The capital of Gandhára. It is frequently mentioned as a centre of education, especially in the Játakas. It is significant that it is never mentioned in the suttas, though, according to numerous Játaka stories, it was a great centre of learning from pre-Buddhistic times. The Commentaries mention that in the Buddha's day, also, princes and other eminent men received their training at Takkasilá. Pasenadi, king of Kosala, Maháli, chief of the Licchavis, and Bandhula, prince of the Mallas, were classmates in the university of Takkasilá (DhA.i.337). Among others described as being students of Takkasilá are Jívaka, Angulimála, Dhammapála of Avanti, Kanhadinna, Bháradvája and Yasadatta (q.v.).
From Benares to Takkasilá was a distance of two thousand yojanas (J.i.395), though we are told that sometimes the journey was accomplished in one day (J.ii.47). The road passed through thick jungle infested by robbers (DhA.iv.66). Takkasilá was, however, a great centre of trade; people flocked to it from various parts of the country (MNid.i.154), not only from Benares, but also from Sávatthi, from which city the road lay through Soreyya (DhA.i.326). In ancient times students came to the university from Lála (J.i.447), from the Kuru country (DhA.iv.88), from Magadha (J.v.161), and from the Sivi country (J.v.210).
The students in the university studied the three Vedas and the eighteen sciences (vijjá) (J.i.159), which evidently included the science of archery (J.i.356; DhA.iv.66; also medicine and surgery, Vin.i.269f), the art of swordmanship (J.v.128), and elephant-craft (hatthi-sutta) (J.ii.47). Mention is also made of the study of magic, such as the Álambanamanta, for charming snakes (J.iv.457), and the Nidhiuddharanamanta, for recovering buried treasure (J.iii.116). The students were also taught the science of ritual (manta) (J.ii.200); but in this branch of learning Benares seems to have had a greater reputation, for we find students being sent there from Takkasilá in order to learn the mantas (DhA.iii.445).
The students generally paid a fee to the teacher on admission, the usual amount being one thousand gold pieces. They waited on the teacher by day and were taught by him at night. The paying students were entitled to various privileges, and lived with the teacher as members of his family, enjoying his constant company. The students seem mostly to have done their own domestic work, leading a co-operate life, gathering their own firewood and cooking their meals, though mention is made of servants, both male and female, helping in the various tasks (J.i.319).
Only bráhmanas and khattiyas appear to have been eligible for admission to Takkasilá (J.iv.391).
Discipline was evidently very rigorous, a breach of the rules being severely punished, irrespective of the status of the pupil, who was sometimes flogged on the back with a bamboo stick (J.ii.277f). Often the most promising students were given the daughters of the teachers in marriage as a mark of very special favour. (E.g., DhA.iv.66. Elsewhere (J.vi.347) it is stated that the teacher's daughter was given to the eldest pupil).
Sometimes the teacher and his pupils were invited to a meal at the house of a chief man of the city (J.iv.391). The principal teacher was called Disápámokkhácariya; under him were assistants, usually chosen from among his students, who were called pitthiácariyá (E.g., J.ii.100).
Takkasilá, being the capital of Gandhára, was probably also the seat of government. Bimbisára's contemporary in Gandhára was Pukkusáti (J.i.399; ii.218). Mention is made in the Játakas of a Takkasilá-rájá (AA.i.153; MA.i.335; ii.979, 987f). According to the Kumbhakára Játaka (q.v.), Takkasilá was the capital of Naggaji. The Dípavamsa (iii.31) records that twelve kings, descendants of Dípankara, ruled in succession at Takkasilá.
It is said in the Divyávadána (p.371) that Bindusára's empire included Takkasilá. There was once a rebellion there and Asoka was sent to quell it. From the minor Rock Edict II. of Asoka it would appear that Takkasilá was the headquarters of a provincial government at Gandhára, placed under a Kumára or Viceroy. A rebellion broke out there again in the time of Asoka, who sent his son Kunála to settle it.
Takkasilá is identified with the Greek Taxila, in Rawalpindi in the Punjab.