EDUCATION

SYSTEM IN
ANCIENT INDIA

WHAT IS EDUCATION?

Educationin its general sense is a form of

learningin which theknowledge,skills,
values,beliefsandhabits of a group of people
are transferred from one generation to the
next through storytelling, discussion,
teaching, training, or research.

INTODUCTION
The history of education in ancient India is fascinating and is
recorded and can be tracked to the ancient era.

Education

in ancient India began around the 3rd century B.C

with elements of religious training and impart of traditional
knowledge.

Sages and scholars imparted education orally.

Palm leaves and barks of trees were used for writing.

KAMA
(desires of
mind and
physical
body)

ARTHA
(materi
al
lneeds)

DHARM
A
(moral
and
social
order)

MOKSHA
(spiritual
wellbeing)

SYSTEMS OF EDUCATION
In ancient India a child followed the occupation of his father, either religious or
professional .
Over a period of time two systems of education developed, the Vedic and the
Buddhist.
As the name indicates in the former system Vedas, Vedangas, Upanishads
and other allied subjects were taught while in the latter system, thoughts of
all the major school of Buddhism was taught.
While Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in the Vedic system of education,
Pali was the medium of instruction in the Buddhist system of education.
But both system offered vocational education apart from religious education of
their respective faiths.
There was also a purely vocational system of education wherein master
craftsmen and artisans taught their skills to students who worked as apprentice
under them.

MONASTIC ORDERS OF EDUCATION

The priest class, the Brahmins, were imparted

knowledge of religion, philosophy, and other ancillary
branches while the warrior class, the Kshatriyas, were
trained in the various aspects of warfare. The business
class, the Vaishyas, were taught their trade and the
lowered class of the Shudras was generally deprived of
educational advantages.

The age-limit for this purpose, ranged between five and

sixteen for Brahmins, six and twenty-two for Kshatriyas,
eight and twenty-four for Vaishyas.

RIGVEDIC EDUCATION
In ancient India, during the Vedic period from about 1500
BC to 600 BC, most education was based on the Veda
and later Hindu texts and scriptures.

Vedic education included: proper pronunciation and

recitation of the Veda, the rules of sacrifice, grammar,
understanding the secrets of nature, reasoning including
logic, the sciences, and the skills necessary for an
occupation.

There is mention in the Veda of herbal medicines for

various conditions or diseases, including fever, cough,
baldness, snake bite and others.

 The oldest of the Upanishads - another part of Hindu scriptures

- date from around 500 BC. These texts encouraged an
exploratory learning process where teachers and students
were co-travellers in a search for truth.

The teaching methods used reasoning and questioning.

The corpus of Sanskrit literature encompasses a rich tradition
of poetry and drama as well as technical, scientific,
philosophical knowledge.

Generally Hindu religions texts and many central texts of

Buddhism and Jainism have also been composed in Sanskrit.

 Two Epic poems formed part of ancient Indian education.

The Mahabharata, discusses human goals. It attempts to
explain the relationship of the individual to society and the
world .

The other epic poem, Ramayana, explores themes of human

existence and the concept of dharma.

 The formal admission ceremony was known as

'Upanayana'.

Upanayana ceremony was held to Brahmin boys at

the age of eight, for the Kshatriya boys at the age of
ten and for the Vaishya boys at the age of twelve.

With the accomplishment of this ceremony the child

had to leave his home for the 'ashrama' where he
would receive education.

It was supposed to be the re-birth of the child and

was known as 'Dvijya', which means, "twice born".

VEDAS
RIGVEDA

YAJURVED
A

VEDA
S

SAMVEDA

ATHARV
AVEDA

The Rigveda,
containing hymns to be recited

The Yajurveda,
containing formulas to be
recited by the adhvaryu or
official priest

The Samaveda,
Veda of melodies and chants

The Atharvaveda,
a collection of spells and
incantations, magical charms
and speculative hymns.

PERIOD OF PANINI
Panini the famous grammarian of the 7th century
B.C.

