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Lord Mahāvīra and His Times
hundred students under his charge. From the Sutasoma Fātaka, it is known that one of the archery schools at Taxila had on its roll 103 princes from different parts of India. Heir-apparents of Banaras came to this place for higher studies.3 King Prasenajit of Kośala, a contemporary of Mahāvīra, was educated here. Prince Jivaka, an illegitimate son of Bimbisāra, spent seven years at Taxila in learning medicine and surgery. As Pāņini hailed from Salātura near Attock, he also must have been on the alumni of Taxila University.
Generally, students used to go to Taxila for higher studies at the age of sixteen. As a general rule, they stayed with their teachers. Those, who were rich like prince Junha from Banaras, used to have separate special houses for their residence. The well-to-do students used to pay their lodging and boarding expenses along with their fees, sometimes even at the beginning of their course. Poor students, who were unable to pay fees, used to work in their teacher's house by day, Special classes were held for them at night.
Next to Taxila, Banaras was an eminent seat of learning. In the earlier period, one of its kings, Ajātaśatru had been a great philosopher and a patron of learning. Many of the teachers of this place had been students of Taxila.5 It seems that Banaras, as a seat of learning, was largely the creation of the ex-students of Taxila. In the course of time, the teacliers of Banaras began to attract scholars from far and wide. Kosija and Tittiri Jatakas refer to the famous teachers of Banaras maintaining schools for the teaching of three Vedas and eighteen Sippas, and Akitta Jātaka describes how students used to flock to Banaras for higher education, when they were about 16 years of age. The son of a Brāhmaṇa magnate worth eighty crores was educated in Banaras. There were again certain subjects in the teaching of which Banaras seems to have specialized. There is a reference, for instance, to a school of 1. Jā. 1, No. 239, 317, 402; III, 18. 235, 143, 171 etc. 2. Ibid, V, p. 407. : 3. Ibic, No. 252.
4. Jā, No 456: -5: Ibià, No. 150, See also No. 80. 6. jā, Vol, IV, 237,
