Important ancient institutions of learning in ancient India are Takshashila, Kashmir Smast, Nalanda, Valabhi University, Sharada Peeth, Pushpagiri Vihara, Odantapuri University, Vikramashila, Somapura Mahavihara, Bikrampur Vihara, Jagaddala Mahavihara.

Takshashila[edit]

The University of ancient Taxila was a renowned Brahmanical and later Buddhist ancient institute of higher-learning located in the city of Taxila as well. According to scattered references that were only fixed a millennium later, it may have dated back to at least the fifth century BC.^[1] Some scholars date Takshashila's existence back to the sixth century BC.^[2] The school consisted of several monasteries without large dormitories or lecture halls where the religious instruction was most likely still provided on an individualistic basis.^[1]

Ruins of University of Taxila

Takshashila is described in some detail in later Jātaka tales, written in Sri Lanka around the fifth century AD.^[3]

It became a noted centre of learning at least several centuries BC, and continued to attract students until the destruction of the city in the fifth century AD.

Important Teachers[edit]

Important teachers that are said to be teaching at university of Taxila include;

• Pāṇini, the great 5th century BCE Indian grammarian^[4]
• Chanakya, the influential Prime Minister of the founder of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta Maurya, is also said to have been teaching at Taxila.^[5]
• Kumāralāta, according to the 3rd century Chinese Buddhist monk and traveller Yuan Chwang, Kumāralāta, the founder of Sautrāntika school.^[6]
• Vasubandhu, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism is said to be teaching there. His famous pupil includes Dharmakirti and Dignaga.^[7]

Important Students[edit]

Important pupil from ancient University of Taxila includes;

• King Pasenadi of Kosala, a close friend of the Buddha.
• Jivaka, court doctor at Rajagriha and personal doctor of the Buddha.^[8]
• Charaka, the Indian "father of medicine" and one of the leading authorities in Ayurveda, is also said to have studied at Taxila, and practiced there.^[9][10]
• Chandragupta Maurya, Buddhist literature states that Chandragupta Maurya, the future founder of the Mauryan Empire, though born near Patna (Bihar) in Magadha, was taken by Chanakya for his training and education to Taxila, and had him educated there in "all the sciences and arts" of the period, including military sciences. There he studied for eight years. The Greek and Hindu texts also state that Kautilya (Chanakya) was a native of the northwest Indian subcontinent, and Chandragupta was his resident student for eight years.^[11] These accounts match Plutarch's assertion that Alexander the Great met with the young Chandragupta while campaigning in the Punjab.^[12][13]