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EDUCATION, LEARNING AND LITERATURE
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disputations is largely supported by the contemporary sources. Yuan Chwang' as well as I-Tsingemphatically" speak of such fiery affrays where the Buddhists, the Brāhmins and the Jainas all tried to prove the superiority of their own faith. King Silăditya of Valabhi is also mentioned to have presided over one such literary affray held between Mallavādin and Buddhananda.s
Keeping in view the above factors it can be concluded that the aim of education in the Jaina monasteries during these centuries were directed to produce scholarly monks with keen forensic power who could expound the tenets of their faith with a view to prove its supremacy before the rulers of the state and the public. Brāhmaṇic Institutions's Education in the Gurukulas
A detailed account of the Brāhmanic institutions is not available from the text, yet a few references in the text reveal them to be the most prominent agencies of learning among the non-Jaina sections of society. Apart from the individual Brāhmaṇa teachers who imparted the sacred lore to the younger generation, there also existed the Brāhmanic institutions known as Gurukulas. Similar to the Jaina monasteries the students of these institutions were to stay with their preceptor ( gurukulavā sa )5 for a number of years for acquiring the sacred lore and an ideal conduct.
eighteen times in a debating contest accepted the discipleship of his
rival for being able to understand his tenets. --NC. 4, pp. 265-66. 1. Yuan Chwang noted that during such debating contests "the tenets
of these schools keep these isolated, and controversy runs high."
Watters, op. cit., I, p. 162. 2. I-Tsing describes the House of debate where the literary tournaments
were held. He further remarks that those who emerge victorious the sound of their fame makes the five mountains of India vibrate and their renown flows, as it were over the four borders.--Takakusu, op.
cit., p. 178. 3. Kapadia, op. cit., p. 246. 4. NC. 3, pp. 294, 412, 434. 5. NC. 3, p. 412; Yašasti laka, p. 26. 6. " fa"--BTCT faharaftada TTT: AFRS 1144 date:--NC. 3, p. 412.
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