university campus was spread across three
adjoining hills – Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri. This was one of
the most prominent centers of higher education in ancient India along
with the universities of Takshashila, Nalanda and Vikramashila. The
Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Huien Tsang) visited this university in 639
CE. Lalitgiri is said to have been commissioned by early 2nd century BCE
itself and is the oldest Buddhist establishments in the world. Recently
a few images of Emperor Ashoka have been discovered here, and it has
been suggested that the Pushpagiri University was established by Emperor
Ashoka himself.
== Odantapuri University ==
Odantapuri University was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty
during late 8th century in Magadha (which is in modern day Bihar) and
flourished for 400 years till 12th century. The famous Acharya Sri
Ganga who was a professor at the Vikramashila University was a graduate
of this Odantapuri University. According to the ancient Tibetan records
there were about 12,000 students studying at this University. Ancient
Tibetan texts mention this as one among the five great Universities of
its time, the other four being Vikramashila, Nalanda, Somapura and
Jagaddala Universities – all located in ancient India.
== Somapura University ==
Somapura Mahavihara was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty
during late 8th century in Bengal and flourished for 400 years till 12th
century. The University spread over 27 acres of land of which the main
complex was 21 acres was one of the largest of its kind. It was a major
center of learning for Bauddha Dharma (Buddhism), Jina Dharma (Jainism)
and Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). Even today one can find ornamental
terracotta on its outer walls depicting the influence of these three
traditions.
Ruins of Somapura University
== Other Ancient Universities ==
The above mentioned list is not a complete list of
ancient Indian universities either. Dharmapala of Pala dynasty alone is
said to have established 50 mega learning centers across his kingdom,
and they have been as huge and as popular as the ones mentioned above.
For instance, the Munshiganj Vihara discovered as recently as Marh 23,
2013 in Bengal is said to have been established in 9th century and was
home to 8000 students who came from faraway places like China, Tibet,
Nepal and Thailand.
== Destruction of Ancient Indian Universities ==
As you can see, many of the universities mentioned above came to an
end around 12th century. The universities like Nalanda, Vikramashila etc
were destroyed around this period during the Muslim invasion of India
by the fanatic Bakhtiyar Khilji from Turkey in 1193 CE. The great
library of Nalanda University was destroyed, ransacked and burnt by the
soldiers of Khilji’s army and it is said that it was so vast that the
manuscripts kept burning for three months. In-numerous number of ancient
Indian manuscripts carefully preserved for thousands of years were
destroyed in this fire. Thousands of monks in the University were burnt
alive and beheaded by Khilji’s army. According to DC Ahir, the
destruction of these centres of learning at Nalanda and other places
across northern India was responsible for the demise of ancient Indian
scientific thought in mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, and anatomy.
=== References: ===
* Awakening Indians to India – Central Chinmaya Mission Trust
* D.C. Ahir (2005). Buddhism Declined in India : How and Why?
* Wikipedia
'''Image Sources (Licenses CC BY SA 2.0):'''
* Ruins of Nalanda University
* Ruins of Vikramashila University
* Ruins of Somapura University
universities of India which also are one of the oldest universities in
the world – Takshashila University (Taxila) and Nalanda. But are these
the only knowledge centers that existed in ancient India? Education has
always been given great prominence in Indian society since the times of
the vedic civilization, with gurukul and ashrams being the centers of
learning. And with evolving times, a large number of centers of learning
were established across ancient India of which Takshashila and Nalanda
are the most famous ones known today. Below is a list of major ancient
universities that flourished across ancient India.
== Takshashila University ==
Taxila as it is called today, Takshashila University established
around 2700 years ago was home to over 10500 students where the students
from all across the world used to come to attain specialization in over
64 different fields of study like vedas, grammar, philosophy, ayurveda,
agriculture, surgery, politics, archery, warfare, astronomy, commerce,
futurology, music, dance, etc. Famous graduates of this University
include the ones like Chanakya, Panini, Charaka, Vishnu Sharma, Jivaka
etc. This is the world’s oldest university. Read more about Takshashila University of Ancient India.
== Nalanda University ==
Nalanda University was established by Shakraditya of Gupta dynasty in
modern Bihar during early 5th century and flourished for 600 years till
12th century. Nalanda was the world’s first university to have
residential quarters for both students and teachers. It also had large
public lecture halls. Students from countries like Korea, Japan, China,
Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey came to study in this university.
The library of this university was the largest library of the ancient
world and had thousands of volumes of manuscripts on various subjects
like grammar, logic, literature, astrology, astronomy, and medicine. The
library complex was called Dharmaganja, and had three large buildings:
the Ratnasagara, the Ratnadadhi, and the Ratnaranjaka. Ratnadadhi was
nine stories tall and stored the most sacred manuscripts including the
Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Samajguhya.
