Changes

Seeking others for daily food or Bhikshatana is one feature enjoined on the student as a religious duty. This vidhi occurs in many Grhya sutra texts and is prevalent since Vedic times. The story of [[Dhaumya (धौम्यः)|Dhaumya]] and one of his students Upamanyu is a classic example of how begging for food and first offering it to the Guru has been duty of the student.<ref name=":0" />

Seeking others for daily food or Bhikshatana is one feature enjoined on the student as a religious duty. This vidhi occurs in many Grhya sutra texts and is prevalent since Vedic times. The story of [[Dhaumya (धौम्यः)|Dhaumya]] and one of his students Upamanyu is a classic example of how begging for food and first offering it to the Guru has been duty of the student.<ref name=":0" />

=== Fee payment and Finances for Gurukulas ===

=== Guru Dakshina ===

The next question is how did Gurukulas thrive as the most successful model of education? In the earlier times the followers of different Vedas had formed their own literary organizations like the Parishads, Shakas and Charanas and emphasis on forming a literary educational institutions was not present; largely because Brahmanas followed the injunction of learning the Vedas and devoteing themselves to teaching as per their capacity. Each Brahmana was thus an educational institution by himself and was self sufficient. No student could be refused admission even by a private teacher simply because he was too poor to pay any fees. Payment was in monetary and service forms; a poor student could pay for his education by doing service to the Guru which became more common in the post vedic age.  

No student could be refused admission even by a private teacher simply because he was too poor to pay any fees. Payment was in monetary and service forms; a poor student could pay for his education by doing service to the Guru which became more common in the post vedic age.

 

=== Finances of Gurukula ===

The next question is how did Gurukulas thrive as the most successful model of education? In the earlier times the followers of different Vedas had formed their own literary organizations like the Parishads, Shakas and Charanas and emphasis on forming a literary educational institutions was not present; largely because Brahmanas followed the injunction of learning the Vedas and devoteing themselves to teaching as per their capacity. Each Brahmana was thus an educational institution by himself and was self sufficient. The requirements were simple havya and kavya for the rshis and the nearby forests provided the samidhas. 

 

Since the early times the responsibility of providing for the Gurukulas vested with the Rajas and Maharajas. They were self sufficient and their simple essential needs were fulfilled by the villagers. Hence direct monetary requirements were more for the conduct of yajnas (which were also the responsibility of the Guru) where offering of danas required monetary support. The story of Vishvamitra seeking gold from Raja [[Harishchandra (सत्यहरिश्चन्द्रः)|Harishchandra]] for conducting a yajna is one famous example.

In later years the Rajas and Maharajas made huge donations to the cause of developing educational centers. Agrahara institutions, Mathas, and temple colleges were all imparting free education to their students. When they received sufficient endowments, they would also arrange to provide free boarding, lodging, clothing and medicine to the students they admitted. Education in ancient India was free in much wider sense than in the modern times.

In later years the Rajas and Maharajas made huge donations to the cause of developing educational centers. Agrahara institutions, Mathas, and temple colleges were all imparting free education to their students. When they received sufficient endowments, they would also arrange to provide free boarding, lodging, clothing and medicine to the students they admitted. Education in ancient India was free in much wider sense than in the modern times.