The University of Nalanda c13.81

c13.81

Very few instances of feuds with the teacher are met with in Hindu as well as Buddhist works. One specific case mentioned by *Cullavagga*—one of the parts of the *Vinaya Texts*—is that of Devadatta. This disciple of Buddha not only severed his connection with Buddha but went even further. He attempted first himself and when he failed, induced Ajātaśatru—the son and successor of King Bimbisāra of Maghada—to take the life of Buddha. Such cases were however very rare. If a digression be permitted, then we may cite the case of Yājñavalkya¹ mentioned in the Purāṇas where the disciple Yājñavalkya was asked by his teacher, Vaiśampāyana, to give back whatever he had learnt from him on account of some quarrel that took place between them. But this calm submission to the teacher's order, even if it be unjust and autocratic, could be expected only from an Indian student, for he was brought up in an atmosphere, where strict obedience was the rule. Students of the Paris University, we are told,² brought an action against the faculty, under which they were studying, before the Parliament, and boldly pleaded for the degree, which was refused to them. Yājñavalkya, in these days, will be perhaps condemned for his deed; obedience may be construed as cowardice. But, those times were such, when an appeal against the teacher's order was unheard of, and even if some one wanted to appeal he did not know where to lodge his appeal, for, even though, the king was the sole authority, the Brāhmins, who were usually the teachers, were considered superior to and more powerful than the king. So, the king dared not lift his head against the teacher.³