Famous Universities of Ancient India, Names, List, Importance

India is recognised as one of the world's oldest civilisations. Historically, India was a centre of higher learning. Education has maintained enormous significance in Indian civilisation from the Vedic times. Gurukuls and ashrams were the primary places of learning. Several universities flourished in ancient and mediaeval India, including the world-renowned Takshashila and Nalanda University. 

Their impact on development and literature was profound, fostering intellectual growth, producing seminal literary works, and preserving ancient texts through meticulous scholarship.

Education in Ancient India

Education policy in ancient India in its traditional form was closely related to religion. Over a while, two systems of education have developed- the Vedic, which is further subdivided into post-Vedic and/ or Brahminic and the Buddhist.

• Vedic Period: In this period, the gurukals were the centres of higher education. The widespread policy of the Vedic tradition followed the norms as laid down in the Vedas and Smritis.
• Buddhist period: In this period, monasteries emerged as the centres of learning. The study of the Buddhist texts took place at these centres.
  • Monasteries attracted many foreign students from China, Nepal, Tibet, etc. Veda, Vedang, Lokayat, Astronomy, Sanskrit and Pali literature were part of the curriculum in the institutions of learning in ancient India.
• Universities of Ancient India: The Universities of Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi were well known for their academic reputation.
• Decline of ancient centres: The ancient centres faced problems and couldn't survive under the social and political disorder caused by foreign invasions in medieval India.
  • Though these institutions lost their glory, they did not completely disappear. They co-existed with the Madrasas which had emerged as the new centers for Higher Education during the Mughal period.
• Legacy: Ancient Indian universities left a significant impact on education, fostering a culture of intellectual exchange and collaboration. 
  • They offered a well-rounded education, including religious studies, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, law, and literature. 
  • They encouraged critical thinking and open debate and used innovative methods like residential settings.

Universities of Ancient India

India was home to numerous ancient universities, spread across her length and breadth. Many universities flourished in ancient India, including the world-famous Takshashila and Nalanda University, Vallabhi, Odantapuri, Nagarjunakonda, Sharada Peeth, etc.

Taxila University

Taxila or Takshashila, an early Buddhist centre of learning dates back to the 6th century BC according to some scholars.

• Location:Taxila, Punjab (Present day, Pakistan).
• Founder: It is believed Kuru prince Duryodhana laid the foundation.
• Features: Taxila's main ruins are separated into three major cities: Hathial, Sirkap, and Sirsukh, each representing a distinct period.
• The famous treatise Arthashastra by Chanakya is said to have been composed in Takshashila. 
• Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya, and the Ayurvedic healer Charaka studied at Taxila.
• Due to its strategic location, many empires vied for its control. 
  • The city faded into obscurity and was eventually destroyed by the nomadic Hunas in the 5th century.

Nalanda University 

This ancient centre of higher learning, located in the ancient kingdom of Magadha, presently in Bihar, is one of India’s oldest universities.

• Location: 5th century AD in Rajgriha, Bihar, and survived until 1197. 
• Founder: Kumaragupta I of Gupta emperor.
• Features: In addition to teaching Buddhist ideas, Nalanda University used highly formalised Vedic teaching methods.
  • It was devoted to Buddhist studies, but it also trained students in fine arts, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, politics, and the art of war. 
  • It comprises stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational structures), as well as notable stucco, stone, and metal artworks.
  • It was the birthplace of Gautam Buddha's favourite disciple, Sariputta. This resulted in the construction of multiple viharas, which gained importance as a Mahayana Buddhist centre.
  • The Chinese scholars I-Qing and Xuan Zang visited Nalanda in the seventh century CE.

Vikramshila University

Vikramshila University has been considered among the best universities since the ancient ages. The university used to teach both spirituality and perfection in worldly skills.

• Location: Situated in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on top of the hills along the banks of the river Ganges, it was famous as a centre of learning of Tantric Buddhism.
• Founder: King Dharmpala of the Pala Dynasty in the later 7th century. 
  • It reached its pinnacle of glory in the 12th century, under the administration of Ramapala.
• Taranath, a Tibetan scholar, was the first to record its existence under the name Vikramshila Mahavihar.
• Features: During the ancient period, a temple stood in the centre of Vikramshila University. A life-size replica of the Mahabodhi tree is housed in this temple.
  • The main feature of the site has been a central stupa.
  • The walls of both terraces are adorned with terracotta panels, many of which have been destroyed.
• Destroyed by: Bhaktiyar Khilji, who destroyed Nalanda University, destroyed Vikramshila University in 1203 CE.

