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Line 29: + − + − + − Hitopadesha + + + + + − गुरुशुश्रूषया विद्या पुष्कलेन धनेन वा। अथवा विद्यया विद्या चतुर्थी नोपलभ्यते॥ (Hitopadesha?)+
Vidyarthi's Qualities (विद्यातुराणां लक्षणानि) (view source)
Revision as of 18:11, 31 May 2022
, 18:11, 31 May 2022adding content
A student, shishya or vidyarthi (Samskrit: विद्यार्थी) in ancient India had to develop specific qualities to become a good student. He also had specific duties towards his [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] or [[Acharya (आचार्यः)|Acharya]].<ref name=":6">Mookerji. Radha Kumud, (1947) Ancient Indian Education (Brahminical and Buddhist) London: MacMillan And Co., Ltd. (Page 185)</ref> The very atmosphere in which students lived, was calculated to give a proper turn to their character. They were under the direct and personal supervision of their teacher, who was to watch not only over their intellectual progress but also over their moral behaviour. Ancient Indians held that good character cannot be divorced from good manners; the teacher was to see that in their every day life, students followed the rules of etiquette and good manners towards their seniors, equals and inferiors. These rules afforded an imperceptible but effective help in the formation of character of a student.<ref name=":0" />
A shishya or vidyarthi (Samskrit: विद्यार्थी), a student, in ancient India was known for exceptional qualities. As soon as he is initiated in Vedic study he underwent rigorous training to develop specific qualities which prepared him eventually for the life ahead. He also had specific duties towards his [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] or [[Acharya (आचार्यः)|Acharya]].<ref name=":6">Mookerji. Radha Kumud, (1947) Ancient Indian Education (Brahminical and Buddhist) London: MacMillan And Co., Ltd. (Page 185)</ref> The very atmosphere in which students lived, was calculated to give a proper turn to their character. They were under the direct and personal supervision of their teacher, who was to watch not only over their intellectual progress but also over their moral behaviour. Ancient Indians held that good character cannot be divorced from good manners; the teacher was to see that in their every day life, students followed the rules of etiquette and good manners towards their seniors, equals and inferiors. These rules afforded an imperceptible but effective help in the formation of character of a student.<ref name=":0" />
==शिष्यलक्षणानि ॥ Good Shishya Lakshanas==
==शिष्यलक्षणानि ॥ Shishya Lakshanas==
We find a list of good qualities a shishya should possess as mentioned in '''Shabdakalpadruma'''<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>
We find many good qualities that a student should have given in texts like Smritis, Mahabharata, Chanakya neeti and later day sources like Subhashitas.
==== Sushrusha (शुश्रूषा) ====
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>
:वाङ्मनः कायवसुभिर्गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः । एतादृशगुणोपेतः शिष्यो भवति नारद ॥
:वाङ्मनः कायवसुभिर्गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः । एतादृशगुणोपेतः शिष्यो भवति नारद ॥
:देवताचार्य्यशुश्रूषां मनोवाक्कायकर्म्मभिः। शुद्धभावो महोत्साहो बोद्धा शिष्य इति स्मृतः॥
:देवताचार्य्यशुश्रूषां मनोवाक्कायकर्म्मभिः। शुद्धभावो महोत्साहो बोद्धा शिष्य इति स्मृतः॥
A shishya is one who is interested in "'''susrusha (शुश्रूषः)'''" (which means "keenly listening" and performing service) to his Guru by mind, speech, deed and offering his entire possessions. He should possess the following characteristics - serve/revere both Devatas and Acharyas by thought, deed and body, who has a pure heart (unbiased), has a unending zeal to learn and has exceptional grasping capability; such a person is to be known as a shishya.<blockquote>शान्तो विनीतः शुद्धात्मा श्रद्धावान् धारणक्षमः ।समर्थश्च कुलीनश्च प्राज्ञः मच्चरितो व्रती । एवमादिगुणैर्युक्तः शिष्यो भवति नान्यथा ॥</blockquote>He is called a shishya - a disciple who is/possess
A shishya is one who is interested in "'''sushrusha (शुश्रूषा)'''" (meaning "keenly listening" and performing according to what has been told) to his Guru by mind, speech, deed and offering his entire possessions. He should possess the following characteristics - serve/revere both Devatas and Acharyas by thought, deed and body, who has a pure heart (unbiased), has a unending zeal to learn and has exceptional grasping capability; such a person is to be known as a shishya.
The concept of '''Sushrusha (शुश्रूषा)''' is yet another unique, on par with [[Dharma (धर्मः)|Dharma]] and as a principle given in [[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>
Meaning: Just as a person attains water by digging with a spade, so also one attains Vidya (knowledge) from a Guru by serving him.
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.
