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Brahmanic Education System
Discuss the main features of Brahmanic education system
1)In the Brahmanic system, students were looked upon as members of the Guru’s family and had all the consequent privileges and responsibilities.
2. In the Brahmanic system one educational institution worked quite independently of the other. There was no common organisation for different educational institutions. Each Guru ran his institution in the way he liked, though certain features were common to all institutions.
3. In Brahmanic system, Guru was the final authority. His orders had to be carried out by all who studied under him. Guru was like an autocrat. So in the sense it was an autocratic system of education. The seniority and pre eminence of Guru always remained an admitted fact.
4. In the Brahmanic system the pupils had to stay with Guru for a period of 12 years from the date of admission. After the completion of the study they had the option to go back to their homes and live a worldly life. So household life formed an important aspect under the Vedic system.
5. In the Brahmanic system the pupils were always under the close and constant supervision of their gurus. Individual was the teaching unit. As there was no class teaching the relation between teacher and taught was very cordial.
6. In the early Vedic period instruction was confine only to the young Brahmins to prepare them for their future vocation as priests. Later on education was thrown open to Kshatriyas and Vaishayas. Thus the rigid caste system had its influence upon the progress of education.
7. In the Brahmanic system much emphasis was given on Vedic study. The teachers were all Brahmins. It was considered then that only the Brahmins had the privilege to teach. Adequate attention could not be paid to the secular subjects as undue stress was laid on rituals, prayer, sacrifices etc.
8. The Brahmanic system concentrates its attention on the study of Sanskrit. As a result it could not promote the education of common people.
9. During Brahmanic period military education, commercial training etc. formed a part of the courses of studies.
Objectives of Brahmanic Education
1)Brahmanic education aimed at the spiritual development and attainment of supreme knowledge.
2) Brahmanic Education emphasized preparation for life and all round development of Personality.
3)It emphasized on the formation of moral character, purity of heart, self-control, Self-confidence and self-reliance as well.
4) Brahmanic education encouraged subjects like philosophy and law. The teachers give the opportunity to the students to decide and judge themselves.
5)There is the stage called Manana which means that students had to think themselves about what they have heard.
Features of the Brahmanic Education
Psychological System,
Religious Stamp,
Social Ideals,
Assisted All-Round Development,
Character Building,
Well-regulated Life,
Full Growth of Personality,
Beginning of Education at Appropriate Age,
Development of Justice and Capability,
Self-Study,
Intimate Relation of Teacher and students,
Samavartan Upadesh (Valedictory Instructions)
Psychological System: The Brahmanic education is mainly based on the psychological system. It was always opposed to the corporal punishments. The teachers always adopted psychological principles while teaching your students in this period.
Religious stamp
The main aim of education was the propagation of the ideas and principles in the students. No one could become an expert in the three branches of ritual, and specialist training became necessary, Probably at first it consisted in a priestly student first learning the ritual of all three branches and then specializing In one of them. The collection of Soma hymns of the Rigveda seems to show traces of this.
But eventually something more than this was needed, and there came to be three orders of priests, each possessing its own particular Veda, and having its own training schools.
Social Ideals:
In this, pupils had to think themselves about what they have heard. They have to make their own inferences and assimilate the lesson taught by their teacher into the life.
Assisted All-Round Development: The individual education in the Brahmanic age assist the teachers to look after the inner and outer development of the students. They educate them in the practical way.
Character Building:
The ancient education laid great emphasis on the character building. For them, the teacher should give religious instructions and give them knowledge of religious rituals. The pupil was under a somewhat rigorous discipline, but there was nothing harsh or brutal about it, and a high ideal of moral life and character was held before both pupil and teacher.
Well-regulated Life:
From the very beginning the students were trained to do their work properly and on time. They were encourage to performs their daily routine properly.
Full Growth of Personality:
In Gurukul, students were inspired to utilize the spiritual powers for the development of their culture. Students were also taught about self-reliance, which make them power for making social life successful with our fear. Each experienced priest probably taught his sons or nephews the ritual lore and hymns which were traditional in the family, by letting them repeat them over and over again after him until all had been committed to memory, and probably each family guarded the secrecy of its own sacred tradition.
Beginning of Education at appropriate age
It was already becoming recognized that for the study of the Vedic learning a long period of studentship was necessary. So, it is really essential to start learning from the very early age. The parents have the duty to give these moral values and knowledge to their pupils in very young age.
Development of Justice and Capability:
Brahmanic education encouraged subjects like philosophy and law. The teachers give the opportunity to the students to decide and judge themselves.
Concept of self-Study
There is the stage called Manana which means that students had to think themselves about what they have heard. They followed the pattern of self study. They have to make their own inferences and assimilate the lesson taught by their teacher into the life.
Intimate Relation of Teacher and students Teacher and student relation is so close and affectionate. Students treat their teachers as god. They respect and admire them like the god.
Samavartan Upadesh (Valedictory Instructions): After completing their education, students go back to their family life. At the time of departure, they are given some final instructions like: always speak truth, do your work yourself, respect elders, never neglect self-study, etc.
Educational centres of Brahmanic Education
1)Taxila (Takshasila)
It was the most important centre of higher learning in ancient India. It is situated about 20 miles west of Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan. It was the capital of the province of Gandhara and that was why it attracted many scholars from different and distant parts of India even by the 7th century B.C. It was founded by Bharata and named after his son Taksha. The fame of Taxila as a seat of learning was of course due to that of its teachers.
2). Varanasi
Banaras has been a famous centre of the Hindu religion for more than two thousand years, and on that account has also been a place of education. Next to Taxila ranks Banaras as a seat of learning. It was, however, largely the creation. of the ex-students of Taxila who set up as teachers at Banaras. The intellectual culture of Banaras was the same culture of Taxila, the cosmopolitan educational centre.
3. Nadia or Navadivipa (New Island)
Nadia was a famous centre of higher learning in ancient India and continued to be so even during the medieval era. Nadia was founded as a capital by one of the Sena (Lakshnan) Kings in 1063 A.D. or 1106 A.D. Nadia is the popular name of Navadwipa on the Bhagirathi at its confluence with Jalangi.
