Ancient Indian Syllabi

Ancient Indian Syllabi
Published By
Dr. E. Mahabala Bhatta
Major Research Project In Sanskrit, U.G.C.
S.D.M. Autonomous College, UJIRE – 574 240
D.K. Karnataka State
Ancient Indian Syllabi
Published By
: Dr. E. Mahabala Bhatta
MRPF No. 5-586/2012 (HRP)
Major Research Project in Sanskrit, U.G.C.
S.D.M. Autonomous College
UJIRE – 574 240
D.K. Karnataka State
c
: Author
Year
: 2014
No. of Copies
: 500
Price
: Rs. 50/-
Printer
: Manjushri Printers, Ujire
Contents
1)
Words of Introduction
2)
Photos
3)
Sixty Four Syllabi
4)
Thirty Two Syllabi
5)
Twenty Four Syllabi
6)
Eighteen syllabi
7)
Fifteen syllabi
8)
Four Syllabi
9)
Twenty Syllabi
10) Concluding words
Words of Introduction:
What was the education given in ancient India is a matter of curiosity
for all. There were no such universities or colleges as on today. The syllabi
were not alike as modern times throughout the country. But most of the
people lived a good life even without formal education. Those who availed
this education had lead their life in a befitting manner. To explain the
system of education then existed this book tries in its own way.
Instead of spending the life without goal in the high schools and
colleges students should try to understand the system of education then
existed along with the modern one. It is by this they can understand the
type of society then existed and incorporate the things which can mould
their life in a better manner. There is no doubt, if glanced atleast, this
ancient Indian syllabi will certainly guide the students of today to lay a
perfect foundation for their education.
This work is a byproduct of the Major Research Project of U.G.C. in
Sanskrit pursued by Dr. E. Mahabala Bhatta, the Principal Investigator
and the Research fellow Vidwan Shrikantha R. Balthillaya.
We feel happy in publishing this book under this project which will
be useful to our younger generation who are the inheritors of our culture
as well as civilization.
While giving good counseling to his brother Vidura says that which
gives money is a real education. It is a clear indication of the type of
education then existed in our country. Like today, in those days also the
utility of learning was given priority. In other words people were more
concerned about the ‘scope’ of the subject learnt. The main goal of
education is always to be happy throughout the life. The arts which are
enumerated in the following pages will disclose this fact in a lucid manner.
-1-
Sixty Four Syllabi
1)
Gitam
– Singing
2)
Vadyam
– Playing Mridangam, Drum and instruments like
flute, Veena etc.
3)
Nrityam
– Dance
4)
Alekhya
– Art of drawing
5)
Visesakacchedya –Sculpting
6)
Tandulakusumavalivikarakala – Creating different artistic structures
by using the full grain ofrice and filling same with
flowers.
7)
Pushpastarana – tying up the flowers to make the garland.
8)
Dashanavasangaragavidya – Preparing the colours to devorate the
body, nails and clothes.
9)
Manibhumikakarmavidya – Preparing wreathes by using different
kinds of beads, gems and the art of building the
house.
10) Shayanarachanavidya – the art of preparing different kinds of bed
sheets, pillows and beds.
11) Udakavadya
– Producing different kinds of sounds by using
water.
12) Udakaghata
– The art of sprinkling the water in different ways.
13) Chitrayoga
– The art of making old people to be seen young.
14) Malyagrathana – Preparing the flower wreaths for the worship
of Gods.
15) Shekharakapidana –
Preparing the turbans.
16) Nepathyaprayoga – The art of making up.
-2-
17) Karnapatrabhangavidya – Preparing different ornaments by using
ivory and conch.
18) Gandhayukti
– Preparing different kinds of scents.
19) Bhushanayojanavidya – The art of decorating the clothes by
different ornaments.
20) Indrajala
– Magic.
21) Kauchumara
– Medicine.
22) Vichitrashakayushabhakshyavikarakriya – Preparing different kinds
of dishes and eatables according to the tastes
and occasions.
23) Hastalaghava – Dexterity of the hands in different activities.
24) Panakarasaragasavayojanam – Preparing different kinds of drinks
to enhance enthusiasm.
25) Suchivanakarma – The different kinds of sewing.
26) Sutrakrida
– Preparing the dolls by using strings and causing
them to dance.
27) Veenadamarukavadyani – Playing the Veena and the small drum
called Damaru.
28) Prahelika
– Creating the riddles and solving.
29) Pratimala
– Answering word for word, ethics for ethics,
maxim for maxim, syllable to syllable.
