Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c6.50

c6.50

I-Tsing gives us a most interesting idea of the study carried on at Nālanda. He says² that the pupil, after attending to the service of his teacher, ‘reads a portion of scripture and reflects on what he has learnt. He acquires new knowledge day by day, and searches into old subjects month after month, without losing a minute’. In speaking of the method of learning he refers to Pāṇini’s Sūtras and other grammatical works which he says³ had to be learnt by heart. Apparently some preliminary study was often done before entering Nālanda, for he says that ‘after studying grammar, etc., under instructors, they pass two or three years at Nālanda or in the country of Valabhi (Western India)’. Grammar seems to have been the foundation of all other studies and to have received great attention.