Prominent Ancient Learning Centers in India
Main Educational Institutions of Higher Education During Ancient India
Back in the day, India was a powerhouse of knowledge and learning. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top educational spots from ancient times:
- Taxila: This place, located in the capital of Gandhar Kingdom, is said to be one of the oldest universities in the world. Think around the 7th century BCE! It drew students from many places and even Hiuen Tsang, a famous traveler, said it was as important as Nalanda and Vikramshila. Taxila wasn’t just about religion; they taught medicine too. Big names like Panini, Kautilya, and Charaka were connected to this place.
- Nalanda (Bihar): From 427 CE to 1197 CE, Nalanda was a big deal. Imagine it like one of the greatest universities in history! They had about 10,000 monks, with 1510 teachers and 8500 students. People from all over came here to study many things. But sadly, it was ruined in the 12th century CE.
- Valabhi: Valabhi in the west was no less. It wasn’t just about religion; they taught things like economics, law, and medicine too. It kept going until the Arabs came along.
- Vikramshila: The emperor Dharampala set up Vikramshila in the 8th century near the Ganges. It was a place to learn about religion, and even students from Tibet came here. Though it was hurt by Bhaktiyar Khilzi, it was big in the world of Tantric Buddhism.
- Odantapuri: Even before the Pala dynasty, Odantapuri was educating almost 1000 monks and students. People from Tibet also came here to study.
- Jagaddala: Raja Ram Pal of Bengal started Jagaddala. They didn’t just have scholars; they translated books into Tibetan too.
- Mithila: Mithila was all about learning from way back when. They taught everything from literature to arts and science.
- Nadia: In Bengal, at the place where the Ganga and Jalangi meet, there was Nadia. They taught at places like Navadweep, Shantipur, and Gopaalpura. The words of Gita Govind were sung here, and they were also big on logic.
- Ujjain: Ujjain was known for things like math and astronomy.
- Salotgi (Karnataka): Salotgi had 27 hostels and Narayana, Krishna III’s minister, helped a lot. Students from different places came to study here.
- Ennayiram (Tamilnadu): Here, they gave free education to about 340 students.
These places weren’t just buildings; they were wellsprings of wisdom that shaped India’s learning and culture.
