The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.59

c14.59

As in the case of the Khattiyas, so also in that of the Brâhmaṇas, Takkasilâ is always mentioned as the place where youths carry on their studies; more rarely, Benares is mentioned as the place of residence of a world-renowned teacher (II. 260; III. 18). This last appears, according to the Jâtakas—as already remarked—to be behind Takkasilâ in scientific importance, and is only resorted to, as a young Brāhmaṇa such as in mentioned in the Āsanka Jātaka (III. 248) born in a Kasi village would otherwise hardly go to the distant city of the Gandhāra kingdom for purposes of study but would rather go to the chief town of his own land, to Benares.