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Acharya (Samskrit : आचार्यः) is a preceptor of education. He is instrumental in imparting holistic education to the student. Unlike the teacher, professor or a lecturer etc in the present day, ancient preceptors were role models to their students. In this article we discuss various points pertaining to the teachers of the ancient days along with a comparison with present day teachers.
Acharya (Samskrit : आचार्यः) is a preceptor of education. He is instrumental in imparting holistic education to the student. Unlike the teacher, professor or a lecturer etc in the present day, ancient preceptors were role models to their students. In this article we discuss various points pertaining to the teachers of the ancient days along with a comparison with the role present day teachers.
==Qualifications of the Teacher==
Since the teacher was held in high reverence, he was naturally expected to possess several qualifications. He was to set an example to the student and so carefully regulated his own conduct. It appears that of the learned rshis, each was the center of a school himself and thus sprang forth various divisions of the Vedas, Smrtis and other branches of learning. All of them highly respected each other, the best example being the conquering of worldly senses and evolution from Rshi Vishvamitra to become Brahmarshi Vishvamitra. They adopted truths from each other and they were the walking books. They were the universities themselves and so Chakravartis and Maharajas did not interfere with them. They had thousands of pupils yet they led a simple life fully devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. Knowledge to them was a prized possession not to be exchanged for huge amounts of gold from the Rajas and Maharajas, best exemplified by the story of the [[Saptarshis (सप्तर्षयः)|Saptarshis]] and Raja Vrshadarbhi who insisted on giving dana to them which they refused at all costs.
Since the teacher was held in high reverence, he was naturally expected to possess several qualifications. He was to set an example to the student and so carefully regulated his own conduct. It appears that of the learned rshis, each was the center of a school himself and thus sprang forth various divisions of the Vedas, Smrtis and other branches of learning. All of them highly respected each other, the best example being the conquering of worldly senses and evolution from Rshi Vishvamitra to become Brahmarshi Vishvamitra. They adopted truths from each other and they were the walking books. They were the universities themselves and so Chakravartis and Maharajas did not interfere with them. They had thousands of pupils yet they led a simple life fully devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. Knowledge to them was a prized possession not to be exchanged for huge amounts of gold from the Rajas and Maharajas, best exemplified by the story of the [[Saptarshis (सप्तर्षयः)|Saptarshis]] and Raja Vrshadarbhi who insisted on giving dana to them which they refused at all costs.
In the following section we discuss the most common yet significant terms used in Sanatana Dharma regarding those who impart and seek knowledge. It is unfortunate that such sacred terms as the Guru are loosely used in society in the present days.
In the following section we discuss the most common yet significant terms used in Sanatana Dharma regarding those who impart and seek knowledge. It is unfortunate that such sacred terms as the Guru are loosely used in society in the present days.
== Preceptors of Vidya ==
===आचार्यः ॥ Acharya===
===आचार्यः ॥ Acharya===
An Acharya is one who follows what he preaches. A brief compilation of various definitions of Acharya from different texts are given below.
An Acharya is one who follows what he preaches. A brief compilation of various definitions of Acharya from different texts are given below.
Manu defines a [[Guru (गुरुः)]] as follows<blockquote>निषेकादीनि कर्माणि यः करोति यथाविधि । सम्भावयति चान्नेन स विप्रो गुरुरुच्यते ॥ २.१४२ ॥ (Manu. Smrti 2.142)</blockquote><blockquote>niṣekādīni karmāṇi yaḥ karoti yathāvidhi । sambhāvayati cānnena sa vipro gururucyate ॥ 2.142 ॥ (Manu. Smrti 2.142)</blockquote>That Brahmana who prescribes Garbhadana and other samskaras according to the procedures in the shastras to the parents (meaning samskaras starting from the conception of the child) and nourishes by providing food (meaning helps in raising the child) - he is called a Guru.<ref>Shastri, J. L. (1983 First Edition) ''Manusmriti with Commentary of Kulluka Bhatta.'' Delhi : Motilal Banasidass Pvt. Ltd. ([https://archive.org/details/ManusmrtiWithKullukaBhattaTikaProf.J.L.Shastri/page/n106 Adhyaya 2 Page 59])</ref> As per Medatithi and Mitaksarakara, Manu intends Guru to mean the father himself.<ref name=":2" />
Manu defines a [[Guru (गुरुः)]] as follows<blockquote>निषेकादीनि कर्माणि यः करोति यथाविधि । सम्भावयति चान्नेन स विप्रो गुरुरुच्यते ॥ २.१४२ ॥ (Manu. Smrti 2.142)</blockquote><blockquote>niṣekādīni karmāṇi yaḥ karoti yathāvidhi । sambhāvayati cānnena sa vipro gururucyate ॥ 2.142 ॥ (Manu. Smrti 2.142)</blockquote>That Brahmana who prescribes Garbhadana and other samskaras according to the procedures in the shastras to the parents (meaning samskaras starting from the conception of the child) and nourishes by providing food (meaning helps in raising the child) - he is called a Guru.<ref>Shastri, J. L. (1983 First Edition) ''Manusmriti with Commentary of Kulluka Bhatta.'' Delhi : Motilal Banasidass Pvt. Ltd. ([https://archive.org/details/ManusmrtiWithKullukaBhattaTikaProf.J.L.Shastri/page/n106 Adhyaya 2 Page 59])</ref> As per Medatithi and Mitaksarakara, Manu intends Guru to mean the father himself.<ref name=":2" />
== Comparison of the Ancient and Modern Day Teachers ==
The primary motivation of teachers of the past was largely aligned with the duties and responsibilities laid down for their own varna (in the sense of occupation), everyone followed their own ashrama dharma.
The present day education system is largely obscured with people becoming business-minded and following other vrttis or professions. This fundamental difference in approach gave rise to various types of distortions as seen below.
{| class="wikitable"
|S. No
|Gurus of the past…
|Teachers of the present day…
|-
|1
|They had direct, continuous, personal contact with the student
|Grouped in the Institutionalized System, are in contact with many students, but with minimal personal interaction
|-
|2
|Supported all round personality development of the student (humility, respect, patience along with knowledge of shastras etc)
|Are not responsible for Personality development of the student (Subject is taught, virtues are not)
|-
|3
|Greatly influenced the character of the student (setting role model)
|Work hard to help students score marks in examinations
|-
|4
|Completely taught their branch of education (Ekaavidya sukhakari)
|Gather knowledge suitable for application based study
|-
|5
|Taught activities designed to reinforce duties and service to the society (physical and mental activities such as chores, yajnas)
|Engaged in mental activities (assignments and homeworks), and are driven by self goals (of students) and career options.
|-
|6
|Vidya is sacred and for leading a person to Moksha
|Vidya is restricted to Artha (acquire worldly property) and Kama (one of the arishadvargas) devoid of moksha perspective
|-
|7
|Post education samavartana imprints the jivina vidhana to be led by the student and creating good citizens (प्रजाः) (Tait. Upan. Shikshavalli)
|Post education convocation is for the distribution of certificates
|-
|8
|Taught Vyavahara jnana
|Teach Vishayajnana (akshara jnana)
|-
|9
|Identify and raised the child according to his capabilities. Role of parents becomes minimal once the child is sent to Gurukula.
|Role of parents continues even during higher education and child is influenced to take up subjects not in his capacity
|-
|10
|Child receives influences that mould its character and determine its efficiency right after conception. Ex: Prahlada and Abhimanyu
|Prebirth period of child is not considered to influence the character of the child.
|}
== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Education Series]]
[[Category:Education Series]]