30) Durvachakayoga– Telling the matters by using the words which are
difficult to understand.
31) Pustakavachana– Reading the poems clearly and musical
discourse.
32) Natakakhyayikadarshana – Enacting in the dramas.
33) Kavyasamasyapurana – Solving the problems coming in the themes
of poetry.
-3-
34) Pattikavetravanavikalpa – The craft art of preparing different kinds
of boxes by using canes.
35) Takshakarma
– Sculpting the drawings on the ornaments made
out of gold.
36) Takshana
– Sculpting on the wooden structures.
37) Vastuvidya
– Building the houses according to the place,
climate and the strength of the ground.
38) Rupyaratnapariksha – The art of testing the pearl, gold & diamond.
39) Dhatuvadavidya – Finding out the ores inside the earth.
40) Maniragakarajnanam – Detecting the shining of diamond along with
its mining.
41) Vrikshayurveda – Treating medically the plants and trees.
42) Meghakukkutalavakayuddha – Arranging the fight of cocks and
umpiring.
43) Shukasarikapralapanavidhi – The method of learning to speak like
parrot and she parrot.
44) Utsadanasamvahanakeshamardanakaushalam – Massaging the
body by applying oil to head and hair and
rectifying the organs of the handicapped.
45) Aksharamushtikakathana – Conversation through secret syllables
with a posture called Aksharamushtika.
46) Mlencchitavikalpa– Learning the language and knowledge of others.
47) Deshabhashavijnanam – The knowledge of the language of different
countries.
48) Pushpashakatika – Preparing cart by using the flowers.
49) Nimittajnana – Learning in advance the dangers and their effects
in no time.
50) Yanthramathruka – Preparing the automotive machines.
-4-
51) Dharanamathruka – The knowledge of the instruments that enhance
the memory power
52) Sampathyam
– Reproducing the portions of the literature or
poetry verbation which is heard once.
53) Manasikavyakriya – Constructing poetry according to metres the
syllables that are n the mind already.
54) Abhidhanakosha – The knowledge of words and encyclopedia.
55) Chandovijnanam – The knowledge of metres.
56) Kriyakalpa
- The knowledge of creating poetry.
57) Chalitayoga
– Assuming different forms
58) Vastragopanani – Hiding the torn parts of the clothes intelligently.
59) Dyutavishesha – Playing the dice.
60) Akarshakrida
– Playing the dice by pulling and pushing with a
special force.
61) Balakridanaka – Knowledge of the play of children.
62) Vainayikinam Vidyanam Jnanam – The education which gives vinaya
or modesty.
63) Vaijayikinam Vidyanam Mahatvam – The education which brings
victory like war etc.
64) Vyayamikinam Vidyanam Jnanam – Gymnastics.
These were the 64 arts or types of education given to the youngsters.
But these were practices by the people of higher level in the society like
Kings, wealthy people who were able to spend their time with learning
these.
-5-
Thirty Two Syllabi
It is narrated by Shukracharya in his Shukraniti 32 types of education
or arts as follows.
1) Rigveda
2) Yajurveda
3) Samaveda
4) Atharvaveda
5) Ayurveda
6) Dhanurveda (Archery)
7) Gandharva (Music)
8) Tantrashastra
9) Shiksha
10) Grammar
11) Kalpa
12) Nirukta
13) Jyothisha
14) Chandas (Prosody)
15) Mimamsa (Exegesis)
16) Logic
17) Sankhya
18) Vedanta (Philosophy)
19) Yoga
20) Itihasa (history)
21) Puranas
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22) Smritis
23) Charvaka system
24) Economics
25) Erotics
26) Sculpture
27) Aesthetics
28) Poetry
29) Different languages of the country
30) Subhashitas
31) The isms other than indigenous
32) The religions of our country and abroad.
-7-
Twenty Four Syllabi
The other version which gives a different list of kinds of education
imparted then in our country. These are 24 in number.
1)
Gita
–
Music
2)
Nritya
–
Dance
3)
Vadyam
–
Playing the musical instrument
4)
Lipijnana
–
Knowledge of scripts
5)
Vachanam Chodaram – Speaking most freely
6)
Chitravidhi
–
Writing the diagrams
7)
Pustakarma
–
Creating the books
8)
Patracchedya
–
Cutting the leaves artistically
9)
Malyavidhividya –
Tying the wreath by using different flowers.
