TAKSHASHILA - World's First & Oldest University

TAKSHASHILA - World's First & Oldest University

2700 years back a huge university existed in the ancient India where over 10,500 students from all across the world came for higher studies. It was an important Vedic /Hindu & Buddhist center of learning.

Takshashila University date back to the 5th or 6th Century BC. As per Ramayana, the city name Taksasila came from Taksa, who was the son of Bharata, the brother of the Lord Rama. It is believed that Taksa was the first ruler of the kingdom Taksa Khanda and founder of Takshashila.

The campus accommodated students who came from as far as Babylonia, Greece, Arabia and China and offered over 64 different fields of study like Vedas, grammar, philosophy, Ayurveda, agriculture, surgery, politics, archery, warfare, astronomy, commerce, futurology, music, dance.

According to Buddhist Jakata over 10,000 students used to study at university campus at a time. There were even curious subjects like the art of discovering hidden treasure, decrypting encrypted messages, etc

Admission into this university was purely based on merit. Students were admitted to this university at the age of 16 after they had completed their basic education.Entrance exam to Takshashila was very difficult and only 3 out of every 10 students passed the admission test.

Oh yes university & it's culture has influence of Jainism too which can be stated by its style of architecture, existence of Jain temple ruins , etc

Being near the north-west frontier of India, Takshashila had to face the brunt of attacks and invasions from the north and the west. Thus the Persians, Greeks, Parthians, Shakas and Kushanas laid their destructive marks on this institution.

The role of Taxila University as a center of knowledge continued under the Maurya Empire and Greek rule (Indo-Greeks) in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. The destruction of Toramana in the 5th century CE seem to have put an end to the activities of the University.