Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s18: Centres of Learning
Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s18
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Centres of Learning
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Capitals, holy places, monasteries and temples were the centres of education in ancient India. Kings and feudal chiefs were, as a rule, patrons of learning. Various capitals of prosperous kingdoms, which used to attract many a man of learning and thus become centres of education are mentioned in the Jain texts. Benares was the chief centre of learning.
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It is stated that the prince Agaḍadatta of Saṅkhapura went there to study. He stayed in the house of his teacher and after completing the course of study returned home.⁴³ Sāvatthī is mentioned as another centre of education.⁴³ Pāḍaliputta is mentioned as still another seat of learning. It is mentioned that, when Rakkhia of Dasapura could not study further in his town, he proceeded to Pāḍaliputta for higher studies.⁴⁴ Paiṭṭhāṇa is mentioned as a centre of learning in the south.⁴⁵ It is however significant to remark that Takkhasilā, which is the most important seat of learning in the Buddhist scriptures, is not mentioned here.
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⁴³ Uttarā. Ṭī 4, p. 83 af.
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⁴³ Ibid. 8, p. 124
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⁴⁴ Ibid. 2, p 22 a.
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⁴⁵ Kalpa. Ṭī 4, p. 90a, also see D. C. Das Gupta, op. cit, p. 20 f. For the Buddhist education in the Jātakas see Dr. Radhakumud Mookerjee's article in the Buddhistic studies, pp. 236 ff.