Odantapuri University

Odantapuri (in Tibetan records) or Uddandapura, was an important seat of Buddhist learning during the Pala period (8th to 12th centuries AD).

• Location: Odantapuri was considered the second oldest of India's universities. This was situated in Maghada now Bihar
• Founder: FirstPala Emperor Gopala in the 8th century. 
• Destroyed by: Around 1193, the university was destroyed by Ali Bakhtiar Muhammad Khilji.

Jagaddala University

• Founder: Pala King Rampala established Jagaddala University in the early 11th century.
• Location: Varendra, North Bengal, but is now in Bangladesh.
• Features: The ruins of a medium-sized Buddhist monastery include a major temple with an entrance on the eastern side.
  • Archaeologists have found stone sculptures, inscriptions, terracotta plaques, ornate bricks, and a terracotta skull.
  • The sculptures depict Khadirbani Tara, Avalokiteshvara, Heramba, Vishnu, Nairatma, Hevajra, and Shakti.
  • Granite stone was used in architectural components like granite beams and pillars.

Vallabhi University

The University of Vallabhi was an important centre of Buddhist learning and championed the cause of Hinayana Buddhism between 600 AD and 1200 AD.

• Location: Vallabhi (modern-day Bhavnagar), Gujarat.
• Founder: The lineage of the Maitrak dynasty became the patron of the university and helped in building its infrastructure.
• Gunamati and Sthiramati, two great Buddhist academics, are supposed to have graduated from this university.
• Arabs destroyed this university in the eighth century CE. 

Pushpagiri University

Pushpagiri University was founded in the third century and thrived for the next 800 years until the eleventh century.

• Location: Ancient Kalinga kingdom (modern-day Odisha). The university campus was spread across three adjoining hills – Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, and Udayagiri.
  • These hills are known as the ‘diamond triangle of Odisha’.
• Founder: Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century.
• The Chinese traveller Huien Tsang visited this university in 639 CE. He had seen nearly eleven stupas erected by Ashoka in Odisha.

Somapura Mahavihara

Somapura University was a major centre of learning for Bauddha Dharma (Buddhism), Jina Dharma (Jainism), and Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).

• Founded by Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty during the late 8th century 
• Location: Bengal and flourished for 400 years till the 12th century.
• Features: Even today one can find ornamental terracotta on its outer walls depicting the influence of these three traditions.
  • Its layout perfectly adapted to its religious function, this monastery city represents a unique artistic achievement.
  • With its simple, harmonious lines and its profusion of carved decoration, it influenced Buddhist architecture as far away as Cambodia.

Sharada Peeth Temple University

It is located in Kashmir. Kashmir is also known as Sharada Desh going by the name of the temple. The Sharada script owes its development and popularisation to Sharada Peeth Temple University.

• It is one of the 51 Shaktipeethas where Sati’s right hand fell at this place.
• The timeline of the establishment of Sharada Peeth Temple University is unknown. 
• Many famous scholars were part of this temple university. Some of the names who studied at this University include:
  • Kalhana – historian and author of Rajtarangini
  • Adi Shankara – philosopher of Advaita Vedanta
  • Kumarajiva – Buddhist scholar
  • Vairotsana – Tibetan translator
  • Thonmi Sambhota – Tibetan scholar

Famous Universities of Ancient India PYQs

Question 1: Taxila University was one of the oldest universities of the world which was associated with a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss. (UPSC Mains 2014)

Famous Universities of Ancient India FAQs

Q1. What are famous universities in ancient India?

Ans. Many universities flourished in ancient India, including the world-famous Takshashila and Nalanda University, Vallabhi, Odantapuri, Nagarjunakonda, Sharada Peeth, etc.

Q2. Who destroyed Takshashila University?

Ans. Takshashila University was destroyed by the Huns in the 5th century CE. Taxila was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

Where is Nalanda University located?

Q3. What is the ancient university of India?

Ans. Nalanda is considered to be among the greatest centres of learning in the ancient world. It was located near the city of Rajagriha (now Rajgir) southeast of Pataliputra (now Patna).