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Line 31: − − == वेदान्तविद्या विषयः ॥ Subject Matter of Vedanta Vidya == − A considerable portion of the major Upanishads is devoted to the Upasanas or meditative exercises which are called Vidyas. A good number of these Vidyas in the sense of in-depth higher level of learning are discussed in all the 12 Mukhya Upanishads (three of them more important Upanishads namely, Chandogya, Brhdaranyaka and Taittriya Upanishads) and in the Vedanta Sutras or Brahmasutras. The Upanishads mention them in different places while in the Vedanta Sutras, Adhyaya 3, Pada 3 takes them up together and discusses them. Practice of these Vidyas have been seen in relation to yajnas and some of them yield Kamyaphala (fruits of yajna) as have been given in Sutra 3.3.60. Hence some of these Vidyas are also called Kamya Vidyas. Shri Adi Shankaracharya in his bhasyas interprets these Vidyas as practical exercises of meditation. Also called as Brahmavidya, 32 such Vidyas have been given.<ref>Aiyar, Narayanaswami K., (1919 First Edition) ''The Thirty-two Vidyas. Madras:'' The Adyar Library and Research Center</ref> − − {{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 800px; font-style: italic;| − * [[Ishvaravidya (ईश्वरविद्या)]] − * [[Paramapurushavidya (परमपुरुशविद्या)]] − * [[Sad Vidya (सद्विद्या)]] − * [[Anandamaya Vidya (आनन्दमयविद्या)]] − * [[Paramajyoti Vidya ()]] − * [[Sandilya Vidya]] − * [[Paryanka Vidya]] − * [[Uddalaka Vidya]] − * [[Aksaraksara Vidya]] − * [[Bhumavidya (भूमविद्या)]] − * [[Gargi Akshara Vidya]] − * [[Satyakama Vidya]] − * [[Daharavidya (दहरविद्या)]] − * [[Angushtamatra Vidya]] − * [[Jyotishamjyoti Vidya]] − * [[Maitreyi Vidya]] − * [[Gayatri Vidya]] − * [[Ushasti Kahola Vidya]] − * [[Antaradityavidya or Adityavidya (आदित्यविद्या)]] − * [[Upakosala Vidya]] − * [[Madhuvidya (मधुविद्या)]] − * [[BalakiVidya ()]] − * [[Akash Vidya (अक्षिविद्या)]] − * [[Pranavidya (प्राणविद्या)]] − * [[Pratardanavidya (प्रतर्दनविद्या) ]] − * [[Nachiketavidya (नचिकेतविद्या)]] − * [[Vaisvanara Vidya]] − * [[Samvarga Vidya]] − * [[Panchagnividya (पञ्चाग्निविद्या)]] − * [[Akshi Vidya]] − * [[Bhrugu Varuni Vidya]] − * [[Srimannyasa Vidya]]}} − Udgita and Purushavidya (पुरुषविद्या) are two others that have been described. − − == अपराविद्या विषयः ॥ Subject Matter of Apara Vidya == − Chaturdasha Vidyastanas which included the Vedas and their Vedangas were the chief subjects during the earliest times. Vidya (knowledge), pertaining to a single knowledge system (Brahmavidya etc) of the olden days gradually got absorbed into Vedanta system, a broader heading covering all such specialized topics. Gradually as studying vedas required more understanding, the study of Shad Vedangas became important. It is to be noted that the subjects explaining the Vedas themselves gained more significance and subsequently were studied independent of the Vedas themselves. Some of the Vedangas such as Shiksha, [[Vyakarana Vedanga (व्याकरणवेदाङ्गम्)|Vyakarana]], [[Vedanga Jyotisha (वेदाङ्गज्योतिषम्)|Jyotisha]], became highly specialized by themselves and needed years of study excluding the Vedic studies. − − Vidya (education) then came to represent concept based knowledge systems of Shastras of all kinds in the more recent millenia. The [[Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)|Shad Vedangas]], [[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Shad Darshanas]] and [[Upavedas (उपवेदाः)|Upavedas]] gave rise to many subjects such as Ganita (Mathematics), Nyaya (Judicial system) and Nyaya (Logic). [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]] ramified into specializations such as Shastrachikitsa (Surgery) and Kayachikitsa (General Medicine), Rasayana shastra dealt with chemistry, Bhoutika shastra included physics. The knowledge of alloys, metallurgy, geology, botany sciences, warfare, architecture, large scale constructions, all such topics developed over a period of time into professional subjects. − − In the following section we reflect on the how the Prachina Shikshana Vidhana or Ancient Education System evolved with defined goals and principles in line with Sanatana Dharma. Line 130:
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→वेदान्तविद्या विषयः ॥ Subject Matter of Vedanta Vidya
===अष्टादशविद्याः ॥ Ashtadasha Vidyas===
===अष्टादशविद्याः ॥ Ashtadasha Vidyas===
However, '''Vishnupurana'''<ref name=":12">Vishnupurana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AC Amsha 3 Adhyaya 6])</ref> enumerates the existence of 18 vidyasthanas by adding [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)]], [[Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेदः)]], [[Gandharvaveda (गान्धर्ववेदः)]] and [[Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्रम्)]] (four Upavedas) to the previously explained 14 vidyasthanas as given in the following shlokas.<blockquote>अङ्गानि वेदाश्चत्वारो मीमांसा न्यायविस्तरः। पुराणं धर्मशास्त्रं च विद्या ह्येताश्चतुर्दश ॥ २८ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.6.28)</blockquote><blockquote>aṅgāni vedāścatvāro mīmāṃsā nyāyavistaraḥ। purāṇaṃ dharmaśāstraṃ ca vidyā hyetāścaturdaśa ॥ 28 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.6.28)</blockquote><blockquote>आयुर्वेदो धनुर्वेदो गान्धर्वश्चेत्यनुक्रमात् । अर्थशास्त्रं परं तस्मात् विद्या ह्यष्टादश स्मृताः ।। २९ ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.29)</blockquote><blockquote>āyurvedo dhanurvedo gāndharvaścetyanukramāt । arthaśāstraṃ paraṃ tasmāt vidyā hyaṣṭādaśa smṛtāḥ ।। 29 ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.29)</blockquote>'''Bhavishya Purana (Brahma Parva 1.2.6)'''<ref>Bhavishya Purana (Brahma Parva 1 [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5_%E0%A5%A7_(%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5)/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2])</ref> also describes the 14 Vidyas and 18 vidyas as given above.
However, '''Vishnupurana'''<ref name=":12">Vishnupurana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AC Amsha 3 Adhyaya 6])</ref> enumerates the existence of 18 vidyasthanas by adding [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)]], [[Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेदः)]], [[Gandharvaveda (गान्धर्ववेदः)]] and [[Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्रम्)]] (four Upavedas) to the previously explained 14 vidyasthanas as given in the following shlokas.<blockquote>अङ्गानि वेदाश्चत्वारो मीमांसा न्यायविस्तरः। पुराणं धर्मशास्त्रं च विद्या ह्येताश्चतुर्दश ॥ २८ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.6.28)</blockquote><blockquote>aṅgāni vedāścatvāro mīmāṃsā nyāyavistaraḥ। purāṇaṃ dharmaśāstraṃ ca vidyā hyetāścaturdaśa ॥ 28 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.6.28)</blockquote><blockquote>आयुर्वेदो धनुर्वेदो गान्धर्वश्चेत्यनुक्रमात् । अर्थशास्त्रं परं तस्मात् विद्या ह्यष्टादश स्मृताः ।। २९ ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.29)</blockquote><blockquote>āyurvedo dhanurvedo gāndharvaścetyanukramāt । arthaśāstraṃ paraṃ tasmāt vidyā hyaṣṭādaśa smṛtāḥ ।। 29 ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.29)</blockquote>'''Bhavishya Purana (Brahma Parva 1.2.6)'''<ref>Bhavishya Purana (Brahma Parva 1 [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5_%E0%A5%A7_(%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5)/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2])</ref> also describes the 14 Vidyas and 18 vidyas as given above.
==विद्यायाः प्रयोजनम् ॥ Goals of Vidya==
==विद्यायाः प्रयोजनम् ॥ Goals of Vidya==
Manusmrti (6.92) defines ten lakshanas of Dharma, the eighth of which is Vidya. Thus to achieve the [[Dharmika Jivana Vidhana (धार्मिकजीवनविधानम्)|dharmika jivana vidhana]] one has to undergo the process of acquiring vidya or education.
