Question

Which of the following is the oldest seat of learning?

Answer 1

Hint: There is a village called the Bada gaon in the city of Bihar in India and in its nearby area are the world-famous ruins of Nalanda University. These ruins of the university reflect the time when India was leading in imparting knowledge to the world and was considered a desired place for studies.

Complete step by step answer:
Nalanda is the oldest seat of learning, this university was established in the 5th century AD. It is situated in the province of Bihar at a distance of 40 miles southwest of modern Patna and seven miles north of Rajgriha, Nalanda was the famous educational and cultural center of northern India. It enjoyed an appreciable degree of fame and was of utmost importance for Buddhist monks owing to its being the birthplace of Sariputta who was the favorite disciple of Lord Buddha. About 2,000 teachers were present there and 10,000 students from all over the world lived and studied there. The university prospered during the 5th and 12th centuries. Its real importance started with the year 450 A.D which is evident by the writings of the Hiuen-Tsang who came here in 7th century A.D and gave a description of the glory of this oldest seat of learning. In Nalanda higher studies were carried on. It was considered a great center of learning throughout Asia. The minimum age limit for admission was twenty years. Education, board, and lodging were provided free of cost to the students. The eminent 7th-century ruler of Kanauj (Kannauj), Harshavardhana, is believed to have contributed to them.

Note: The scope of study in Nalanda was very vast, the students of this university were held in high esteem everywhere in the country. The students were taught verbally and explanatory. The university had a very big library which had three departments called‘’ Ratna Sagar’’.