The beauty of Takshashila - Page 2

Originally posted by: ssbn_siddhi

Here's a small piece of information on Takshashila:

Takshashila is considered a place of religious and historical sanctity by Jain and Buddhists. The former do so not only because, in its time, Takshashila was the seat of Vedic learning, but also because the strategist, Chanakya, who later helped consolidate the empire of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, was a senior teacher there. The institution is very significant in Buddhist tradition since it is believed that the Mahayana sect of Buddhism took shape there.

Some scholars date Takshashila's existence back to the 6th century BCE or 7th century BCE. It became a noted centre of learning at least several centuries before Christ, and continued to attract students from around the old world until the destruction of the city in the 5th century CE. Takshashila is perhaps best known because of its association with Chanakya. The famous treatise Arthashastra (Sanskrit for The knowledge of Economics) by Chanakya, is said to have been composed in Takshashila itself. Chanakya (or Kautilya), the Maurya Emperor Chandragupta and the Ayurvedic healer Charaka studied at Taxila.

Generally, a student entered Takshashila at the age of sixteen. The Vedas and the Eighteen Arts, which included skills such as archery, hunting, and elephant lore, were taught, in addition to its law school, medical school, and school of military science.

Originally posted by: _Vrish_

Theoretically, it ought to be sacred to Hindus as well - its foundation is described in the Ramayan, where it was founded by Taksha, son of Bharat/Mandavi. Similarly, all cities founded by Rama's sons/nephews ought to be in the list.

Originally posted by: _Vrish_

The city's name was originally Takshashila, like as described in the serial, meaning 'City of Taksha'. After the passing of Sita, as well as the Rajmatas, Bharat's mama Yudhajit, who was the ruler of Kekaya (today's Waziristan) asked Rama to conquer Gandhara and rule it. Accordingly, Rama sent Bharat and Bharat's 2 sons Taksha & Pushkal to war against the Gandharvas. The battle raged for 7 days, and then Bharat used a divyastra to eliminate the Gandharvas, and ended up in possession of the terretories.

He founded 2 new cities - Takshashila (@ Rawalpindi) where he installed Taksha as king, and Pushkaravati (@ Jalalabad) where he installed Pushkal. He helped establish these kingdoms for 5 years b4 leaving them as rulers and returning to Ayodhya.

All this is described in Valmiki.

Originally posted by: _Vrish_

No, Kekaya raj is Waziristan - the western part of Pakistan just south-east of Afghanistan. Gandhara is a combination of the eastern part of Afghanistan, and northern part of Pakistan, including Rawalpindi. In the Ramayan at least, looks like Taksha got the part south east of the Khyber Pass, while Pushkal got the part north west of it.

Hope that was understandable

Originally posted by: _Vrish_

No, Kush became the ruler of S Kosala, capital @ Kushavati and Luv became ruler of N Kosala, capital @ Sravasthi. Both are in UP. Lahore would have been part of either Taksha's kingdom, or Madra.

Originally posted by: _Vrish_

Yep. It existed long b4 that - it was the kingdom where Savitri was the princess b4 she married, and Savitri existed in the treta yuga, since Sita cites her as an example that she followed. And yeah, it was the kingdom of Madri, and her brother Shalya.

I edited the above answer to include Lakshman's & Shatrughan's sons' kingdoms.