This is most exemplified by the story of [[Uddalaka (उद्दालकः)|Uddalaka]], the faithful shishya of [[Dhaumya (धौम्यः)|Dhaumya]]. We learn that as a part of faithfully listening to his Acharya, Uddalaka lays himself down in the field to block the flow of water and wins the heart of his Acharya who blesses him with all the [[Vidya (विद्या)|Vidyas]] and fame.
==== Other Qualities ====
Elsewhere it is mentioned that<blockquote>शान्तो विनीतः शुद्धात्मा श्रद्धावान् धारणक्षमः ।समर्थश्च कुलीनश्च प्राज्ञः मच्चरितो व्रती । एवमादिगुणैर्युक्तः शिष्यो भवति नान्यथा ॥</blockquote>He is called a shishya, a disciple who is/possessess
* <span style="color:blue">'''शान्तः - tranquil'''
* <span style="color:blue">'''शान्तः - tranquil'''
* <span style="color:blue">'''विनीतः - humble by nature'''
* <span style="color:blue">'''विनीतः - humble by nature'''
* <span style="color:blue">'''कुलीनः - born in a good lineage'''
* <span style="color:blue">'''कुलीनः - born in a good lineage'''
* <span style="color:blue">'''प्राज्ञः - wise'''
* <span style="color:blue">'''प्राज्ञः - wise'''
* सच्चरितो - good mannered
* <span style="color:blue">'''व्रती - takes up learning as an austerity/vow'''</span>
* <span style="color:blue">'''व्रती - takes up learning as an austerity/vow'''</span>
Only a person who possesses all of the above qualities is called a disciple.<ref>Dr. Rani Sadasiva Murty in [https://smriti.upaasana.net/tag/dr-rani-sadasiva-murty/ Smriti]</ref>
Only a person who possesses all of the above qualities is called a disciple.<ref>Dr. Rani Sadasiva Murty in [https://smriti.upaasana.net/tag/dr-rani-sadasiva-murty/ Smriti], Spheres of Knowledge - Part 4</ref>
'''Apastamba Grhyasutra''' mentions that the duties of a student consist in acts pleasing to the spiritual teacher, the observance of rules conducive to his own welfare and industry in studying.
'''Apastamba Grhyasutra''' mentions that the duties of a student consist in acts pleasing to the spiritual teacher, the observance of rules conducive to his own welfare and industry in studying.
'''Vidura Niti''' summarily states - "what is education to one who seeks comforts? a student will not have any comforts. One who aims for comforts in life has to forego education, and one who wants education has to give up his material comforts. <blockquote>सुखार्थिनः कुतो विद्या नास्ति विद्यार्थिनः सुखं। सुखार्थी वा त्यजेद्विद्यां विद्यार्थीवा त्यजेत्सुखम् ।। </blockquote>Asvalayana Grhyasutras (3.4) ब्राह्मणमधीयानं दशवर्षाणि
'''Chanakya Niti''' summarily states - "what is education to one who seeks comforts? a student will not have any comforts. One who aims for comforts in life has to forego education, and one who wants education has to give up his material comforts. <blockquote>सुखार्थी वा त्यजेद्विद्यां विद्यार्थीवा त्यजेत्सुखम् । सुखार्थिनः कुतो विद्या नास्ति विद्यार्थिनः सुखं ।। </blockquote>One Subhashita source delightfully puts the student's qualities as follows<blockquote>काकदृष्टिर्बकध्यानं श्वाननिद्रा तथैव च । अल्पाहारो जीर्णवस्त्रं च एतद्विद्यार्थिलक्षणम् ॥</blockquote>These are the characteristics of a student:
* the sight of a crow
* the attention of a stork
* the sleep of a dog
* little portions of food
* wear worn out clothes
A crow is said to have keen observation. That kind of cognizance is an essential characteristic in a student interested in increasing his wisdom. A stork is popular for its undivided focus and concentration, a quality greatly required for a student for deeper understanding of many things in a short time. A dog is a light-sleeper; easily aroused at slightest stir. This characteristic of high state of alertness towards learning keeps the mind active at all times. It is well known that intake of too much food makes a person drowsy and dull. Hence a student is advised to consume food in small portions without indulging in pleasing his palate. Wearing worn out clothes or being very sober about his looks is prescribed for a student to avoid/control unwanted distractions and diversions commonly present in his/her age.
युक्तियुक्तं वचो ग्राह्यं न ग्राह्यं गुरुगौरवत् । सर्वशास्त्ररहस्यं तद् याज्ञवल्क्येन भाषितम् ॥ याज्ञवल्क्यशिक्षा , 232
युक्तियुक्तं वचो ग्राह्यं न ग्राह्यं गुरुगौरवत् । सर्वशास्त्ररहस्यं तद् याज्ञवल्क्येन भाषितम् ॥ याज्ञवल्क्यशिक्षा , 232