| 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>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">Prof. J. S. R. Prasad in Bharatiya Vidvat Parishad ([https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/bvparishat/WzOL81dApIQ/ZNq_FDmvBAAJ A question : Guru-Shishya]) </ref> | | 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>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">Prof. J. S. R. Prasad in Bharatiya Vidvat Parishad ([https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/bvparishat/WzOL81dApIQ/ZNq_FDmvBAAJ A question : Guru-Shishya]) </ref> |
− | In ancient times (and to a limited extent even today), different families studied a specific set of scriptures from the entire corpus of Hindu sacred literature. For example, a family belonging to the Deshastha Brahmana community in Maharashtra (India) could chant a specific group of 10 scriptures related to the Rigveda (the Rigveda Samhitā, Aitareya Brāhmaṇa, Aitareya Āraṇyaka, Aitareya Upanishad, Āshvalāyana Shrauta Sūtra, Āshvalāyana Grhya Sūtra, Panini’s Așhtādhyāyī, Pingala’s Chhandasūtra, Yāska’s Nirukta and Kātyāyana’s Sarvānukramaṇī) during their lifelong study of scriptures. This same set of scriptures was studied by the members of the family as their primary focus generation after generation and constituted their traditional scriptural study or Svādhyāya. In this form of study too, the focus is on the recitation of the sacred texts, and not necessarily on their meaning. | + | In ancient times (and to a limited extent even today), different families studied a specific set of scriptures from the entire corpus of Hindu sacred literature. For example, a family belonging to the Deshastha Brahmana community in Maharashtra (India) could chant a specific group of 10 scriptures related to the Rigveda (the Rigveda Samhitā, Aitareya Brāhmaṇa, Aitareya Āraṇyaka, Aitareya Upanishad, Āshvalāyana Shrauta Sūtra, Āshvalāyana Grhya Sūtra, Panini’s Așhtādhyāyī, Pingala’s Chhandasūtra, Yāska’s Nirukta and Kātyāyana’s Sarvānukramaṇī) during their lifelong study of scriptures. This same set of scriptures was studied by the members of the family as their primary focus generation after generation and constituted their traditional scriptural study or Svādhyāya. In this form of study too, the focus is on the recitation of the sacred texts, and not necessarily on their meaning.<ref name=":3">Sacred HIndu Scriptures and Languages - an Introduction by Vishal Agarwal ([https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=forums&srcid=MTQyNTE0MTcxODQxNzMxMDM3MDQBMDcxOTk5MzkzMTE3Mjc4NjMzNjIBWGJGZ25zZjRCUUFKATAuMQEBdjI&authuser=0 Page 4])</ref> |
− | It includes the study of scriptures in general to imbibe their teachings, and reflect upon their meaning. There may or may not be any chanting involved. The student may study them privately, or under the guidance of a Guru. | + | It includes the study of scriptures in general to imbibe their teachings, and reflect upon their meaning. There may or may not be any chanting involved. The student may study them privately, or under the guidance of a Guru.<ref name=":3" /> |