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| The central figure around which the ancient society rested on was the [[Acharya (आचार्यः)]], and the [[Guru (गुरुः)]] called variously as preceptor, a teacher, lecturer, professor or instructor in the present days. | | The central figure around which the ancient society rested on was the [[Acharya (आचार्यः)]], and the [[Guru (गुरुः)]] called variously as preceptor, a teacher, lecturer, professor or instructor in the present days. |
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− | Sanatana Dharma has held a high regard for the mother (janani), who is the first preceptor of a child followed by the father and the seers who imparted knowledge and were founders of a lineage of students. Whether living in recluse in forests or in cities or Gurukulas, shaping the future generations had always rested on the shoulders of Gurus and Acharyas.<blockquote>उपाध्यायान्दशाचार्य आचार्याणां शतं पिता । सहस्रं तु पितॄन्माता गौरवेणातिरिच्यते । । २.१४५ । । (Manu. Smrt. 2.145)<ref name=":1">Manusmrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2])</ref> upādhyāyāndaśācārya ācāryāṇāṁ śataṁ pitā । sahasraṁ tu pitr̥̄nmātā gauraveṇātiricyate । । 2.145 । । (Manu. Smrt. 2.145)</blockquote>An Acharya is ten times greater than Upadhyaya, the father is ten times greater than Acharya; but the mother is a thousand times more venerable than the father. | + | [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]] held a high regard for the mother (janani), who is the first preceptor of a child followed by the father and the seers who imparted knowledge and were founders of a lineage of students. Whether living in recluse in forests or in cities or [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|Gurukulas]], shaping the future generations had always rested on the shoulders of Gurus and Acharyas.<blockquote>उपाध्यायान्दशाचार्य आचार्याणां शतं पिता । सहस्रं तु पितॄन्माता गौरवेणातिरिच्यते । । २.१४५ । । (Manu. Smrt. 2.145)<ref name=":1">Manusmrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2])</ref> upādhyāyāndaśācārya ācāryāṇāṁ śataṁ pitā । sahasraṁ tu pitr̥̄nmātā gauraveṇātiricyate । । 2.145 । । (Manu. Smrt. 2.145)</blockquote>An Acharya is ten times greater than Upadhyaya, the father is ten times greater than Acharya; but the mother is a thousand times more venerable than the father. |
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| === Receptors of Vidya === | | === Receptors of Vidya === |
− | Next important aspect about education pertains to the receptors of vidya, a vidyarthi or student, who are the bearers of future. The recipient of education from a Guru or Acharya is called a shishya, an antevasi a chatra etc. Studentship is the main activity of a young child initiated into the [[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyashrama]] marked by the [[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]] samskara. It is the first ashrama of the four ashramas which a person goes through in his life and he is called a Brahmachari.
| + | The next important aspect about education pertains to the receptors of vidya, a vidyarthi or student, who are the bearers of future. In general, anyone who wants to know (about some topic) is a seeker or learner by nature. A child or a student is a learner as he wants to know about things to get into and fit into the society. An ordinary person is a seeker or learner to get rid of the bad and know the good things about life. A sanyasi or renuciate is also a learner and his purpose is entirely different. He is a learner in quest for that knowledge which sets him free from the bondage of the world. |
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| + | The recipient of education from a Guru or Acharya is called a shishya (शिष्यः), an antevasi, a chatra etc. The following words explain about the various recipients of education and their stages in life. |
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| + | ==== छात्रः ॥ Chatra ==== |
| + | A student in general is a chatra (male) or chatraa (female). |
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| + | ==== शिष्यः ॥ Shishya ==== |
| + | A disciple who learns either any particular discipline of knowledge or knowledge streams in general through a Guru in a traditional way by living and serving him. |
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| + | ==== उपदेश्यः ॥ Upadeshya ==== |
| + | One who is a student after initiation to whom knowledge can be imparted by a Guru. |
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− | A child was required to have certain qualities to become a good student. Ancient seers emphasized on the importance of habits, routine, imitation and association to secure ready cooperation of the shishya towards education. At a young impressionable age a child can be moulded to develop the required [[Vidyarthi's Qualities (विद्यातुराणां लक्षणानि)|vidyarthi's qualities (विद्यातुराणां लक्षणानि)]] and such habits constitute a second nature in adulthood.
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| ==== अन्तेवासी ॥ Antevasi ==== | | ==== अन्तेवासी ॥ Antevasi ==== |
− | Vachaspatyam defines Antevasi as अन्ते निकटे विद्याग्रहणाय वसति। ante nikaṭe vidyāgrahaṇāya vasati। <ref>Vachaspatyam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AA See अन्तेवासिन्]) </ref> one who resides at near the Guru for learning Vidya. | + | Vachaspatyam defines Antevasi as अन्ते निकटे विद्याग्रहणाय वसति। ante nikaṭe vidyāgrahaṇāya vasati। <ref>Vachaspatyam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AA See अन्तेवासिन्]) </ref> one who resides at near the Guru in his hermitage for learning Vidya. Anteshad (अन्तेषदः) is a synonym of Antevasi. |
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− | According to Amarakosha a Shishya (शिष्यः) and Chatra (छात्रः) are synonyms for Antevasi (छात्रान्तेवासिशिष्यान्तेषद एकार्थता इमे ॥ as per Jatadhara).<ref name=":9">Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE See Shishya (शिष्यः)])</ref> | + | According to Amarakosha a Shishya (शिष्यः) and Chatra (छात्रः) are synonyms for Antevasi (छात्रान्तेवासिशिष्यान्तेषद एकार्थता इमे इति जटाधरः॥ as per Jatadhara).<ref name=":9">Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE See Shishya (शिष्यः)])</ref> |
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| While the above terms refer to a current student, a graduated student is called a snataka. | | While the above terms refer to a current student, a graduated student is called a snataka. |
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| By the end of his studies a [[Snataka Gunas (स्नातकगुणाः)|snataka develops important qualities]] and is bound by the [[Snataka Dharma (स्नातकधर्मः)|snataka dharma]] which includes a certain set of rules and responsibilities for a student who has undergone samavartana. | | By the end of his studies a [[Snataka Gunas (स्नातकगुणाः)|snataka develops important qualities]] and is bound by the [[Snataka Dharma (स्नातकधर्मः)|snataka dharma]] which includes a certain set of rules and responsibilities for a student who has undergone samavartana. |
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| + | Studentship is the main activity of a young child initiated into the [[Brahmacharyashrama (ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमः)|Brahmacharyashrama]] marked by the [[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]] samskara. It is the first ashrama of the four ashramas which a person goes through in his life and he is called a Brahmachari. |
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| + | A child was required to have certain qualities to become a good student. Ancient seers emphasized on the importance of habits, routine, imitation and association to secure ready cooperation of the shishya towards education. At a young impressionable age a child can be moulded to develop the required [[Vidyarthi's Qualities (विद्यातुराणां लक्षणानि)|vidyarthi's qualities (विद्यातुराणां लक्षणानि)]] and such habits constitute a second nature in adulthood. |
| === Samskaras related to Vidya === | | === Samskaras related to Vidya === |
| Samskaras related to education are those activities prescribed by the vaidika and dharmika texts to prepare a young mind to receive the vast knowledge and perform the required vaidika rites. | | Samskaras related to education are those activities prescribed by the vaidika and dharmika texts to prepare a young mind to receive the vast knowledge and perform the required vaidika rites. |