Public Administration in Ancient India c22.45

c22.45

But the most important of the Indian Universities was that of Nālanda. The Nālanda Vihara was, according to Hiuen Tsiang, established by a King of Central India, and a long succession of Kings continued the work of building, using all the skill of the sculptor, till the whole is truly marvellous to behold."² The lands in its possession contained more than 200 villages, these having been bestowed on the monastery by Kings of many generations.³ In this university the teachers were men of conspicuous talent, solid learning, exalted eloquence, and illustrious virtue,⁴ whose fame had spread through distant regions. From morning till night the teachers and pupils engaged in continuous discussion. Learned men from different cities went there in multitudes to settle their doubts, and the streams of wisdom and knowledge spread far and wide. Hiuen Tsiang gives a detailed description of the course of studies at this university, which included both sacred and profane subjects. The pupils started with the study of the siddha-vastu (or the book of twelve chapters), and then they were instructed in the five chief Vidyās, namely, Śabda-vidyā, or the science of sounds; Śilpa-vidyā, or the science of mechanics, etc.; Cikitsā-vidyā, or the science of medicine; Hetu-vidyā, or the science of causes; and Adhyātma-vidyā, or metaphysics. The Brāhmanas also studied the four Vedas.¹