Salient feature or characteristic of vedic education
Answers
Explanation:
In the Vedic period, education had an idealistic form, in which the teachers (acharyas) laid stress upon worship of God, religiousness, spirituality, formation of character, development of personality, creation of an aptitude for the development of culture, nation and society.
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1. Knowledge, the Third Eye
Education is knowledge. It is man’s third eye. This aphorism means that knowledge opens man’s inner eye, flooding him with spiritual and divine light, which forms the provision for man’s journey through life.
2. Alms of Education
In the Vedic period, education had an idealistic form, in which the teachers (acharyas) laid stress upon worship of God, religiousness, spirituality, formation of character, development of personality, creation of an aptitude for the development of culture, nation and society.
(ii) Spirituality
In the Vedic period, Nature was regarded as divine and worshipped. During this period, many hypotheses concerning spirituality took birth. Knowledge came to be seen as the instrument of salvation.
Fire sacrifices, fasting and taking of vows became a part of life. Education was given the objective of inculcating control over these aspects and learning right conduct based on them.
(iii) Sublimation of Instincts
Man is the virtual slave of the instinctive drives embedded in his psyche, and when he is obsessed by his senses, he often adopts the wrong path.
The objective of education was to sublimate these instinctive tendencies, to turn the mind away from material knowledge, and centre it upon the spiritual world, thus establishing control over materialistic and base tendencies.
(iv) Fulfillment of Duty
Great importance was attached to developing such qualities as discipline, obedience, performance of holy duties, rendering help to others, fulfillment of social responsibilities, etc. Through such education social skills were developed in the students.
In addition, education was also provided for earning a livelihood and for this, one or more skills were taught. Dr. Mukeijee says that this education was not exclusively theoretical or literary. It was related to one or the other manual skill
(v) Growth of Character and Personality
The objective of education was the formation of character and personality of children. It was achieved through an appropriate environment, lessons on right conduct, and teachings based on the life, character and ideals of great persons.
Education aimed at developing the virtues of self-control, self-respect, love, cooperation, sympathy, etc. in the students.
3. The Method of Education
During the Vedic period, the Gurukul method prevailed, in which the student lived in the house of the Guru, instead of living with his parents. Along with his colleagues, he led a celibate life and obtained education in the house of the Guru.
4. The ‘Upnayana’ Ritual
The word ‘Upnayana’ means to take close to, or to bring in touch with. A ceremony called the Uphayana ceremony was performed before the child was taken to his teacher.
5. Celibacy or Brahmacharya
Every student was required to observe celibacy in his specific path of life. Purity of conduct was regarded as of supreme importance. Only the unmarried could become students in a Gurukul.
On entering student life, the student was made to wear a special girdle called a ‘makhla’. Its quality depended on the casteof the student. Brahmins wore a girdle of moonj grass, the kshatriyasof string gut-taanta-and the vaishyas a girdle made of wool.
The clothes worn by them were also accordingly silk, wool, etc. The students were not allowed to make use of fragrant, cosmetics or intoxicating things.
6. Alms System
The student had to bear the responsibility of feeding both himself and his teacher; this was done through begging for alms, which was not considered bad, since every domestic knew that his own son must be begging for alms in the same way at some other place.
7. Service of the Teacher
Every student was required, while residing in the Gurukul, to serve his teacher compulsorily. Any violation of the Guru’s instructions was regarded as a sin, and subject to stern punishment.
8. Practicality
The education of that period encompassed the necessary activities of life. Students were given education about animal-husbandry, agriculture and other professions. In addition education in medicine was also imparted.
9. Education for the Individual
In the Vedic period, every teacher devoted himself to the integral development of each student. He aimed at the physical and intellectual development of his wards.
10. Duration of Education
In the house of the teacher, the student was required to obtain education upto the age of 24, after which he was expected to enter domestic life. Students were divided into three categories:
(a) Those obtaining education upto the age of 24-Vasu.
(b) Those obtaining education upto the age of 36-Rudra.
(c) Those obtaining education upto the age of 48-Aaditya.
11. Curriculum
Although the education of this period was dominated by the study of Vedic literature, historical study, stories of heroic lives and discourses on the Puranas also formed a part of the syllabus.