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The Buddhist education system also introduced very rich curriculum of studies. They also started with scriptures. Their principal and prominent subjects of study were the Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka and Abhidhamm Pitaka^[1]. These three were the core subjects of study. All the students had to learn by heart these subjects. Besides these, many other subjects were also included in the Buddhist curriculum.

During the age education system was divided into Primary course and Secondary course. Hiuen Tsang and I-tsing the two Chinese travellers very clearly mentioned that during the age the students had to learn the primary courses; after that they received the secondary courses of knowledge. I-tsing mentioned that the education of the child began at six years of his age. From the very beginning of his education, the students first studied the Siddhirastu^[2]. This Siddhirastu contained the Sanskrit alphabet and syllables arranged in 艣濒辞办补蝉. Next at the age of eight, the child learnt the 厂奴迟谤补蝉 of 笔腻峁噄苍颈. This took the eight months to finish. After gaining the knowledge of alphabet and 厂奴迟谤补蝉 of 笔腻峁噄苍颈, from ten to fifteen years the student learnt the 顿丑腻迟耻, Khilas and K膩艣ik膩v峁泃ti^[3]. These were the 艣濒辞办补蝉 and commentaries which were composed by learned 闯补测腻诲颈迟测补, a man of very striking literary power.

Next the student began to learn the composition in prose and verse, logic, metaphysics and the introductory work composed by 狈补驳腻谤箩耻苍补 called 狈测腻测补-dvara-taraka-艣腻蝉迟谤补. And at the end of the elementary course, the students studied the five 惫颈诲测腻蝉 viz. 艢abdavidy膩, 艢ilpasth膩navidy膩, cikts膩vidy膩, Hetuvidy膩, and 础诲丑测腻迟尘补惫颈诲测腻^[4].

Having finished the elementary courses, the students studied the secondary courses. In the secondary courses included with Grammar, 惭补丑腻产丑腻峁�y补, 叠丑补谤迟峁沨补谤颈-艢膩stra, Bha峁泃rihari鈥檚 V膩kyap膩diya, and 叠丑补谤迟峁沨补谤颈 叠别岣峚(probably Sanskrit 叠别岣峚). These 叠丑补谤迟峁沨补谤颈 works probably are the slokas and commentaries which were composed by great scholar 叠丑补谤迟峁沨补谤颈^[5].

Besides these, from the 闯腻迟补办补 stories and from the evidence of Milinda 笔补帽丑补 give idea about the subjects of studies in Buddhist education system. The 闯腻迟补办补 stories and the Milinda 笔补帽丑补 mentioned that Vedas and Sippas or liberal arts were the principal subjects of study in Buddhist period. In 罢补办峁�a艣颈濒腻 the students always studied the Vedas and eighteen Sippas^[6]. The 闯腻迟补办补 stories mentioned that Sippas were eighteen in number. They did not enumerate the Vedas in the Sippas. Whereas Milinda 笔补帽丑补 referred to nineteen Sippas, they enumerated Vedas in the Sippas. Milinda 笔补帽丑补 also gives the individual names of the nineteen Sippas viz., Satthas (艢腻蝉迟谤补蝉) which includes the four Vedas and described as Suti (艢谤耻迟颈), Samuti (厂尘峁泃颈), 厂腻苍办丑测补 (厂腻峁僰丑测补), Yoga, 狈墨迟颈 (狈测腻测补), Vi艣e峁�ika (痴补颈艣别峁�i办补), 骋补峁噄办腻 (arithmetic) 骋腻苍诲丑补谤产补 (music) 罢颈办办颈肠肠丑腻 (Medicine), Catubbeda (fourVedas), 笔耻谤腻峁嘺, 滨迟颈丑腻蝉补, 闯测辞迟颈峁�a, 惭腻测腻 (Magic) Hetu (casuistry), 惭补苍迟补苍腻 (Polity), Yuddha (militaryscience), Candasa (prosody) and 惭耻诲诲腻 (conveyancing). Though Vedas and Sippas were the main subjects of study in Buddhist education system but some subjects were separately mentioned in the 闯腻迟补办补s and Milinda 笔补帽丑补. These subjects were Elephant lore, Magic Charms, Spell for bringing back the dead life, Hunting, Spell for understanding all animal鈥檚 cries, Archery, The art of prognostication, Charm for commanding all things of sense, divining from signs of the body and Medicine. These subjects were actually come under the Sippas, but 罢补办峁�a艣颈濒腻 gave special attention of these subjects. Students always tried to specialize these subjects. We find in the 闯腻迟补办补 stories that a 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 boy was specialized in Archery, another specialized in Magic charms^[7]. Like that 闯墨惫补办补 was also specialized in Medicine^[8].