In 2010, the parliament of India passed a bill approving the plans to
restore the ancient Nalanda University as a modern Nalanda
International University dedicated for post-graduate research. Many east
asian countries including China, Singapore and Japan have come forward
to fund the construction of this revived Nalanda University.
Ruins of Nalanda University
== Vikramashila University ==
Vikramashila University was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty
during late 8th century and flourished for 400 years till 12th century.
It was located in the Bhagalpur district of modern day Bihar. It gave
direct competition to Nalanda University with over 100 teachers and over
1000 students listed in this University. This university was well known
for its specialized training on the subject of Tantra (Tantrism). One
of the most popular graduates from this University was Atiśa Dipankara, a
founder of the Sharma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism who also revived
the Buddhism in Tibet.
Ruins of Vikramashila University
== Valabhi University ==
Valabhi University was established in Saurashtra of modern Gujarat at
around 6th century and it flourished for 600 years till 12th century.
Chinese traveler Itsing who visited this university during the 7th
century describes it as a great center of learning. Gunamati and
Sthiramati, the two famous Buddhist scholars are said to have graduated
from this University. This University was popular for its training in
secular subjects and students from all over the country came to study in
this University. Because of its high quality of education, graduates of
this University were given higher executive posts.
== Pushpagiri University ==
Pushpagiri University was established in ancient Kalinga kingdom
(modern day Odisha) and was spread across Cuttack and Jajpur districts.
It was established in 3rd century and flourished for the next 800 years
till 11th century. The university campus was spread across three
adjoining hills – Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri. This was one of
the most prominent centers of higher education in ancient India along
with the universities of Takshashila, Nalanda and Vikramashila. The
Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Huien Tsang) visited this university in 639
CE. Lalitgiri is said to have been commissioned by early 2nd century BCE
itself and is the oldest Buddhist establishments in the world. Recently
a few images of Emperor Ashoka have been discovered here, and it has
been suggested that the Pushpagiri University was established by Emperor
Ashoka himself.
== Odantapuri University ==
Odantapuri University was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty
during late 8th century in Magadha (which is in modern day Bihar) and
flourished for 400 years till 12th century. The famous Acharya Sri
Ganga who was a professor at the Vikramashila University was a graduate
of this Odantapuri University. According to the ancient Tibetan records
there were about 12,000 students studying at this University. Ancient
Tibetan texts mention this as one among the five great Universities of
its time, the other four being Vikramashila, Nalanda, Somapura and
Jagaddala Universities – all located in ancient India.
== Somapura University ==
Somapura Mahavihara was established by Dharmapala of Pala dynasty
during late 8th century in Bengal and flourished for 400 years till 12th
century. The University spread over 27 acres of land of which the main
complex was 21 acres was one of the largest of its kind. It was a major
center of learning for Bauddha Dharma (Buddhism), Jina Dharma (Jainism)
and Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). Even today one can find ornamental
terracotta on its outer walls depicting the influence of these three
traditions.
Ruins of Somapura University
== Other Ancient Universities ==
The above mentioned list is not a complete list of
ancient Indian universities either. Dharmapala of Pala dynasty alone is
said to have established 50 mega learning centers across his kingdom,
and they have been as huge and as popular as the ones mentioned above.
For instance, the Munshiganj Vihara discovered as recently as Marh 23,
2013 in Bengal is said to have been established in 9th century and was
home to 8000 students who came from faraway places like China, Tibet,
Nepal and Thailand.
== Destruction of Ancient Indian Universities ==
As you can see, many of the universities mentioned above came to an
end around 12th century. The universities like Nalanda, Vikramashila etc
were destroyed around this period during the Muslim invasion of India
by the fanatic Bakhtiyar Khilji from Turkey in 1193 CE. The great
library of Nalanda University was destroyed, ransacked and burnt by the
soldiers of Khilji’s army and it is said that it was so vast that the
manuscripts kept burning for three months. In-numerous number of ancient
Indian manuscripts carefully preserved for thousands of years were
destroyed in this fire. Thousands of monks in the University were burnt
alive and beheaded by Khilji’s army. According to DC Ahir, the
destruction of these centres of learning at Nalanda and other places
across northern India was responsible for the demise of ancient Indian
scientific thought in mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, and anatomy.
=== References: ===
* Awakening Indians to India – Central Chinmaya Mission Trust
* D.C. Ahir (2005). Buddhism Declined in India : How and Why?
* Wikipedia
'''Image Sources (Licenses CC BY SA 2.0):'''
* Ruins of Nalanda University
* Ruins of Vikramashila University
* Ruins of Somapura University