Features of Vedic Education
Features of Vedic Education : aim & objectives , curriculum , method etc.
Characteristics of Vedic Brahmanic Education:-
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Features of Vedic Education :
1. Aim of Education:-
When discussing the aim of education in the Vedic era, the first thing to say is that the concept of education was developed in that era on the basis of the philosophy of education. Ignorance is bondage, knowledge is liberation - this was the opinion of the ancient sages. Therefore, the ancient sages understood education as a transition from darkness to light, liberation from bondage. Therefore, the main philosophical basis of education at that time was to discover the power of oneself and the Supreme Soul with the help of the mind, which was true education.
The ultimate aim of education in the Vedic Brahminical era was self-knowledge and self-realization. The sages did not consider worldly matters as the ultimate aim of life. They wanted to know their true nature. This nature can be known only through perfection.
Swami Vivekananda said in the context of his definition of education - education is the manifestation of perfection already in man.
2. Para-vidya and Apara-vidya:-
Although the liberation of the soul was the ultimate goal of life in Vedic education, the Aryan sages were not indifferent to the necessary education for practical life. They spoke of two types of education - Para-vidya and Apara-vidya. Brahmavidya or spiritual knowledge is Para-vidya and all sciences, arts are Apara-vidya.
3. Formal education:-
In the Brahminical education system, the Guru's house located in the Tapavan was the holy place of the student. Primary education began at the age of five through Churakarya or Chaulakarma. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya children received education at home under the supervision of their father for eight, eleven and twelve years respectively.
After that, the Aryan child became eligible for education through 'Upanayana'. He was reborn. He was called Dvija. If he became Dvija, he became eligible to go to the Guru. The age and period of initiation were fixed according to the caste. Brahmin children were initiated at the age of eight, Kshatriyas at the age of eleven and Vaishyas at the age of twelve.
4. Institutions of Vedic Education:-
The schools of the Vedic Brahminical era were Gurukuls. Students gathered around the Guru. Each Gurukul was formed around a Guru. In that era, there were no books. It was the Guru who kept the storehouse of knowledge alive in the discipleship. Neither the acquisition of higher and lower knowledge nor the formation of character was possible without the presence of the Guru. Just because the Gurukul was located in the forest, it was not so.
5. Brahmacharya:-
The Chaturashrama consisted of four chapters: Brahmacharya, Garhasthya, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa. Among them, Brahmacharya was the period of institutional education. After the Upanayana, the young brahmachari entered the Guru's house. He had to stay in the Guru's house for the entire period of his education. The brahmachari had to live a restrained life in thought, speech and action. He had to strictly observe the rules. There were two aspects of observing the rules - physical and spiritual. In addition, he had to do all kinds of work in the Guru's house. For example, begging, maintaining the cowshed, the disciple had to participate in the daily work of the Guru's house. The disciples had to abstain from all kinds of sensual pleasures, renounce all kinds of comforts.
6. Study period: -
The educational program lasted from four to five and a half months or six months every year. The lessons began with the ''Upkarma'' festival on the day of Shravan Purnima and continued until the month of Paush or Magh. Then there was a long break. Usually, the annual study was completed with the 'Utsarjan' ceremony on the first day of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Magha.
7. Long-term education: -
Vedic education required a very long time. Megasthenes' account shows that it was not compulsory for students to study all the Vedas in order to create an opportunity to enter household life at an appropriate age.
8. Free education: -
Ancient Vedic education was free of charge. Taking payment was immoral. The guru could not turn away even the poorest student. However, after completing the education, the graduate would give gurudakshina. In this case too, with the permission of the guru, the dakshina had to be given as much as possible. So that the Acharya could continue his work properly without taking payment from the students, the society made arrangements. In various Yagas, on various occasions, the kings and the wealthy would give a lot of money to the Acharya. Even villages were sometimes donated.
9. Determination of curriculum according to caste:-
The curriculum of education in the Brahminical era was specific according to caste. For example, for Brahmins, there is mention of Vedanga, logic, history, para and apara-vidya, astronomy, devajana etc. Most students were generally satisfied with learning about Vedas and basic rituals for performing sacrificial rituals.
For Kshatriyas, after Upanayana, Vedas had to be studied in the Guru's house. From the first century AD, Kshatriyas started avoiding Vedas. By the tenth century AD, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas were deprived of the right to Vedas education. Kshatriyas mainly had to be proficient in their caste profession and weaponry. In addition, Kshatriyas were given knowledge about economics, politics, social policy, history etc.
In the case of Vaishyas, knowledge was given about agricultural and commercial matters. One of the goals of acquiring knowledge was to provide them with knowledge about various customs or subjects such as production system, economy, determination of land quality, agriculture, animal husbandry, etc. Apart from this, they were also taught about ways to preserve goods, determination of the price of metals, etc.
10. Mantra chanting and explanation based education system:-
In the ancient education system, the guru sometimes taught individually and sometimes collectively. Even though there was a collective education system, the guru taught by judging the ability of each student. The text of Vedic education was mantra. Therefore, the natural teaching method was recitation. The guru would pronounce two or three words. The students would recite in unison after the guru's recitation. There was a system of explanation along with the recitation. Special emphasis was placed on the pronunciation and correctness of each word. The guru would explain each verse. Through these three, the student would understand the truth of life.
11. Student-Teacher Relationship:-
In ancient India, in the Vedic education system, the student-teacher or guru-disciple relationship was very sweet. The disciple worshipped the guru like a god and the guru loved the disciple more than his own child. The guru imparted knowledge to the disciples impartially, at home, without pay, and with an unwavering heart. The guru was the embodiment of patience, tolerance, and knowledge.
12. Discipline:-
In view of the ideals and methods of Vedic education, there was no problem of discipline. The purpose of education was self-realization and perfection. Therefore, the educational environment was peaceful and there was concentration among the students. Therefore, education and discipline were synonymous in the Vedic era.
13. Evaluation System:-
There was no examination system in ancient education. The test of scholarship was done through debates. In Vedic texts, this debate is called Brahmadaya. Debate or discussion meetings were held in Tapovan, Rajya Sabha and Yajna Kshetra. Through this, the knowledge acquired by the students was evaluated.
14. Completion of formal education:-
The final phase of the stay in the Guru's house was marked by the Samavartan festival. After completing the lessons, the students would return home after giving Gurudakshina to the best of their ability, after satisfying the Guru, with the Guru's permission. There were three categories of graduates -
(a) Those who had studied the Vedas but had not observed all the vows - were called Vidya Snatakas.
(b) Those who had observed all the vows but had not recited all the Vedas - were called Vrata Snatakas.
(c) Those who had recited all the Vedas and had observed all the vows were called Vidya Vrata Snatakas.
The Samavartan festival was quite grand. The students would take a bath, wear new clothes, wear a garland around their necks, and ride a chariot or an elephant to attend the assembly. The guru would introduce him to scholars as a graduate. The advice the guru would give to the disciple at the convocation ceremony at the end of his education as a guide for his future life was considered the greatest behavioral dharma of all time.
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