During the age theoretical and practical aspects of education also receive importance. Basically the students who became mastered in Medicine, Law and Military sciences, they had to know the practical usage of their subjects. But in the 闯腻迟补办补 stories we also find that all the students after receiving the theoretical knowledge, they used to go to the far off places to realize the practical experience of their subjects. 闯墨惫补办补 after seven years of his education in 罢补办峁�a艣颈濒腻, his teacher suggested him to go far off places to receive the practical knowledge of his subjects^[9]. We also find many other examples where the students first received the theoretical knowledge after that they wandered various towns, cities and villages for the practical knowledge. In the 闯腻迟补办补^[10] stories mentioned that Prince of Magadha who was mastered in all the arts of 罢补办峁�a艣颈濒腻, wandered through the various countries to acquire the practical use of his subjects. There was mentioned of Prince of 碍辞艣补濒补 who after receiving education at 罢补办峁�a艣颈濒腻, travelled about the idea of mastering the practical uses of the sciences^[11].

But when we look at the educational institution of Buddhist period, we find that the subjects of study during the age were not only rich but were very vast in number. They offered both the Brahmanic and Buddhists subjects of study. The renowned teachers were the master of both Brahmanical and Buddhist subjects. We are told a teacher at 罢补办峁�a艣颈濒腻 from whose lips five hundred 叠谤腻丑峁僡苍补 pupils learnt the Vedas^[12]. Even from the 闯腻迟补办补 stories we find that instead of Sippas the student can able to choose the Vedas as their core subject of learning. There were no restrictions. As a matter of fact during the age caste distinction did not come in the way of choosing the subjects. There we find many references that many 叠谤腻丑尘颈苍 students in 罢补办峁�a艣颈濒腻 learnt divation, magic charms, archery, science under their teachers in exclusion their own subjects^[13]. The Bhimsena 闯腻迟补办补, Koseya 闯腻迟补办补, Asadisa 闯腻迟补办补 and many other 闯腻迟补办补s mentioned that Bodhisattva himself was mastered in three Vedas and eighteen Sippas. At the age of sixteen he went to 罢补办峁�a艣颈濒腻 and learnt the Vedas and Sippas^[14].

The Milinda 笔补帽丑补 also indicates that the Brahmanical education too was existence in Buddhist curriculum. The Brahmanical subjects like the Vedas, 痴别诲腻峁単补蝉, 滨迟颈丑腻蝉补, 笔耻谤腻峁嘺, 厂腻峁僰丑测补, Yoga, 狈测腻测补, and Vai艣i峁�ika were the main subjects of study during the age. Besides these, many other subjects like special knowledge of 碍峁�a迟谤颈测补 was also included in the curriculum^[15].

During the age 惭补丑腻测腻苍补 and 贬墨苍腻测腻苍补 the two schools of Buddhist thought were very popular. Many universities provided one branch of learning. 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 University provided 惭补丑腻测腻苍补 school of thought where as 痴补濒补产丑墨 was specialised in 贬墨苍腻测腻苍补 Buddhism. But both the universities did not neglect each other thought. That is why, the 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 University also provided education in 贬墨苍腻测腻苍补 Buddhism.

Here the curriculum of some famous Buddhist Universities is given:

罢补办峁�a蝉颈濒腻:

罢补办峁�a蝉颈濒腻 was a centre of higher education and students went there at the age of sixteen. They provided higher education curriculum. The many 闯腻迟补办补s mentioned the conventional list of the subjects of study at 罢补办峁�a蝉颈濒腻. These subjects were the Vedas, Grammar, Philosophy and eighteen Sippas. These were the principal subjects of study. Among these subjects many other subjects like Medicine, Surgery, Archery, Military Science, Astronomy, Astrology, Conveyancing, Magic, Sanke Charming, the Art of finding treasures, Law,

Music, Dancing and Painting were also included in the curriculum.

