Education System in Ancient India

 A viral image circulating among Sanatana Hindu groups depicts a saffron-colored map of ancient India, claiming to showcase 12 ancient universities. Of these, 11 are Buddhist institutions, and one is Jain. Universities, by definition, are centers of learning that transcend caste and religious boundaries. Beyond these, the image lists approximately 15 other educational centers, primarily Hindu gurukuls and mathas (monastic schools), which were exclusively accessible to Brahmins.

I. Buddhist Universities in the Image

1. Takshashila (6th century BCE – 5th century CE): Located in present-day Pakistan, Takshashila is one of the world’s oldest universities. It was developed as a Buddhist center under Emperor Ashoka. (Note: The image incorrectly claims it was established in the 15th century BCE, which is inaccurate.)
2. Nalanda (5th – 12th century CE): Situated in Bihar, Nalanda was a renowned Buddhist university with a vihara (monastery). It gained global fame for its studies in Buddhist philosophy, logic, and other disciplines. Founded by Gupta Emperor Kumaragupta I in the 5th century, it hosted up to 10,000 students. The Chinese traveler Xuanzang studied here.
3. Telhara (1st – 12th century CE): Another Buddhist educational center near Nalanda, with archaeological evidence dating back to the 1st century CE. It flourished under the patronage of the Pala dynasty.
4. Pushpagiri (3rd century BCE – 12th century CE): Located in Odisha within the ancient Kalinga kingdom, Pushpagiri was a prominent Buddhist university, supported by Emperor Ashoka.
5. Vikramashila (8th – 12th century CE): Founded by Pala Emperor Dharmapala, this university was renowned for Vajrayana Buddhist studies and attracted many Tibetan students.
6. Ratnagiri (6th – 12th century CE): A key Buddhist educational center with a vihara in Odisha, possibly founded by Ashoka. It gained prominence under the Bhaumakara dynasty from the 6th century.
7. Odantapuri (8th – 12th century CE): Located in Bihar, Odantapuri was a major Buddhist mahavihara, hosting up to 12,000 students. It was established by Pala Emperor Gopala I in the 8th century.
8. Somapura (8th – 12th century CE): A large Buddhist educational center in present-day Bangladesh, founded by Pala King Dharmapala in the late 8th century.
9. Nagarjunakonda (2nd – 6th century CE): In Andhra Pradesh, this was a significant Buddhist center during the Ikshvaku dynasty (2nd–4th century CE). Named after the Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna, it was a hub for Mahayana Buddhism. Chinese traveler Faxian (5th century) noted its five-story structure with 1,500 rooms.
10. Jagaddala (11th century CE): Established by Pala rulers, this was a Buddhist educational institution.
11. Bikramapura: An ancient Buddhist university in Bangladesh, with limited information available. It thrived under Pala rule.
12. Valabhi (6th – 12th century CE): Located in Gujarat, Valabhi was a key center for Jain studies, founded by Maitraka King Bhattarka in the 6th century.

The remaining institutions in the image are Hindu Vedic learning centers, teaching subjects like logic, Vedas, Upanishads, Sanskrit grammar, Vedanta, astrology, and dharmashastras. These were exclusively for Brahmins, with no access granted to Shudras or "lower" castes.

Examples include gurukuls around the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, the Sharada Peeth established by Shankaracharya in Kashmir, the astronomy center in Ujjain, Bhoja’s Bhoj Shala, Shankaracharya’s Shringeri Peeth for Vedanta, Kanchipuram as a Shaiva-Vaishnava Vedanta center, Thrissur for Sanskrit studies in Kerala, Udupi’s Vaishnava matha for Dvaita philosophy, Ennayiram in Tamil Nadu for Vedic literature, Kandallur Shala in Kerala for dharmashastras, and Manyakheta for Vedic studies under the Rashtrakutas. These were primarily gurukuls or monastic mathas.

---

II. Ancient India’s Education System

In ancient India, the Shramana traditions (Buddhism and Jainism) and Brahmanism (Hinduism) shaped societal life, each with distinct philosophical foundations and educational systems.

1. Buddhist Education System: Buddhist institutions taught the Buddha’s teachings, the Eightfold Path, Buddhist scriptures, logic, medicine, Ayurveda, philosophy, ethics, practical knowledge, Pali language, and grammar. Universities like Nalanda, Takshashila, and Vikramashila were highly developed, with structured curricula and vast libraries containing millions of manuscripts. These centers attracted international students from China, Tibet, Korea, and Mongolia, including scholars like Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing, who studied at Nalanda.While primarily focused on Buddhist teachings, these universities also offered Vedic and Jain subjects, maintaining a secular approach. Education at Nalanda was free, with rigorous entrance exams conducted by Buddhist teachers. Xuanzang noted that 8–9 out of 10 applicants failed these tests. Royal patronage sustained these institutions.Buddhism rejected the caste hierarchy, emphasizing equality. The Buddha, in the Vinaya Pitaka, likened caste distinctions to rivers losing their identities upon merging into the sea, stating that anyone practicing the Dharma transcends their caste. Buddhist universities were inclusive, admitting students regardless of caste, gender, or social status. Notable Buddhist scholars from marginalized groups, such as Upali (barber), Sunita (Chandala), Sopaka (Chandala), Shivali (Shudra), and Matanga (Chandala), rose to prominence.Buddhist universities were massive. Nalanda, for instance, had classrooms, dormitories, and kitchens to accommodate 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students simultaneously, with libraries housing countless manuscripts.
2. Brahmanical Education System: Brahmanism restricted education to Brahmins, with limited access for Kshatriyas and Vaishyas under exceptions. Only Brahmins could study the Vedas, while Shudras were barred even from hearing them. Harsh penalties, such as pouring molten lead into the ears of Shudras who listened to the Vedas, were prescribed in Brahmanical texts like the Smritis. Shudras and "lower" castes were explicitly denied education, and texts deemed the latter as non-human. Stories like Ekalavya and Shambuka illustrate the severe consequences faced by Shudras pursuing education.Hindu institutions taught Vedas, Upanishads, grammar, astronomy, philosophy, astrology, and dharmashastras. Education occurred in gurukuls (schools led by a Brahmin guru) or mathas (monastic centers), where students memorized Vedas through recitation. Unlike the centralized, large-scale Buddhist universities, Hindu education was decentralized, with small, local schools run by gurus who charged dakshina (fees). These lacked the scale and structure of Buddhist institutions.Hindu education centers were designed by and for Brahmins, limiting knowledge to an elite caste and excluding Shudras, thus perpetuating a discriminatory system.

---

III. Conclusion

Ancient India’s Buddhist universities stood as beacons of social equality, knowledge dissemination, and cultural exchange, welcoming students from all backgrounds. In contrast, the Brahmanical education system, rooted in caste-based restrictions, reinforced social division by limiting education to Brahmins. Recognizing the historical differences between these systems is crucial for an honest understanding of India’s past. Buddhist universities symbolized societal unity and equality, while Hindu gurukuls protected the interests of a privileged caste.

In the 8th century, Jain scholar Udyotana Suri, in his text Kuvalayamala, mocked Vedic students as “ignorant fools” obsessed with rote memorization, physical prowess, and violence, lacking ethical values—a rare critique from a time when Hinduism was still consolidating (Kuvalayamala, Part II, A.N. Upadhye, p. 124). Claiming Hindu gurukuls, which served only Brahmins, as equivalent to the inclusive Buddhist universities is a distortion of history, akin to claiming another’s child as one’s own. Sanatana advocates must cease such misrepresentation.

By Bolloju Baba