Vedic learning in Mithila

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Vedic learning started in Mithila with the expansion of Vedic and Brahmanic culture eastwards along the Ganges plain. [1] Some sources consider this centre of Brahminical study to form an Ancient Mithila University. [2] From the 12th/13th to 15th century CE it was an important centre of Nyaya Shastra and logical sciences. [1] [3]

Contents

History

Yajnavalkya teaches Brahma Vidya to King Janaka in his ashram in Mithila Yajnavalkya and Janaka.jpg
Yajnavalkya teaches Brahma Vidya to King Janaka in his ashram in Mithila

The Ramayana refers to the court of King Janaka in Mithila, attracting scholars and philosophers. [4]

During the Gupta period Mithila was a center for disputes between Buddhists, Jains and Brahmins, with prominent Mimamsa authors writing defenses of Vedic ritual.[ citation needed ] Education took place through "Tols, Pathshāla and Chatušpathi or Chaupari,"[ citation needed ] with students living at the house of their teacher.

The Turkic conquests had little impact in Mithila, leaving it as "an isolated outpost and centre of Brahmanic and Sanskrit scholarship," where "Hindu scholars were able to protect the purity of their ideals and traditions." [5]

Mithila school of logic

Late mediaeval Eastern schools of Brahmins were focused on Nyaya Shastra and logical sciences, in contrast to the Vedanta of southern Brahmins from the Vijayanagara cultural area. [3] According to Vidyabhusana, the science of logic developed out of parishad, councils of learned Brahmins. [6] The Mithila school of Nyaya was an Indian school of Nyaya philosophy, which flourished from the 12th-13th to the 15th century in Mithila. [7] [8]

During the mediaeval period, Shalaka Pariksha and Shadyantra Pariksha were the examinations conducted for graduation from the institution. [9] Mahesha Thakura, the founder of Darbhanga Raj, later introduced Dhaut Pariksha. [10] Students were not allowed to take any piece of written information with them after finishing their studies, to keep a monopoly on the study of Logic. [11]

Related Research Articles

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Vasudeva Sarvabhauma was an Indian Philosopher and a scholar of Nyaya Shastra. He is also known as Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. He lived around 13th to 14th century of the Common Era. He belonged to Nabadwip and went to Mithila for studying Nyaya Shastra in Ancient Mithila University. He was a student of Pakshadhara Mishra, the head professor of Nyaya Shastra in the Ancient Mithila University at that time. He memorized the entire texts of learning available there and then returned to Nabadwip to establish his own school for the study of logic He was one of the founders of Navya Nyaya School of Indian Philosophy.

Pakshadhara Mishra was a 15th-century Indian philosopher from the Mithila region and the founder of the Nyaya Shastra sampradaya in the tradition of Gaṅgeśa. He was a practitioner of the Nyaya Shashtra during the 15th century CE. Notable pupils of his pupils include Vasudeva Sarvabhauma and Raghunatha Siromani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vedic Parishad</span> Council of Learned Brahmins in Ancient India

Vedic Parishad or Parishad was a council of learned Brahmins and scholars in the ancient India. It is also known as Brahmasabhā. The Vedic Parishad was headed by a chief judge. The chief judge was called as Dharmādhikārin. It was often a kind of religious court in Vedic and Brahmanical period. It was the sovereign assembly to the meeting of learned Brahmins for discussion and debate between the scholars. According to R K Mukherjee, the Parishad resembles with the university of students belonging to various colleges. Parishad represents conducting debates under the chairmanship of its president. In ancient times, Parishad was the assembly of learned scholars called by the king to decide on the subjects of Vedas, Vedanga, Dharmashastra, religion etc. The decision taken by the Parishad was universal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhaut Pariksha</span> Examination System in the University of Mithila during mediaeval period

Dhaut Pariksha or Dhout Pariksha was the highest examination system established in Mithila during the Darbhanga Raj Kingdom.

Shalaka Pariksha was an examination system for graduation degree in ancient Mithila.

Shadyantra Pariksha was a higher examination system in ancient Mithila for testing knowledge of the scholars in the region. It was more tough level of examination than the Shalaka Pariksha.

References

  1. 1 2 Scharfe (2002), p. 189–191.
  2. ↑ Vidyabhusana (1988).
  3. 1 2 Bronkhorst, Diaconescu & Kulkarni 2013, p. 98.
  4. ↑ Chaudhury (1964), p. 566-568.
  5. ↑ Rorabacher (2016).
  6. ↑ Vidyabhusana (1920), p. 22.
  7. ↑ Sharma & Sharma (1996), p. 20.
  8. ↑ Chaudhury (1964), p. 567.
  9. ↑ Mukherjee (1947), pp. 597–598.
  10. ↑ Choudhary (1988), p. 91.
  11. ↑ Thakur (1956), pp. 379–381.

Sources

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