10) Asvada
–
Tasting the dishes
11) Rathnapariksha
–
Examining the gems
12) Sivyavidya
–
Sewing
13) Rangaparijnana
–
Knowledge of the stage of acting
14) Upakarana Kriya
–
Preparing the utensils
15) Manavidhividya
–
The art of honouring
16) Ajivajnanavidya
–
Earning the money to lead the life
throughout
17) Tiryagyonicikitsita –
veterinary Science
18) Mayakritapashandasamayajnana – Doing the work without coming
to the knowledge of others.
-8-
19) Kridakoushala
–
Skill in sports
20) Lokajnana
–
General knowledge
21) Vaichakshanya
–
Knowing everything minutely
22) Samvahana
–
Travelling from one place to another easily
23) Sharirasamskara –
keeping the body healthy and attractive
24) Visheshakoushala –
Dexterity in each and everything
These are also comprise the very useful types of education which
had a profitable effect
-9-
Eighteen syllabi
1) Rigveda
2) Yajurveda
3) Samaveda
4) Atharvaveda
5) Shiksha
6) Vyakarana
7) Prosody
8) Nirukta
9) Jyothisha
10) Kalpa
11) Mimamsa
12) Logic
13) Dharmashastra
14) Puranas
15) Ayurveda
16) Archery
17) Music
18) Arthashastra or Economics
Generally people of higher castes of that time availed the facility of
learning these. The four types of castes Brahmana, Kshatriya, vaishya
and Shudra were fully in force and the education was also arranged
accordingly.
- 10 -
Fifteen syllabi
1) Rigveda
2) Yajurveda
3) Samaveda
4) Atharvaveda
5) Shiksha
6) Vyakarana
7) Kalpa
8) Nirukta
9) Jyothisha
10) Prosody
11) Puranas
12) Nyaya or Logic
13) Mimamsa
14) Dharmashastra
15) Learning the poetry
- 11 -
Four Syllabi
The author of Arthashastra – Kautilya narrates four types of education
as follows:
These four are considered to be the basic knowledge which one
should possess as a prerequisite to acquire the other forms of knowledge.
1)
Anvikshiki – logic
2)
Trayi – Three Vedas Rig, Yajur and Sama
3)
Varta – The education which helps to lead a peaceful life
4)
Dandaniti – Governance with appropriate policy
Whatever may be the education, say it is even Kama or erotics, it
should be framed and studied in the light of Dharma orVirtue without
which the whole system of education swerves from its path.
- 12 -
Twenty Syllabi
exclusively for sports
1) Ayushprapti
-
Increasing the span of life
2) Akshavidhana
– Knowledge of dicing
3) Rupasamkhya
–
Testing the strength of oneself and the
opposite
4) Kriyamarga
–
Continuing the play according to the strength
and skill of the rival
5) Bijagrahanam
–
Knowing the origin of the play
6) Nayajnanam
–
Umpiring the play according to justice
7) Karanadanam
–
The intake of food which enhances the
strength
8) Chitrachitravidhi
–
The procedures while playing
9) Gudharashi
–
Challenging the person to detect the thing
inside first
10) Tulyabhihara
–
Using the force equally
11) Kshipragrahanam
– The extempore intelligence
12) Anupraptilekhasmriti – Writing the results of the play
13) Agnikrama
– Pouncing upon the rival like the fire
14) Chalavyamodanam –
Making one not to get cheated
15) Grahadanam
Complete attack
–
16) Upastharanavidhi –
Going nearer to the rival
17) Yuddham
–
The play actual
18) Rutam
–
Making sounds
- 13 -
19) Gatam
–
Continuously winning
20) Nrittam
–
Celebrating the victory
These types of sports then existed really makes us to understand
that our ancestors had a perfect database of knowledge in the field of
sports for which we should feel proud of. But of course, we have to
remember that they had no wonderful modern facilities of today with
them.
- 14 -
Concluding remarks
Our Indian tradition is a prosperous ocean of knowledge. Since the
commencement of the human civilization our ancestors were aware of
the importance of education and they pioneered a system which
enhances the quality of the personality. The systems of education
enumerated are the mirror in which we and our youngsters can rectify
and improve to a great extent.
Bibliography
1)
T.S. satyavathi – Chatushashti Kalegalu – Yuvajanarigagi – Pub –
Samskrita Vagmaya Kendra, Gandhibhavana – The seat of the study
of human values and science – Mangalore – 2002
2)
Ma. Sridhara Murthy – 64 Vidyegalu, Bangalore University,
Bangalore – 1974
3)
Dr. Raghunathasimha – Kautiliyam Arthashastram – Chaukhamba
Krishnadasa Academy, