Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c4.60

c4.60

**Education at Taxila.** The *Jātakas* tell us how the kings of those days sent their sons for education to Taxila, where there were "world-renowned" teachers. We read: "Youths of Kshatriya and Brāhman castes came from all India to be taught the arts by one of these teachers." Taxila was a seat of advanced studies and not elementary education. Its students are spoken of as being admitted there at the age of 16 or when they "come of age." Elderly students or householders also studied there as day-scholars, making their own arrangements for residence. We read of a teacher at Taxila whose school had only princes as pupils, "princes who were at that time in India to the number of 101." Among the subjects of study are mentioned the three Vedas and eighteen *Sippas* or Arts among which are mentioned Archery (*Issattha-sippa*), Hunting, Elephant Lore (*Hatthisutta*) which were appropriate for princes. Training was given in both theory and practice. Taxila was known for its special schools of Law, Medicine, and Military Science. We have also reference to its Military Academy counting 103 princes as its pupils. We are told how a pupil, after graduation in military science, received by way of a diploma a present from his teacher of his own "sword, a bow and an arrow, a coat of mail, and a diamond", and was asked by his teacher to take his place as the head of his school of 500 pupils, all seeking instruction in the military arts, as he was old and wanted to retire [See Chapter XIX of my *Ancient Indian Education* (Macmillans, London) for references].