狈腻濒补苍诲腻:

狈腻濒补苍诲腻 was also centre of higher education. The subject of study in 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 was very exhaustive. They basically provided education in 惭补丑腻测腻苍补 Buddhism. Hiuen Tsang studied the 惭补丑腻测腻苍补 Buddhism in 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 University where as I-tsing studied 贬墨苍腻测腻苍补 Buddhism in 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 University. 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 also provided Brahmanical subjects of study because Hiuen Tsang mentioned that the students at 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 study both the old and new books. The old and new books mentioned by Hiuen Tsang includes works such as Vedas, 痴别诲腻峁単补蝉, 厂腻峁僰丑测补, 狈测腻测补, Yoga 艣腻蝉迟谤补, Vai艣esika and works on Buddhist 艣腻蝉迟谤补s with all its subdivisions. Besides this, from reference of Tibetan works of 狈腻濒补苍诲腻, it is evident that Tantra was very popular among the students as well as the teachers of Nalanda. The Tantra was also included in the curricula of 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 University. 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 also provided the ordinary subjects of study like Hetuvidy膩, 艢abdavidy膩, Cikits膩vidy膩 and the works on Magic. But they thoroughly investigated the miscellaneous works.

痴补濒补产丑墨 and 痴颈办谤补峁兣沬濒腻:

痴补濒补产丑墨 and 痴颈办谤补峁兣沬濒腻 Universities were famous for their educational activities. Both the Universities provided very rich educational facilities to their students. But we have very little information about the subjects of study in 痴补濒补产丑墨 and 痴颈办谤补峁兣沬濒腻 Universities. As a matter of fact both the Universities faced many political vicissitudes, so their curricula were thoroughly destroyed for these political ups and downs. We do not find any material evidence about the curricula of 痴补濒补产丑墨 and 痴颈办谤补峁兣沬濒腻 University. But it is gathered that both the Universities follow the curricula of 狈腻濒补苍诲腻 Universities. We also find that 痴补濒补产丑墨 was school of 贬墨苍腻测腻苍补 Buddhism. They provided education in 贬墨苍腻测腻苍补 Buddhism. They also imparted education in secular subjects like Economics, Accountancy, Politics, Medicine, and literature. Where as in 痴颈办谤补峁兣沬濒腻 University, Grammar, Logic, Mataphysics, Tantra and Ritualism were the main subjects of study. The 痴颈办谤补峁兣沬濒腻 University had special arrangement for the study of non religious or secular subjects.

The Vedic and Buddhist education systems started with their scriptures and both aimed at over the subjects studied. It was not only religious but non religious and secular subjects were also part of the study.

Although the education systems started with their scriptures, the Buddhist education system incorporated the Brahmanical subjects too. It is a matter of fact that Buddhist education systems always tried to establish their own faith and cult. As Buddhism was a new thought and new religion. They always faced the Brahmanic challenges. For this reason they required to know more about the Brahmanical subjects and Buddhist teachers also encouraged their students to study the Brahmanical subjects. But Buddhist and Brahmanic systems did not remain antagonistic to each other. Both the systems were complimentary to each other. The Brahmanic scholars respected the Buddhist society. They also imparted education to Buddhist scholars. Brahmanic scholar also went to Buddhist University to gain the knowledge on Buddhistic subjects. We have already mentioned in the third chapter that in 碍补迟丑腻蝉补谤颈迟蝉腻驳补谤, we find the reference of a Brahmin boy completed his education in 痴补濒补产丑墨 University^[16].

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

惭补丑腻惫补驳驳补.滨痴.15.4.

[2]:

I-Tsing.P.170-172.

[3]:

Ibid.P.175.

[4]:

Ibid.P.127.

[5]:

Ibid.P.178-180.

[6]:

罢补办办补蝉颈濒补峁� gantva tayo veda 补峁�峁�丑腻谤补蝉补帽 ca sipp膩ni ugga峁噃itva| Brah膩chatta Jataka 336; 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺kum膩r膩 ca yebhuyyena tass eva santike 厂颈辫辫补峁� ugga峁噃anti.Atheko janapadav膩si br膩hma峁噊 bodhisattassa santike tayo Vede a峁�峁璦harasaca vijja峁�峁環膩n膩ni |Kosiya 闯腻迟补办补 130; so vayappato 罢补办办补蝉颈濒腻ya sabbsip膩ni ugg峁噃itva B膩r膩峁嘺si峁� 辫补肠肠腻驳补苍迟惫腻 谤腻箩腻苍补峁� passi|Sattubhasta 闯腻迟补办补 402.

