Ancient Universities in India during 1st to 12th century.

Ancient Universities in india during 1st to 12th century.

 

Ancient Universities (Part 1 - established before and after 5 th century).

          During the period of 5th century there are so many universities are established. in ancient times India was greatest center of learning and higher education. during this time Ancient India  has four university's that came to fame. out four of it three universities descripted by chines traveler named fxian and xaunzang. who visited India during 7th century. 

          

Nalanda university (MAHAVIHARA):-

          Nalanda university was the one of the biggest universities of Ancient India. it was center of higher studies in India.

           Its existed during 427CE to 1193CE.It was named as Mahavihar. it was established during Gupta empire in the 5th century. after that it was successfully worked for 600 years.

          Nalanda University was the biggest university it has 10,000 students, 300 rooms hostel, 80 seminar halls or discussion halls, 100 classes and for astronomical study there were so many high towers. In Nalanda university 1500 professors were working day and night to give a knowledge. Nalanda university has biggest library at that time it has multi-storied building. Nalanda library is called as Dharmaganja (the market place for knowledge.). it has three departments named as ratnsagar(sea of jewels), ratnodadhi(ocean of jewels), ratnranjaka(jewel adorned). the Ratnodadhi has 9 storied building. the students are attracted from various regions of the world like greece, persia and china. the king denoted 100 villages to gather resources for development of Nalanda university. 

          Hinayan and Mahayan cultural knowledge were one of the main subjects of the Nalanda education system. It preferred Sanskrit and Buddhism knowledge also with that it consists study's of vedadhyayan (study of ancient literature - the holy scriptures of hindu culture), Grammar, Hetuvidya, Ayurveda, Numerology, Logic, Religion science(dharmvidya), Astronomy and Astrology. and also the great 'panini sutre' was the center of the reference for knowledge in Nalanda university. also it has the famous mathematicians 'Arybhata's' scriptures Dashgatika, Arybhatiyya, Arybhatiyya Sidhanta. [in present days only 34 rhymes are available from this three ancient books].

          the great Nalanda university destroyed in the attack by Turkish Mughal Bukhtiyar Khilji in 1193CE. in some references the historians says that the Dharmaganja(library) was lighted up with fire and it continuously burned for 3 months.   

the map of  Nalanda University

Takshashila University:-

          Takshashila city was named after the son of Bharat (brother of Lord Rama) - Taksha_ the founder of the city. and it means the cutting rocks. 

           Takshashila  university was founded before least centuries of before Christ Era. it is the oldest university of ancient India. but it does not have any classrooms or halls so in modern defination it does not belongs to universities. it was established in 'Gandhara kingdom'. Takshashila university has the influence of  Hindu culture and Sanskrit as well as Buddhism. 

          Takshashila was based on the foundation of three schools law school, medical school, and military school. in the Takshashila university there are subjects based on  the 18 arts such as archery, hunting etc. Takshashila university was the center of creation of the main scripture like 'Chanakya Arthashatra'(Chankya's economics), Panini composed his grammar for classical Sanskrit in Takshashila university. and most important Mahayana the budhiest spect created here. it has attracted students from Kashi Kousal and Magadh.
      so many kings ruled the Takshashila and because of this  it came to last in 5th century.

Vikramshila University:-

         Vikramshila university has period of origin  783CE to 820CE. It was compitating university for Nalanda university. it was founded during 'Pala empire'. and it has 100 teachers and 1000 students. 

           it has education based on Tantra Shastra, and Rasayanshastra, Rasashatrsa and Ayurveda. the founder of  Sharma tradition of Tibet 'Dipankara' are graduated  from this university.

           it was also destroyed in the attack of Baktiyar Khilji in 1193CE.

Vallabhi University:-

         Vallabhi university was established during 6th century. during 'Maitraka empire era'. It has been greatest competition to the Nalanda university.

          the Vallabhi University has based on the studies of the Bramhinical sciences along with doctrines of Buddhism. also it has subjects like Niti (-political science and statement ship), Varta (buisness and agricuklture), Administration, Theology, Law, Economics, and the graduates from this university was employed by the kings and emperors.

          the Ganga planes Bhramins came to  Vallabhi university for higher studies. when the 'Xaunzang' visited Vallabhi in 7th century he noticed there was 600 monks was getting knowledge and 100 monastery were build for there study's. the wealthiest and generous people of city provides funding for  university.

          after 775CE Arabs attacks the Maitraka emperors but that gives them a setback to Miatraka empire. and due to this reason it lasts in 1200CE.

This four universities told us about the ancient awareness about knowledge and curiosity. and these four universities have time period during 5th century to 12th century except Takshashila it has been founded before 5th century. so in part 2 i will try to give my best on the ancient unversities after this time period. thank you!!!!

Ancient Indian Universities part 2 (after 6th century):-

          There were four universities more which was established after 6th century and all of them are last till 12th century. these universities has greatest contribution in spreading religious awareness and Technics at that time. 

          there was framed network between five universities as one institute. they work together under Pala empire for persuing knowledge. the five universities which forms network are Nalanada university, Somapura university, Vikramshila university, Odantapuri university, and Jaggadala university.

Somapura:-

          Somapura mahavihara is one of the biggest universities in ancient time. It was established in ending of 7th century and beginning of 8th century. it was established by pala dynasty kings. it was major learning center of Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. 

          It was quadrangular in structure and traditional Buddhist stupa in the center. it was covering over 27 acres plot. it has 177 cell and so many monasteries. it was important intellectual center for dharmic(religious) traditions till 12th century. the students are attracted from china, Tibet, Barma etc.  

          in 12th century the pala kingdoms have to suffer from so many attacks from foreigners. and in beginning of 12th century Somapura mahavihara was nearly burnt to the ground by Vanga army. 

Jagaddala:- 

          Jagaddala university is last up-to 11th century and to mid 12th century. it was established by pala dynasty. it was also one of the greatest universities of  that time.

          The pala emperor Dharmpala is said to have founded 50 viharas himself.  it was most important intellectual center for Buddhism. Vajrayana Buddhism was created in Jagaddala mahavihara. also the ancient texts Kanjur and Tengjur was composed or copied at Jagaddala mahavihara.

           it was decline or destroyed at the beginning of 12 the century.  when muslim attacks seems imminent. according to the historian Sukumar Dutta it lasts till 1207CE. it seems to have been the last mahavihara to be overran.

Odantapuri:- 

          Odantapuri mahavihara was established in 8th century by Gopala of pala dynasty. it was flourished for 400 years. it was one of the sixth university's which are mainly used to propagating Buddhist religious learning and techniques. 

          After Nalanda it was second biggest university. according to some records here at that 12000 students were studying. and it was one the five universities which forms a network of institution. in Odantapuri mahavihara the preference for learning is Buddhist religious learning and techniques.

          It destroyed in 1193AD by Bakhtiyar Khilji. it was the same time when nalanda university set on fire by his army. 

Pushpagiri:-

          Pushpagiri was one of the oldest universities. it lasts till 11th century. the architectural style of Pushpagiri is Gupta period. it has few images of king Ashoka. so from that some historian says that it was established by Ashoka. it was framed on three hill tops.
           Pushpagiri was distributed in three campus. Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, Udaygiri which are framed on three adjoint hilltops. iconopographical analysis indicates that Lalitgiri has been established during Sunga period. that's why it is said to be one of the oldest universities.

This was the information about 8 ancient universities which last till 12th century. and it indicates awareness of knowledge perusing nature of humans.