India’s Ancient Universities: Beacons of Global Learning

India, often hailed as the cradle of civilization, has a long and illustrious history of knowledge, education, and scholarship. Long before the rise of modern universities in the West, India’s ancient universities stood as powerful beacons of global learning, attracting scholars from across Asia and beyond.

1. Nalanda University (Founded ~5th century CE)

• Location: Bihar, India

• Legacy: Considered the world’s first residential university.

• Students & Scholars: From Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Persia, and Sri Lanka.

• Subjects Taught: Buddhist philosophy, logic, grammar, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and more.

• Destruction: Destroyed in the 12th century by Bakhtiyar Khilji.

• Revival: A modern Nalanda University was re-established in 2010.

Famous visitors: Xuanzang and Yijing (Chinese pilgrims and scholars)

India’s Ancient Universities

2. Takshashila University (Takshila) (~6th century BCE)

• Location: Present-day Pakistan (ancient India)

• Legacy: One of the earliest centers of higher learning in the world.

• Notable Teachers: Chanakya (Kautilya) – author of Arthashastra

• Subjects Taught: Vedas, medicine, surgery, politics, warfare, economics, astrology, and more.

• Admission Criteria: No formal system – merit and reputation mattered most.

Notable students: Charaka (father of Indian medicine), Panini (father of Sanskrit grammar)

3. Vikramashila University (8th–12th century CE)

• Location: Bihar, India

• Founded by: King Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty

• Specialization: Advanced studies in Tantric Buddhism

• Scholars & Students: Attracted pupils from Tibet and Nepal

• Destruction: Destroyed by invaders in the 12th century CE

4. Vallabhi University (6th–12th century CE)

• Location: Gujarat, India

• Supported by: Maitraka kings

• Specialties: Secular subjects like law, polity, economics, and commerce, along with Buddhist studies

• Students: From India, Central Asia, and Sri Lanka

India’s Ancient Universities

5. Odantapuri University (~8th century CE)

• Location: Bihar, India

• Founded by: Pala ruler Gopala

• Reputation: One of the five mahaviharas of Buddhist learning in ancient India

• Destruction: Destroyed along with Nalanda during invasions

Global Influence and Legacy

• Indian ancient universities were not just about religion – they were multidisciplinary centers of learning.

• These universities followed discussion-based teaching, oral traditions, and open debates.

• They helped spread Indian knowledge systems — like Ayurveda, Sanskrit, Buddhist philosophy, and mathematics — to Tibet, China, Korea, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and even Arab lands.

India’s Ancient Universities

Also Read: Klyuchevskoy Volcano

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