Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c32.s5.12

c32.s5.12

It is interesting to note that, corresponding to the system of admission at Nālandā and Vikramaśīlā by difficult examination by learned Dvāra-Paṇḍitas, Mithilā instituted a peculiar examination for graduation or completion of study. It was called *Śalākā-parīkshā*, by which the candidate for graduation had to explain that page of a MS. which was pierced last by a needle run through it. This was thus a test of the capacity of the candidate to explain unprepared any part of the texts he had studied so as to demonstrate his mastery of the subject in all its parts. The diploma of the Mithilā University was then conferred on the successful student [Monmohan Chakravarti, *History of Mithilā* and *History of Navya Nyāya*; Satis Chandra Vidyābhūshaṇa, *History of Indian Logic*].