Education in ancient India
By: The Education Growth Summit
Tags: Ancient India, Tegs, Education, Spirituality, Vedic Education

Raagini Ram

Picture source: Pixabay

Like it’s culture and traditions, India’s education systems go way back. Largely influenced by religion, knowledge acquired was usually passed on orally from one generation to another.

Ancient India did not possess any format of formal education, it restricted to transmission of information from father to the son. Much later two systems of education emerged; Vedic and The buddhist system. The language Sanskrit was the most common medium of instruction.

The Vedic system

Vedas are the oldest type of Indian literature that formed the basis of ancient Indian philosophy. This Vedic system of education was based on Vedas, vedangas and Upanishads. The foundations of Indian culture lie in the Vedas, which are four in number — Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.

These Vedas were studied in a Gurukul. Gurukuls were residential in nature where students lived with their Gurus or teachers. Admission to Gurukuls were done through an initiation ceremony called Upanayana. Daily classes involved the Guru/teacher reciting Vedas and the students committing them to memory. Knowledge was not written at that time, students relied entirely on their memory.

Apart from Gurukuls, there were two other institutions — Parishads (academies) and Sammelans (conferences). In the Upanishads, there is a mention of one such academy called Panchala Parishad. These academies were places for higher learning.

Besides this type of regular schooling, there was another kind of institution which was meant for the promotion of advanced study and research. This was known as Brahman-sangha.

Picture source: timeofindia.indiatimes.com

The period of Vedic literature was succeeded by Sutra literature. During this literary age, the various rules of education were manifested from the Dharma sutra. Dharma sutra incorporated the various rules of social conduct and the roles of students and teachers. One of the most unique features of this period was the specialisation of students into different branches of learning. This, in turn, led to the development of six systems of philosophy — The Samkha of Kapila, The Yoga of Patanjali, The Nyaya of Gautama, The Vaisheshika of Kanada, Karma or Purva-Mimamsa of Jaimini and Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta of Badarayana.

It was during this period that educational institutions began to develop. With the increase in the number of students, small institutions turned into universities. Consequently, educational centres like Ujjain, Taxila, Nalanda, Benaras, Ajantha etc came into existence.

The Buddhist system

In the Vedic system, after completion of studies, the students were allowed to return home and lead the life of a householder. However, in the Buddhist system of education, individuals could not return home at all. Once the education was completed, they would retain their identity as monks. Buddhist education started at the age of eight with an initiation ceremony called Pabbajja. Unlike the Vedic system, boys of all castes could take part in this initiation ceremony.

The primary aim of this type of schooling was to attain salvation and to propagate Buddhism. The study of Buddha’s ways, sayings and other religious books were central to this system. Suttanta, Vinaya and Dhamma were the main subjects prescribed for the study. Apart from these, spinning, weaving, the printing of the cloth, sketching, medicine, surgery and coinage were the other subjects in Buddhist education. During Higher education philosophy, military, science and medicine were also thought. They also studied the Vedas in order to gain comparative knowledge. Many monasteries were set up for monks and nuns to live and meditate. It was around these monasteries that educational centres developed. For example Takshila or Taxila.

Education of women

Women weren’t educated in the same subjects as men. They studied subjects like housekeeping, dance, music, cooking, etc. While women were taught Vedas and vedangas, they were limited to the “necessary” ones or the ones required to conduct rituals. In fact, women conducted upanayana ceremonies. Educated women were divided into two categories —

Sadyodwahas; those who were educated until marriage and Brahmavadinis; women who never married and continued studying their whole life. Some prominent women scholars include — Lopamudra, Ghosha, Gargi, Indrani and Apala.

Picture Sources: Pixabay

Prominent educational centres

1. Nalanda

Located in Bihar, Nalanda was one of the most prestigious universities of its time. Although a centre of Buddhist studies, Nalanda was famous for mathematics and medicine. According to Chinese traveller Hsaun Tsang, admission into Nalanda was very difficult. In fact, only 20% of the students attempting the entrance test would pass and hence be selected.

2. Vikramshila

With around 144 permanent scholars, this university taught philosophy, logic, tantra Shastra and karamkanda. Degrees were given by the king to the graduates and postgraduates. This university was destroyed in 1208 AD by the Khiljis.

3. Taxila

Taxila was known as one of the primary educational centres in ancient India. Known for Buddhist learning, Taxila attracted numerous students during its time. It is in this centre that the great scholar Chanakya is said to have composed the Arthashastra.

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