Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c30.26

c30.26

**Gandhāra.** In Gandhāra, once a flourishing seat of Buddhism, "the majority adhered to other systems of religion" (p. 199). "There were above 1,000 Buddhist monasteries in the country, but they were utterly dilapidated and untenanted" (p. 202). These monasteries produced some of the greatest Buddhist scholars, such as "Nārāyana-deva (unidentified), Asaṅga, Vasubandhu, Dharmatāra Manoratha (unidentified), and Pārśva" (ib.). The capital of the country was Purusha-pura, famous for the great Vihāra built by Kanishka, where there were still "a few Brethren, all Hīnayānists" (p. 208). Prior to Nālanda, it was perhaps the most celebrated Buddhist College of ancient India. "From the time it was built it had yielded occasionally extraordinary men, and the Arhats and Śāstra-makers by their pure conduct and perfect virtue were still an active influence" (ib.). Here lived Pārśva, with his chamber still marked off, who converted the celebrated Brahman teacher of Mid-India named Aśvaghosha. Here was also marked out the chamber where Vasubandhu composed the *Abhidharma-kośa-śāstra*, as well as that where Vasubandhu's teacher, Manoratha, composed his *Vibhāshā-lun* (p. 211).