India, Nov. 10 -- The roots of monastic education in India trace back to ancient religious and philosophical traditions, particularly within Buddhism. From the 5th century BCE, Buddhist monasteries, or viharas, emerged as structured centres of learning. Initially seasonal retreats for meditation and study of the Buddha's teachings, they evolved into permanent institutions offering systematic education in scriptures, ethics, logic, and philosophy.
Renowned centres such as Nalanda, Vikramasila, and Takshashila became magnets for scholars across Asia, embodying a holistic educational model that emphasised discipline, moral development, and intellectual inquiry. This legacy safeguarded Buddhist philosophy and established early models of lifelo...