Takshashila University
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Takshashila was a famous centre of learning at Taxila, near present-day Rawalpindi in Pakistan. It was not an organised university with one campus, fixed courses or degrees. Students travelled there to live with well-known teachers and study under them. Subjects included the Vedas, grammar, law, medicine and military skills. It is a key example of how learning was passed on in ancient India before large monastic universities appeared.
Example
According to tradition, the grammarian Panini, the statesman Chanakya (Kautilya) and Jivaka all studied or taught there. Buddhist texts say Jivaka learnt medicine at Takshashila and later became the physician of King Bimbisara of Magadha (c. 5th century BCE).
Don't confuse with
- Nalanda in Bihar was an organised residential monastery-university, with buildings, a library and many monks. The Guptas were among its supporters. Takshashila was a loose group of individual teachers and their students.
Related concepts
- Gandhara school of art
- Mathura school of art
- Headless statue of Kanishka
- Ardhanarishvara
- Amaravati school of art