The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c8.s13.51

v1.c8.s13.51

As pointed out already, neither monasteries nor temples had developed into centres of education in the Vākāṭaka age. Education used to be imparted by private teachers, who were the pivots of the educational system. These were all Brāhmans and they usually congregated in capitals and holy places, as they could easily get state and public support at these centres. Nāsik, Pravarapura, Vatsagulma, and Paithana were the main centres of higher education in the Vākāṭaka dominions. Agrahāra colonies consisting of learned Brāhmans settled in certain villages, the revenues of which had been assigned to them by way of maintenance, were also centres of higher learning. There were probably several Agrahāra villages in the Deccan of our period, but unfortunately we do not get any reference to them in the extant Vākāṭaka grants. There can, however, be no doubt that the Vākāṭakas, like their contemporary rulers, must have created a large number of such centres for the purpose of promoting religion, education and culture. Some of these Brāhman donees who had been assigned grants by the state used to conduct large schools, where they were accustomed to impart free education. Thus the donee of the Pāṇḍurangapalli grant (c. A.D. 500) is described as a teacher of hundreds of Brāhmans.