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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  

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.

===Qualifications of the Teacher===

===Qualifications of the Teacher===

We can relate this aspect to the present day where the term Upadhyaya refers to teachers who teach different sections of the study material. One may infer that an Upadhyaya teaches part of the study course whereas a Guru influences the student in the long term and directs him in many ways.

We can relate this aspect to the present day where the term Upadhyaya refers to teachers who teach different sections of the study material. One may infer that an Upadhyaya teaches part of the study course whereas a Guru influences the student in the long term and directs him in many ways.

===गुरुः ॥ Guru===

===गुरुः ॥ Guru===

Sanatana Dharma highlights the role of mother as the first Guru to any human being in various texts. For example Vishnu smrti says<blockquote>त्रयः पुरुषस्यातिगुरवो भवन्ति । । ३१.१ । । माता पिता आचार्यश्च । । ३१.२ । । (Vish. Smrt. 31.1-2)<ref>Vishnu Smrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%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%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4% Adhyaya 31])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>trayaḥ puruṣasyātiguravo bhavanti । । 31.1 । । mātā pitā ācāryaśca । । 31.2 । । (Vish. Smrt. 31.1-2)</blockquote>Three are the important gurus for any person - the mother, father and the teacher.

Sanatana Dharma highlights the role of mother as the first [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] to any human being in various texts. For example Vishnu smrti says<blockquote>त्रयः पुरुषस्यातिगुरवो भवन्ति । । ३१.१ । । माता पिता आचार्यश्च । । ३१.२ । । (Vish. Smrt. 31.1-2)<ref>Vishnu Smrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%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%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4% Adhyaya 31])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>trayaḥ puruṣasyātiguravo bhavanti । । 31.1 । । mātā pitā ācāryaśca । । 31.2 । । (Vish. Smrt. 31.1-2)</blockquote>Three are the important gurus for any person - the mother, father and the teacher.

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" />