Ancient Educa on system of India

Word Meaning:
Land of wonder– an actual place or scene of great or strange beauty

Salient– most no ceable or important

Rigveda– The Rigveda is an ancient Indian collec on of Vedic Sanskrit hymns. It is one of the four
sacred canonical texts of Hinduism known as Vedas. Rigvedic period – 1500BC-1000BC
Holis c– characterized by the belief that the parts of something are in mately interconnected and
explicable only by reference to the whole
Humility– the quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance
Tenets– the main principles of a religion or philosophy
Vedas– The Vedas are a large body of religious texts origina ng in ancient India. There are four
Vedas: the RIgveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda
Upanishads– each of a series of Hindu sacred trea ses wri1en in Sanskrit c. 800–200 BC, expounding
the Vedas in predominantly mys cal and monis c terms.
Heritage– something that is handed down from the past, as a tradi on
Pragma c- dealing with things sensibly and realis cally in a way that is based on prac cal rather than
theore cal considera ons; prac cal

Trea ses– a wri1en work dealing formally and systema cally with a subject Conscien ously– in a
thorough and responsible way Indigenous– original or occurring naturally in a par cular place; na ve
Pathshalas– a village school offering a rudimentary educa on
Chatuspadis– a learning home
Gurukuls– (Guru- teacher; kula-home) a type of educa on system in ancient India with shiya
(students) living near or with the Guru, in the same house
Imbibing– to take or receive into the mind, as knowledge, ideas
Pious– devoutly religious
Viharas– Buddhist monastery
Sages– someone who has a1ained wisdomDuring the early days, educa on took place both formally
and informally. Statecra – the skillful management of state affairs; statesmanship or the skill of
governing a country
Arduous– difficult and ring Autonomy– freedom to act on one’s will Discourses– speak or write
authorita vely about a topic Sacred– connected with God or a god or dedicated to a religious
purpose and so deserving venera on
Brahmapuri– a type of cultural ins tu on
Mathas– a Sanskrit word that means “ins tute or college” and it also refers to a monastery in
Hinduism
Jain Basadis- a place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism Maktabas– library
Madrassas – Madrasa is the Arabic word for any type of educa onal ins tu on, whether for
elementary instruc on or higher learning
Pre-colonial period – the period of me before coloniza on of a region or territory
Ancient Educa on System of India Ques on Answers

1. Why were travellers a,racted towards India?

A. Travellers from various regions having different climates and cultures began to visit parts of India
from early mes. To them, India was a land of wonder. Apart from this, the fame of Indian culture,
wealth, religions, philosophies, art, architecture, as well as its educa onal prac ces had spread far
and wide.

2. What were the sources of the ancient educa on system?

A. The ancient system of educa on was the educa on of the Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads and
Dharmasutras. Some of the findings and wri ngs of Aryabhata, Panini, Katyayana and Patanjali,
Charaka and Sushruta were also some of the sources of learning. Sources of learning were also
drawn from various disciplines such as I has (history), Anviksiki (logic), Mimamsa (interpreta on)
Shilpashastra (architecture), Arthashastra (polity), Varta (agriculture, trade, commerce, animal
husbandry) and Dhanurvidya (archery).

3. What were the features of the educa on system in ancient India?

A. The features of educa on system in ancient India are enumerated as-

1. The educa on system in ancient India focused on the holis c development of the individual
by taking care of both the inner and the outer self.

2. The system focused on the moral, physical, spiritual and intellectual aspects of life. It
emphasised on values such as humility, truthfulness, discipline, self-reliance and respect for
all crea ons. Students were taught to appreciate the balance between human beings and
nature.

3. Teaching and learning followed the tenets of Vedas and Upanishads fulfilling du es towards
self, family and society, thus encompassing all aspects of life.

4. Educa on system focused both on learning and physical development. In other words, the
emphasis was on a healthy mind and healthy body.

5. Educa on in India has a heritage of being pragma c, achievable and complementary to

life.Apart from the religious teachings and learning from the works of famous scholars,
physical educa on was also considered extremely crucial.

6. The Gurus and their pupils worked conscien ously together to become proficient in all
aspects of learning

7. In order to assess pupils’ learning, shastrartha (learned debates) were organised.

8. Pupils at an advanced stage of learning guided younger pupils. There also existed the system
of peer learning, like you have group/peer work.

9. Teaching was largely oral and students remembered and meditated upon what was taught in
the class.

10. During that period, the gurus and their shishyas lived together helping each other in day-to-
day life. The main objec ve was to have complete learning, leading a disciplined life and
realising one’s inner poten al.
4. What was the role of the guru in pupils’ lives?

A. The Gurus and their pupils worked conscien ously together to become proficient in all aspects of
learning. During that period, the gurus and their shishyas lived together helping each other in day-to-
day life. The main objec ve was to have complete learning, leading a disciplined life and realising
one’s inner poten al. The gurukul was also the place where the rela onship of the guru and shishya
strengthened with me. Thus, their emphasis was not only on the outer dimensions of discipline but
also on enriching inner dimensions of the personality.

5. Where did nuns and monks receive their educa on?

A. Many monasteries/viharas were set up for monks and nuns to meditate, debate and discuss with
the learned for their quest for knowledge.

6. What is Panini known for?

A. Among the noted pupils of Takshashila were the legendary Indian grammarian, Panini. He was an
expert in language and grammar and authored one of the greatest works on grammar called
Ashtadhyayi

7. Which university did Xuan Zang and I-Qing study at?

A. The Chinese scholars I-Qing and Xuan Zang visited Nalanda in the 7th century CE when it was
widely known as Nala.

8. Which subject did Xuan Zang study in India?

A. Xuan Zang became a student of Nalanda to study yogashastra

9. How did society help in the educa on of students?

A. At that me, knowledge was considered sacred and no fee was charged. Contribu ons towards
educa on were considered the highest form of dona on. All members of the society contributed in
some form or the other. Financial support came from rich merchants, wealthy parents and society.
Besides giJs of buildings, the universi es received giJs of land.