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Sushrusha is the foremost quality a shishya should possess. The term Sushrusha (शुश्रूषा) is derived from श्रु - श्रवणे (1.1092) used in the meaning कथनम् । श्रोतुमिच्छा ।<ref>Shabdakalpadhruma (See under [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%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE Sushrusha] )</ref> telling and interested to listen. It is used in the sense of "telling, desirous of hearing, desire to hear and serve, reverence, obedience, attention to, at the service of"; thus Sushrusha to the Guru may be considered as one desirous to hear (the Guru's words with attention) and perform what has been advised by him (with full faith and obedience). We must note that in the [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|Gurukula]] system of education, a Shishya lived with the Guru over a long period of time and so sushrusha was a continuous process. He is in constant company with the Acharya with a goal to hear what (siddhanta, tattva) he tells in any particular circumstance that comes across in daily life.
 
Sushrusha is the foremost quality a shishya should possess. The term Sushrusha (शुश्रूषा) is derived from श्रु - श्रवणे (1.1092) used in the meaning कथनम् । श्रोतुमिच्छा ।<ref>Shabdakalpadhruma (See under [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%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE Sushrusha] )</ref> telling and interested to listen. It is used in the sense of "telling, desirous of hearing, desire to hear and serve, reverence, obedience, attention to, at the service of"; thus Sushrusha to the Guru may be considered as one desirous to hear (the Guru's words with attention) and perform what has been advised by him (with full faith and obedience). We must note that in the [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|Gurukula]] system of education, a Shishya lived with the Guru over a long period of time and so sushrusha was a continuous process. He is in constant company with the Acharya with a goal to hear what (siddhanta, tattva) he tells in any particular circumstance that comes across in daily life.
      
The importance of sushrusha is mentioned by understanding the definition for the term Shishya (शिष्य) in '''Shabdakalpadruma''' as follows<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>
 
The importance of sushrusha is mentioned by understanding the definition for the term Shishya (शिष्य) in '''Shabdakalpadruma''' as follows<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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'''Sushrusha (शुश्रूषा)''' is yet another unique concept, on par with [[Dharma (धर्मः)|Dharma]] and as a principle followed even till recent times by acharyas of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]]. A [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] is highly revered and service to him is considered as highest of service. There are many examples of people who performed Susrusha to the Guru and attained greatness not only in wisdom and intelligence but also fame. It is said,<blockquote>
 
'''Sushrusha (शुश्रूषा)''' is yet another unique concept, on par with [[Dharma (धर्मः)|Dharma]] and as a principle followed even till recent times by acharyas of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]]. A [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] is highly revered and service to him is considered as highest of service. There are many examples of people who performed Susrusha to the Guru and attained greatness not only in wisdom and intelligence but also fame. It is said,<blockquote>
 
यथा खनन्खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति । तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति । । २.२१८ । । (Manu. Smrt. 2.218)</blockquote>
 
यथा खनन्खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति । तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति । । २.२१८ । । (Manu. Smrt. 2.218)</blockquote>
Meaning: Just as a person attains water by digging with a spade, so also one attains Vidya (knowledge) from a Guru by serving him.  
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Meaning: Just as a person attains water by digging with a spade, so also one attains Vidya (knowledge) from a Guru by serving him.<ref>https://sanskritpearls.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-22nd.html</ref>
    
It has been falsely portrayed in many instances that sushrusha to Guru meant performing household chores, tending to the cows, performing agricultural activities, and personal service to the Guru and his family without any learning activity. However, that is not the case. As  mentioned above, the shishya spends his complete time with the Acharya participating in all activities of daily life. While selecting the twigs for yajnas he learns botanical aspects practically. While observing how his Acharyas and seniors perform the yajnas he learns the practical aspects about it. Thus on a continuous basis he learns the principles and reasoning involved in the activities when he observes them closely and performs them. This method of teaching instills confidence to handle the problems that may arise during the various activities involved in the life of a Grhastha. Acharya teaches the knowledge involved for say how to observe the soil for tilling or predict the rains based on movement of the celestial bodies. The tattva or reasoning behind the actions may not be immediately understood by the disciple and it is here that sushrusha has to be remembered. There were many times when the secrets unraveled by the Acharyas are specifically given only to his students and thus the knowledge is transmitted to the future student generations of that rshi. In this way the theory and practical aspects of subjects such as Botany, Geology, Astronomy, Agricultural activities, Mathematics, Political Sciences etc were grasped by students under constant guidance as well as surveillance.  
 