Manusmrti (6.92) defines ten lakshanas of Dharma, the eighth of which is Vidya. Thus to achieve the [[Dharmika Jivana Vidhana (धार्मिकजीवनविधानम्)|dharmika jivana vidhana]] one has to undergo the process of acquiring vidya or education.
==== उपाकर्म ॥ Upakarma ====
==== उपाकर्म ॥ Upakarma ====
The annual session of education in ancient times began soon after the commencement of the rainy season when the sowing operations were over and crops had began to sprout. By the full moon of month of Sravana (August) the sowing activity would be over and the ritual of Chhandasam [[Upakarma (उपाकर्म)|Upakarma]] (छान्दसाम् उपाकर्म), i.e., gathering the vedic knowledge, was performed on that day. This commencement ritual was mostly for the students and teachers in earlier times. However in the present day, it is being followed by all dvija brahmacharis and grhasthas (who have undergone Upanayana samskara, married or unmarried).<ref name=":0" />
The annual session of education in ancient times began soon after the commencement of the rainy season when the sowing operations were over and crops had began to sprout. By the full moon of month of Sravana (August) the sowing activity would be over and the ritual of Chhandasam [[Upakarma (उपाकर्म)|Upakarma]] (छान्दसाम् उपाकर्म), i.e., gathering the vedic knowledge, was performed on that day. This commencement ritual was mostly for the students and teachers in earlier times. However in the present day, it is being followed by all dvija brahmacharis and grhasthas (who have undergone Upanayana samskara, married or unmarried).<ref name=":0" />
=== विद्याभ्यासे विषयाः ॥ Subjects of Study ===
The history of ancient Indian education spans several millennia and thus we find considerable changes in the curricula in the course of centuries. When the outlook on life changes or when new branches of knowledge are developed, schools and colleges scramble to incorporate those changes.
==== वैदिकविद्या विषयः ॥ Subject Matter of Vaidika Vidya ====
During the vedic era naturally study of vedas formed the main topic of study. Stress was given on pronunciation and intonation of mantras, which required the student to hear and repeat what was said. Learning principles of chandas were encouraged so as to develop the powers of uttering the mantras. Those who took up priestly activities (paurohitya) had to study and commit to memory details of the various rituals and associated mantras. To prepare yajnavedis they had to learn rudimentary geometry at least. To find the appropriate muhuratas, planetary placement, seasons etc they had to learn Astronomy. Grammar was not given high importance, thus we find Vaidika Bhasha vyakarana was lot more flexible than the present day Laukika bhasha vyakarana.<ref name=":0" />
In the later vedic period, with the Brahmana literature becoming extensive and explanatory in nature, new subjects started developing. Vedic language and mantras were being differentiated and to preserve the pristine form of the mantras, scholars insisted that vedic mantras should be committed to memory in their precise traditional intonation and accents. Students were not at liberty to change a difficult archaic word for a simpler newer word. Thus we see that Vedanga Kalpa literature diversified and were included in the curriculum.