[7]:

罢补诲腻 eko b膩r膩nas墨br膩hma峁噊 m膩navo takk艣il膩y膩 dhanukamme 苍颈辫辫丑补迟迟颈峁�鈥︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌�p补峁囜笉颈迟辞 苍腻尘补 ahosi |闯腻迟补办补 219; bodhisattvo hatth腻肠补谤颈测补kule 苍颈产产补迟迟颈迟惫腻 vayappatto hattacariyasippe nipphattim鈥︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌�..upa峁�峁環asi|Ibid.94.

[8]:

罢补办办补蝉颈濒腻 yena so vejo ten鈥斺�斺�斺�斺�斺�斺��-icch膩m 补丑补峁� 膩cariyo 厂颈辫辫补峁� sikkhitum ti. Ten he bhane Jivaka sikkhass奴 ti|Mah膩vagga.VIII.I.6

[9]:

Aha峁� kho 腻肠补谤颈测补 产补丑耻峁�鈥︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌�satta ca me vassani鈥︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌�.|teno hi 产丑补峁噀 Jivaka khantti峁� 腻诲腻测补 罢补办办补蝉颈濒腻ya 蝉补尘补苍迟腻 yojane峁� 膩hi峁囜笉anto ya峁� 办颈帽肠颈 abhisajja峁� paseyy膩si ta峁� 膩har膩ti| Ibid. VIII.I.7.

[10]:

顿补谤墨尘耻办丑补鈥︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌�sabbasipp膩ni uggnhitv膩 sabha samayasipp膩ni ca sikkhiss膩ma desc膩ritta帽 ca j膩niss膩ma ti g膩manigam膩disu caranta鈥︹赌�..触顿补谤墨尘耻办丑补 闯腻迟补办补 378.

[11]:

Takkasilato nikhami, sabbasamayasippani sikkhanto ekam paccantag膩makam 辫腻辫耻峁噄 | Brah膩catta 闯腻迟补办补 336.

[12]:

Atit 罢补办办补蝉颈濒腻ya峁� Bodhisatto dis膩pamokkho 膩c膩riyo hutv膩 pa帽ca m膩峁嘺vakasat膩ni mante v膩cesi |N膩masiddhi 闯腻迟补办补 97.

[13]:

罢补诲腻 eko b膩r膩nasibr膩hma峁噊 m膩navo takka艣il膩y膩 dhanukamme 苍颈辫辫丑补迟迟颈峁冣�︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌� pa峁囜笉ito 苍腻尘补 ahosi |Culladhanuggaha 闯腻迟补办补 374.

[14]:

Tesu Bodhisatatto so岣穉savassak膩le 罢补办办补蝉颈濒补峁� gantv膩 dis膩p膩mokkhasa 腻肠补谤颈测补ssa santike tayo vede 补峁�峁�丑腻谤补蝉补 sipp膩ni ca ugga峁噃itv膩 iss膩sasippe asadiso hutv膩 B膩r膩峁嘺ssi峁� pacc膩gami| Asadisa 闯腻迟补办补 181;
Bodhisttassa santike tayo vede 补峁�峁�丑腻谤补蝉补|Kosiya 闯腻迟补办补 130;
Takksil膩ya dis膩pamokkhassa 腻肠补谤颈测补ssa santike tayo Vede a峁�峁環arasa vijja峁�峁環膩n膩ni ugghetv膩 sabbasippe hippattimpatva |Bhimsen 闯腻迟补办补 80.

[15]:

Milinda pa帽ha.IV.3.26;I.9.

[16]:

Antaraveday膩mabh奴tp奴rva峁� vasudatt iti 诲惫颈箩补岣� | Vi峁ａ箛udattavhidh膩n艣ca putrastasyopapadyata || Sa vi峁ａ箛udatto vayas膩 p奴r峁嘺峁�o岣峚艣avatsara岣�| 骋补峁僼耻峁� pravav峁泃e vidy膩pr膩ptaye valbh墨pura峁� || 碍补迟丑腻蝉补谤颈迟蝉腻驳补谤,XXXII,42-43.