It has been falsely portrayed in many instances that sushrusha to Guru meant performing household chores, tending to the cows, performing agricultural activities, and personal service to the Guru and his family without any learning activity. However, that is not the case. As  mentioned above, the shishya spends his complete time with the Acharya participating in all activities of daily life. While selecting the twigs for yajnas he learns botanical aspects practically. While observing how his Acharyas and seniors perform the yajnas he learns the practical aspects about it. Thus on a continuous basis he learns the principles and reasoning involved in the activities when he observes them closely and performs them. This method of teaching instills confidence to handle the problems that may arise during the various activities involved in the life of a Grhastha. Acharya teaches the knowledge involved for say how to observe the soil for tilling or predict the rains based on movement of the celestial bodies. The tattva or reasoning behind the actions may not be immediately understood by the disciple and it is here that sushrusha has to be remembered. There were many times when the secrets unraveled by the Acharyas are specifically given only to his students and thus the knowledge is transmitted to the future student generations of that rshi. In this way the theory and practical aspects of subjects such as Botany, Geology, Astronomy, Agricultural activities, Mathematics, Political Sciences etc were grasped by students under constant guidance as well as surveillance.  
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A paapi (sinner), one who is pitiless or remorseless, one who is bad by nature and cunning, miserly person, a poor, one who is not performing sadachara, one who does not like mantras, who accuses others, a stubborn person, who hates the teerthas, who is without any bhakti towards deities, and is dirty should not be given studentship or allowed to stay for a year (at the Gurukula).  
 
A paapi (sinner), one who is pitiless or remorseless, one who is bad by nature and cunning, miserly person, a poor, one who is not performing sadachara, one who does not like mantras, who accuses others, a stubborn person, who hates the teerthas, who is without any bhakti towards deities, and is dirty should not be given studentship or allowed to stay for a year (at the Gurukula).  
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Chanakya further adds eight more qualities that should be avoided by students at all costs.<ref>https://sanskritpearls.blogspot.com/search?q=student</ref> <blockquote>कामं क्रोधं तथा लोभं स्वादं शृङ्गारकौतुके । अतिनिद्राऽतिसेवा च विद्यार्थी ह्यष्टवर्जयेत् ॥ (Chan. Niti. 11.10) </blockquote>A student should shun eight things - desire; anger; avarice; taste; eroticism; vehemence; too much sleep; and overly tending.
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# Desire: deviates the goal and takes all the energy in the fulfilment of that desire.
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# Anger: clouds judgement.
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# Avarice (greed): delineates from the ethics being learnt.
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# Taste: weaknesses of the palate draw away from learning in many ways - health, alertness, and aptitude.
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# Eroticism: this has no place in a student's life. Indulgence and learning do not go hand in hand as they take the individual in completely opposite directions. No saying beyond that!
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# Vehemence: learning takes a lot of patience and thinking. Getting emotional and impatient is nowhere coherent with learning.
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# Oversleep: rest is required but in proper proportions. Sleeping too much mars alertness and paves way for laziness. Losing precious time that could be utilized in learning is a whole other issue.
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# Overly tending: tending to elders and teachers is very much professed. But being overly subservient dispels one's ability to think on his own. One of the requirements for learning is inquisitiveness. A totally subservient learner takes every word for granted and does not promote independent thinking.
    
== Rules applicable while studying ==
 
== Rules applicable while studying ==

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