Where did nuns and monks meditate, debate and discuss with the learned in their quest for knowledge?

Nuns and monks pursued knowledge, meditation, debate and discussion with the learned in monasteries.

Basadis were Jain monastic establishments, not the general term intended here.

Churches belong to the Christian tradition and were not these ancient Indian centres of learning.

Chatika does not denote a recognised place of such scholarly retreat.

Buddhist monasteries or viharas grew into major residential centres of learning like Nalanda.

Monastic universities combined spiritual practice with structured study of many disciplines.