Many self-proclaimed historians are heard claiming that “Portuguese brought the formal education to Goa… before that Goa was uncivilized land”. But this is nothing but a ‘white lie’. The reality lays far from this. The fact is “Goa had a good structural education system even in pre-Portuguese time”. This system was destroyed in successive invasions.
Primary Education was provided at the village level and there were “Brahmapuris” for specified Education. Brahmapuris, which were elevated to modern day colleges and universities.
From ancient times village temples functioned simultaneously, as places of worship and teaching institutions. it was here, where children learned to read, write, and count. The mandapa at the entrance of the main temple of the village was used for teaching. The teaching was sometimes conducted in a big hall of a renowned teacher’s residence.
But the education system in Goa reached its height of glory during the time of Kadamba’s rule. A vast area named ‘Brahmapuri’ was established for purpose of higher education in the capital of the kingdom.
From a copperplate inscription of 1106 AD deciphered by G.H. Kare, we come to know that; during the rule of Kadamba king tribhuvanamallu amba or GUHALADEVA III ; Gandagopaal kelivarma, whose 3 Gerantion served kadamba, constructed a tank and installed a Brahmapuri . This bramapuri had three residential structures and a temple. In these three houses, twelve families of Brahmins were established for teaching students. The temple had vigraha of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and education.
The teaching in a Brahmapuri consisted of Vedas, Vedanga, Astronomy, Astrology, and Medicine. The establishment of brahmapuri as an educational institution, and the establishment of Saraswati temple in particular, speak very highly of the interest of the monarch in the education of the people.
According to historian Anant Sinai Dhume; bramhapuri existed at vodlem Goem which is present-day Goa Velha. While other historians like Rui Gomes Pereira claim that brampuri was at Ella near the present-day Gomantkeshwar mandir.
If Brahmapuri was such important establishment, what happed to this brahmpuri ?
As per the histrorical references, the Malik Kafur, commander of Allauddin Khilji invaded govapuri. In this invasion, he destroyed brahmpri .I t was rebuilt by commander of vijaynagara kinddom Madhava mantri in year 1356 AD. The Portuguese Viceroy Frederico Guilherme D’Souza under instruction from the queen of portugual destroyed it around 1779 AD. The historical references tell us brammpuri were destroyed several times.
The shivling of Goveshwar which is presently under worship at ella is of the year 1947. There is water tank near the mandir. This tank is known as madhav tirth. This place is today popularly known as Ancient brahmapuri kesetra.
Islamic and Europian colonizers not just destroyed our culture but also destroyed our education system.
The Writer is a teacher by profession. He is also an orator and founder of Yugaantar Goa. The page Yugaantar Goa is dedicated to throwing light on the history and culture of Goa.
Dasi Yoga Rakshitha