Takshashila University
Takshashila University was a prominent institution within the Gurukula system of Hindu education, located in Takshashila, Gandhara, in the western part of ancient India, alongside the Indus River. It emerged as a center for both religious and secular education, originally starting as a Vedic seat of learning.[1][2][2]
तक्षशिला विश्वविद्यालय | |
 Ruins of Bhir Mound archaeological site. | |
  Shown in Punjab  Takshashila University (Pakistan) | |
| Location | Northwestern part of India (modern-day Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan) |
|---|---|
| Region | Indian Subcontinent |
| Coordinates | 33°44′N 72°47′E / 33.74°N 72.78°ECoordinates: 33°44′N 72°47′E / 33.74°N 72.78°E |
| Type | Centre of learning |
| Part of | Ancient higher-learning institutions |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 5th century BCE |
| Abandoned | c. 5th century CE |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Public access | Yes |
Early HistoryEdit
After the Achaemenid conquest of the Indus Valley around 540 BCE, Takshashila became the capital of their Hindush satrapy (colony), with the earliest known archaeological evidence dating back to this era.[3][4] The city capitulated to Alexander the Great in 326 BCE and was subsequently incorporated into the Maurya Empire around 317 BCE. By approximately 200 BCE, it became part of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, only to be annexed by the Indo-Scythians around 80 BCE. The Kushan Empire later conquered and destroyed the city, establishing a new settlement around 30 CE, which thrived as a center of Buddhist learning until it was again conquered and abandoned by the Hunas in the 5th century CE.[2][5][6] Situated at the crossroads of major trade routes in Asia, Takshashila was likely inhabited by a diverse population, including Indians, Persians, Greeks, Scythians, and various ethnic groups from the Achaemenid Empire. The Buddhist Jataka tales from the 4th to 3rd centuries BCE suggest that this was the place where Aruni and his son Shvetaketu received their education. Additionally, the renowned grammarian Pāṇini referenced the city in his work, अष्टाध्यायी (Aṣṭādhyāyī), during the 4th century BCE.[7]
UniversityEdit
John Marshall noted that Taxila became a prominent center of learning following the Persian conquests, owing to its strategic location "at the North-Western gateway of the subcontinent" and the "cosmopolitan nature of its inhabitants".[1] Initially established as a Vedic seat of education, it laid the groundwork for future Buddhist institutions. According to Frazier and Flood, the well-structured Vedic model of learning facilitated the establishment of the Mahavihara at this site, which later inspired institutions like Nalanda (mid 5th century CE), Odantapuri (8th century CE), and Vikramashila (late 8th century CE).
These Buddhist universities not only focused on Vedic texts and rituals but also encompassed various theoretical disciplines linked to the sciences of the Vedas. This included fields such as linguistics, law, astronomy, and logic. Takshashila gained particular acclaim for its teachings in Vedic science, medicine, and the arts, offering an extensive curriculum that included both religious and secular subjects, even covering practical skills like archery and astrology.[1]
John Marshall stated that "In early Buddhist literature, particularly in the Jatakas, Takshashila is frequently referenced as a university center where students could receive instruction in nearly any subject, whether religious or secular, ranging from the Vedas to mathematics and medicine, and even astrology and archery". The significance of Takshashila as a hub of knowledge intensified during the Maurya Empire and under Greek rule (Indo-Greeks) in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE.[1] It did not function as a university in the contemporary sense, as teachers residing there may not have held official affiliations with specific colleges, unlike the later Nalanda University in Bihar.
The destruction wrought by Toramana in the 5th century CE appears to have marked the end of Takshashila's role as a center of learning.[8]
ĀcāryasEdit
Notable Ācāryas associated with the Takshashila university include:
- Pāṇini, a renowned grammarian from the 4th century BCE, is believed to have originated from Gandāra.[2]
- Chanakya, who served as the influential Prime Minister to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire in the 4th century BCE, is also said to have taught at Takshashila.[9]
- Kumāralāta, recognised as the founder of the Sautrāntika school, was highlighted by the 3rd-century CE Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler Yuan Chwang as an exceptional teacher at Takshashila, attracting students from as distant as China.[10]
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Marshall (2013), p. 23.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lowe & Yasuhara (2016), p. 62.
- ↑ "Taxila". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ↑ Marshall (2013), p. 10.
- ↑ Le, Huu Phuoc (2010). Buddhist Architecture. Grafikol. p. 50. ISBN 9780984404308.
- ↑ Batchelor, Stephen (2010). Confession of a Buddhist Atheist. Random House Publishing Group. pp. 255–256. ISBN 9781588369840.
- ↑ Scharfe 2002a, pp. 140–141.
- ↑ The Pearson CSAT Manual 2011. Pearson Education India. p. 439/ HC.23. ISBN 9788131758304.
- ↑ Schlichtmann, Klaus (2016). A Peace History of India: From Ashoka Maurya to Mahatma Gandhi. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. p. 29. ISBN 9789385563522.
- ↑ Watters, Thomas (1904-01-01). On Yuan Chwang's travels in India, 629-645 A.D. Dalcassian Publishing Company.
Read asloEdit
- Sharada Peeth
- Nalanda Mahavihara (Mid 5th Century CE)
- Odantapuri Mahavihara (8th century CE)
- Vikramashila Mahavihara (late 8th century CE)
- Ancient institutions of learning in India