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OCTOBER, 1967
find rows of sitting persons, teacher and taught. At one end is the teacher and the pupils (elderly though) are sitting facing him and offering him salutation. In one row, there are two teachers and six pupils, two ladies and four men. In four other rows there is one teache the left of each row and five lady pupils for each teacher. In other rows there is one pupil for one teacher. The teachers have vyāsapithas or book-stands before them and so there is no mistaking of their intent... This is a university, a Jaina university at Rayadurg. The pupils, who went up the difficult approach-path could get rid of some karma, quench their thirst (if any) with the water of a small but perennial well on the hill under the boulder, worship the Tirthankara in the temple and reach the place of teaching. Several teachers were there to handle the different subjects. Women were not prohibited. When the lessons were over, they could very easily get down the hill on the other and easier side and return to their places.”
-S. GOPALAKRISHNA MURTHY, 'A Jain
University' in Jain Vestiges in Andhra.
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