TakshaShila university was built by the ancient Gandharan kingdom in present-day Pakistan.
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TakshaShila University, one of the oldest universities in the world, was built by the ancient Gandharan kingdom in present-day Pakistan. The kingdom flourished from the 6th century BCE to the 11th century CE and had a significant influence on the development of education, art, and culture in the region. The university was renowned for its excellence in education, attracting scholars and students from all over the world.
Interestingly, TakshaShila, also spelled as Taxila, derived its name from the Sanskrit words “Taksha” which means “carpenter” and “Shila” which means “rock.” This name is believed to refer to the rocky nature of the geography of the region where the university was established.
The university at TakshaShila had a well-structured curriculum that covered a wide range of subjects including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, philosophy, theology, politics, and commerce. According to historical accounts, the university had three main faculties: the Department of Vedas and Religion, the Department of Sciences, and the Department of Arts. It offered undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, and students from far and wide came to pursue their education.
The significance of TakshaShila University is best captured by Chinese scholar and traveler, Xuanzang, who visited the university in the 7th century CE. He described it as a thriving place of learning with more than 10,000 students where the “teachers were competent, sincere, and well-respected by the pupils.” Xuanzang further noted that the university had about 300 lecture halls and was adorned with splendid towers and monasteries.
To provide a quick overview, here’s a table showcasing some interesting facts about TakshaShila University:
Fact | Description |
---|---|
Location | Present-day Pakistan |
Kingdom responsible for building | Ancient Gandharan kingdom |
Time of establishment | 6th century BCE |
Subjects taught | Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, philosophy, theology, etc. |
Faculty structure | Vedas and Religion, Sciences, Arts |
Scholars and students attracted | From various parts of the world |
Astonishing number of lecture halls | Approximately 300 |
Observations by Xuanzang, the traveler | “Teachers were competent, sincere, well-respected” |
In conclusion, TakshaShila University, built by the ancient Gandharan kingdom, was a renowned center of learning that attracted scholars and students from diverse backgrounds. Its rich curriculum and impressive facilities made it a flourishing hub of knowledge and education in ancient times. As Pierre Bayle once said, “It is almost as if the ancient world had invented the idea of a university.”
Additional responses to your query
It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya, with the help of his mentor Chanakya. Chanakya took Chandragupta Maurya to the prestigious university of Taxila where Chanakya was a teacher. With his teacher, Chanakya’s help, Chandragupta went on to establish one of the mightiest empires India had ever seen the Mauryan empire.
Takshashila University was an ancient university located in the city of Takshashila near the Indus River. The city and the university were founded by Bharata, the son of Kaikeyi, and younger half brother of Rama. Bharata won the country of Gandhara with the help of his maternal grandfather and appointed his two sons as the rulers.
The University of ancient Takshashila was an ancient university located in the city of Takṣaśilā ( Sanskrit: तक्षशिला) ( Taxila in modern-day Pakistan) near the bank of the Indus River. [1] [2] According to the Ramayana, the city was founded by Bharata, the son of Kaikeyi, and younger half brother of Rama. [3]
The first reference to Takshashila University comes from Valmiki Ramayana, where Prabhu Ramachandra of Ayodhya becomes victorious in Gandhara. Prabhu Ramchandra’s younger brother Bharata won the country named Gandhara of Gandharva with the help of his maternal grandfather Kekairaj Ashwapati and appointed his two sons as the rulers.
Takshashila or Taxila was a world-famous university in India. It was located in the ‘Gandhara’ region of ancient India, presently in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi district. It is believed that the Kuru prince Duryodhana founded the Takshashila University at the birthplace of his mother, Gandhari.
In this video, you may find the answer to “Who built TakshaShila university?”
The video discusses the ancient university of Takshashila, believed to be the world’s first university, which was over 3,500 years old. It offered a wide range of courses in various fields and attracted students from different parts of the world. The university had a strict entrance exam and education was free. Unfortunately, Takshashila was destroyed by invaders in the 5th century AD, but its impact and knowledge spread through its graduates and Greek scholars who translated its writings, sometimes claiming credit for the knowledge. Today, the ancient university is located in modern-day Pakistan and called Taxilla.