The account of education in the Sutra period will not

be complete without the consideration of the
evidence of the grammatical literature as
represented in the works of Panini.

Charaka was

a medical teacher of great reputation

ARYABHATTHA

Born: 476 AD in Patliputra in Magadha

(now Patna)

Mathematician-Astronomer

ARYABHATTHA
His works include

oArithmetic
oAlgebra
oPlane trigonometry
and

oSpherical

trigonometry

OTHER WORKS
INCLUDE
Approximation of
Place value system and zero
Astronomy

CHANAKYA
Birth : c. 370 BCE
Taxila,South India

Professor at the University of

Takshashila

Identified as Kautilyaor
Vishnu Gupta

He is widely credited for having

played an important role in the
establishment of the Maurya

FAMOUS WORKS INCLUDE

ARTHASHASTRA

Principles of politics
Arthashastradeals in detail with the qualities and
disciplines required for a wise and virtuous king.

NEETISHASTRA

Indian way of life

17chapters, 455 sutras
The dos and don'ts of administrating a kingdom

BRAHMACHARYA
BRAHMA,
(shortened
from
brahman), the
absolute,
eternal,
supreme Godhead.

CHARYA,
which means
"to follow"

GURUKU
L
SYSTEM

GURUKUL SYSTEM
Gurukul (ashram) was a type of school in India,
residential in nature, with pupils residing with
the teacher (guru) as part of his family.

GURU refers to the Teacher or the master.

OBJECTIVES
Self Control
Development of character
Social Awareness
Integral development of personality
Propagation of purity
Preservation of knowledge and culture

ADVANTAGES
As it was the only system of learning known in India at the time,
most of the shishyas gained their education through this medium.

The shishyas received knowledge in all subjects.

They received practical knowledge as well as knowledge on
various aspects of life.

 In a gurukul, students would reside together as equals, irrespective

of their social standing, learnt from the guru and distribute work in
themselves to help the guru in his day-to-day life.

They were taught impeccable manners and values that life is

based on.

The children were taught to live with meagre material things and
no fancy, pretentious objects.

 The gurukul was a comprehensive learning center.

Education was free, but students from well-to-do families
paid "Gurudakshina," a voluntary contribution after the
completion of their studies. The gurudakshina is a
traditional gesture of acknowledgment, respect and
thankfulness.

SUBJECTS THAT WERE TAUGHT

iksh (Phonetics)
Vykarana (Grammar)
Jyotisha(Astronomy)
Arthastra(Economics)
Dharmastra(Laws)
astravidy(Art of Warfare)
Kal(FineArts)

UNIVERSITIES OF
ANCIENT INDIA

NALANDA UNIVERSITY

Nalanda is the name of an ancient university in Bihar, India

and was a Buddhist center of learning from 427 CE to 1197 CE. It has been
called "one of the first great universities in recorded history.

TAKSHASHILA UNIVERSITY

REMAINS OF
TAKSHASHILA
UNIVERSITY

OTHER UNIVERSITIES OF ANCIENT

INDIA

Mithila
Vallabi
Vikramasila
Jagaddala
Benares - Religious
Teachings

Odantapuri
Nadia
Madura
Kanchi

EDUCATION OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT INDIA

Throughout the history of the country women have been described as highly educated.
A high standard of learning and culture was reached by Indian
women during the Vedic age.

Perhaps education as such was not denied to women.

During the Upanishad period we find scholarly women like Maitreyi
and Gargi taking part in public debates and discussions with
philosophers and sages.

There is convincing evidence to show that women were regarded as perfectly

eligible for the privilege of studying the Vedic literature and performing the
sacrifices .They enjoyed it till about 200 B.C.

THE DECLINE

With the invasion of Muslim conquerors nearly all the

centers of higher learning of the Hindus and Buddhists
were destroyed. Nalanda was burnt to the ground in
1197 A.D.

While the Buddhist system of education was

extinguished, the Vedic system of education found
patronage in the southern peninsula in places like
Hampi, Sringeri and Kanchi.