The University of Nalanda c7.18

c7.18

For an educational institution like a University, we have to go back far into the history of education in ancient India. Here the word ‘Upaniṣad’ itself seems to serve our need. Literally, it means “to approach for instruction”. Nevertheless, it presupposes a teacher or group of teachers whom the student or students approached for knowledge. This knowledge, as we learn from the *Upaniṣadas* themselves² and from the interpretation of the word ‘Upaniṣad’, was not divulged to an unworthy student.³ A student, thus, was required to have the necessary qualification before he could approach for higher knowledge. This knowledge as we learn from Nārada, embraced all the then known arts and sciences.⁴ Lastly, instruction in this knowledge was not confined to a