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Vol. XXII, No. 2
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one another. Learned personalities from different cities were used to come to remove the doubts of the students.
4.2. The study of medicine at Taxila seems to have had both theoretical and practical course. The practical course, perhaps, included a first-hand study of plants to find out their medicinal values Jivaka was sent to Texila for medical studies by prince Abhaya. Having proficiency in treatment he was asked by the teacher to bring something which is not medicinal. Jivaka travelled a yojana all round Taxila and could not see anything that was not medicinal. The Mahāvagga gives this account of Jivaka as - "āhindantomhi ācariya takkasilāya samantā yojanam, na kiñci abhesajjam addasam'til/.12 Female Education :
5.1. Generally, the common people believe that females were not permitted to take education in the ancient India. This is not correct at all. We have many examples that women were highly qualified in the Vedic age. In the Sūtra-period also they were not only received education, they were employed in the military.18 They also had been enrolled as students, teachers and scholars. During the time of Gautam Buddha, females had right to study the śāstras and were taught to read and write. The Lalitavistara narrates that Gautam needed a maiden who is accomplished in writing and in composing poetry who is endowed with good qualities and well-versed in the rules of the Sāstras viz.,
să găthalekha likhite gunaarthayuktā yā kanyā idrsă bhaya mama tām varetha /
and sāstre vidhijña kušalā ganikā yathaiva paścât svapet prathamamulthihate ca sayyāt / maitrānuvarti akuhāpi ca mātņbhută
etādrsim mi nspate badhukām vrnīşva //14 The Mahāparinibbān-sutta mentions that bhikṣunis should undergo two years probation before receiving the Upasampada ordination, during which they would learn the Six precepts. 16 We also get information in details regarding the Samgha meant for the bhiksunis from tbe vinaya-Pitaka. The Cullavagga has also some rules and regulations meant for bhiksuni-samgha, 16
5.2. According to the Majjhimanikāya bhikṣunis should not take their seat in the presence of a bhikṣu without the permission of the later and the former should receive instructions from the bhiksu by turn. 17
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