#TheAncientUniversitiesofIndia
Long before modern education systems existed…The world looked to Bharat (India) as the epicenter of learning, philosophy, medicine, mathematics, arts & spirituality.
Let’s rediscover the Ancient Universities of India.
•Nalanda University (Bihar)
Founded ~5th century CE
10,000+ students 9 million manuscripts
Burnt for months by Bakhtiyar Khilji
It attracted scholars from China, Korea, Tibet, Greece, & Persia.
One of the greatest universities in human history.
•Takshashila :Founded ~6th century BCE
Students included Chanakya, Panini, Charaka
Taught 64 subjects from surgery to Vedas to politics.
No centralized structure-knowledge was guru-centric.
A true symbol of free-thinking & mastery.
•Sharada Peeth (Kashmir)
One of the top 3 seats of learning in ancient Bharat
Sacred to Shakti & knowledge traditions
Home to great Sanskrit scholars & Kashmiri Shaivism
Now lies in ruins across the Loc.
Why don’t we talk about its glory?
•Vikramshila (Bihar)
Established by King Dharmapala in 8th century
Rivaled Nalanda
Specialized in Vajrayana Buddhism
Home to legendary scholars like Atisha
Once a lighthouse of knowledge-now mostly forgotten.
•Odantapuri, Somapura, Ratnagiri
Part of the Mahavihara network of Buddhist learning
Spread knowledge across Asia
Heavily influenced Tibetan, Chinese, and Southeast Asian traditions
They weren’t just Indian icons-they were Asian educational powerhouses.
•Kanchipuram, Ennayiram, Sringeri, Ujjaini, Vallabhi, Mithila
Centres of Advaita Vedanta, Nyaya, Ayurveda, Sanskrit, Astronomy
Blended Vedic tradition with logic, grammar, art, and spirituality
They nurtured minds, not just workers .
•Kanthalloor Shala (Kerala)
Known as the "Nalanda of the South"
Vedas, Buddhism, Tantra, Astrology- all under one roof
A testament to diverse knowledge traditions coexisting peacefully.
Destroyed and erased from textbooks.
Look at this map
These weren’t just random towns
They were the IITs, IIMs & Harvards of the ancient world-connected by Dharma, Guru-Shishya parampara & global respect.
What a civilizational treasure we had.
-Yet today, many Indians know more about Plato than Panini.
More about Cambridge than Kanchipuram.
More about Aristotle than Aryabhatta.
This is not just forgotten history. It’s erased heritage.
It's time to reclaim our intellectual legacy.
The Ancient Universities of India weren’t just educational hubs.
They were symbols of Dharma, debate, critical thinking, spiritual depth & scientific exploration.
They taught us how to think-not what to think.
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