==== वेदान्तविद्या विषयः ॥ Subject Matter of Vedanta Vidya ====
A considerable portion of the major Upanishads is devoted to the Upasanas or meditative exercises which are called Vidyas. A good number of these Vidyas in the sense of in-depth higher level of learning are discussed in all the 12 Mukhya Upanishads (three of them more important Upanishads namely, Chandogya, Brhdaranyaka and Taittriya Upanishads) and in the Vedanta Sutras or Brahmasutras. The Upanishads mention them in different places while in the Vedanta Sutras, Adhyaya 3, Pada 3 takes them up together and discusses them. Practice of these Vidyas have been seen in relation to yajnas and some of them yield Kamyaphala (fruits of yajna) as have been given in Sutra 3.3.60. Hence some of these Vidyas are also called Kamya Vidyas. Shri Adi Shankaracharya in his bhasyas interprets these Vidyas as practical exercises of meditation. Also called as Brahmavidya, 32 such Vidyas have been given.<ref>Aiyar, Narayanaswami K., (1919 First Edition) ''The Thirty-two Vidyas. Madras:'' The Adyar Library and Research Center</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 800px; font-style: italic;|
* [[Ishvaravidya (ईश्वरविद्या)]]
* [[Paramapurushavidya (परमपुरुशविद्या)]]
* [[Sad Vidya (सद्विद्या)]]
* [[Anandamaya Vidya (आनन्दमयविद्या)]]
* [[Paramajyoti Vidya ()]]
* [[Sandilya Vidya]]
* [[Paryanka Vidya]]
* [[Uddalaka Vidya]]
* [[Aksaraksara Vidya]]
* [[Bhumavidya (भूमविद्या)]]
* [[Gargi Akshara Vidya]]
* [[Satyakama Vidya]]
* [[Daharavidya (दहरविद्या)]]
* [[Angushtamatra Vidya]]
* [[Jyotishamjyoti Vidya]]
* [[Maitreyi Vidya]]
* [[Gayatri Vidya]]
* [[Ushasti Kahola Vidya]]
* [[Antaradityavidya or Adityavidya (आदित्यविद्या)]]
* [[Upakosala Vidya]]
* [[Madhuvidya (मधुविद्या)]]
* [[BalakiVidya ()]]
* [[Akash Vidya (अक्षिविद्या)]]
* [[Pranavidya (प्राणविद्या)]]
* [[Pratardanavidya (प्रतर्दनविद्या) ]]
* [[Nachiketavidya (नचिकेतविद्या)]]
* [[Vaisvanara Vidya]]
* [[Samvarga Vidya]]
* [[Panchagnividya (पञ्चाग्निविद्या)]]
* [[Akshi Vidya]]
* [[Bhrugu Varuni Vidya]]
* [[Srimannyasa Vidya]]}}
Udgita and Purushavidya (पुरुषविद्या) are two others that have been described.
==== अपराविद्या विषयः ॥ Subject Matter of Apara Vidya ====
Chaturdasha Vidyastanas which included the Vedas and their Vedangas were the chief subjects during the earliest times. Vidya (knowledge), pertaining to a single knowledge system (Brahmavidya etc) of the olden days gradually got absorbed into Vedanta system, a broader heading covering all such specialized topics. Gradually as studying vedas required more understanding, the study of Shad Vedangas became important. It is to be noted that the subjects explaining the Vedas themselves gained more significance and subsequently were studied independent of the Vedas themselves. Some of the Vedangas such as Shiksha, [[Vyakarana Vedanga (व्याकरणवेदाङ्गम्)|Vyakarana]], [[Vedanga Jyotisha (वेदाङ्गज्योतिषम्)|Jyotisha]], became highly specialized by themselves and needed years of study excluding the Vedic studies.
Vidya (education) then came to represent concept based knowledge systems of Shastras of all kinds in the more recent millenia. The [[Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)|Shad Vedangas]], [[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Shad Darshanas]] and [[Upavedas (उपवेदाः)|Upavedas]] gave rise to many subjects such as Ganita (Mathematics), Nyaya (Judicial system) and Nyaya (Logic). [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]] ramified into specializations such as Shastrachikitsa (Surgery) and Kayachikitsa (General Medicine), Rasayana shastra dealt with chemistry, Bhoutika shastra included physics. The knowledge of alloys, metallurgy, geology, botany sciences, warfare, architecture, large scale constructions, all such topics developed over a period of time into professional subjects.
In the following section we reflect on the how the Prachina Shikshana Vidhana or Ancient Education System evolved with defined goals and principles in line with Sanatana Dharma.
=== Terms Related to Study ===
=== Terms Related to Study ===
Vidya involves the study of the subject matter by the student. If the subject matter is Vedic study it is specifically called Svadhyaya (स्वाध्यायम्), while study of any subject in general is termed as Adhyayana. Reading is Pathana (पठनम्) and repeating a mantra is termed as Japa (जपम्). Japa particularly relates to mantras and does not apply to subject matter.
Vidya involves the study of the subject matter by the student. If the subject matter is Vedic study it is specifically called Svadhyaya (स्वाध्यायम्), while study of any subject in general is termed as Adhyayana. Reading is Pathana (पठनम्) and repeating a mantra is termed as Japa (जपम्). Japa particularly relates to mantras and does not apply to subject matter.