Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c19.32

c19.32

**Mathas.** Without multiplying further evidence, what is adduced is sufficient to show how the interests of education and learning were served by a variety of institutions supported by religious endowments. The Colleges proper sprang up as annexes of the Temples, while their work received a wider scope in a more extended sphere in institutions like the Maṭhas and settlements of learned men functioning like the Academies of science of modern times. The *Maṭhas* specially are indigenous Indian examples of educational organization by which different and distant centres of culture and religious life, religious brotherhoods of different localities, are affiliated to a central and common seat of authority at headquarters and regulated and controlled by it. The best example of this federal type of educational and religious organization is furnished by the Golaki Maṭha, of which accounts are given in a series of inscriptions of the Kurnool district of the thirteenth century A.D., showing how this particular Maṭha grew up and exercised its spiritual influence and direction over as many as 3 lacs of villages under a succession of its famous chiefs and teachers. The religious life and culture of the Tamil country were very largely influenced by numerous Śaiva Maṭhas which acquired great power, and popularity under the Chola kings. The Maṭhas of Śivayogins or Māheśvaras were also great cultural influences in those days [Nos. 164, 177, 402, and 583 of 1908], while No. 465 of 1909 testifies to a similar Vaishṇava Maṭha constituted by learned Brahmans from eighteen Vaishṇava countries.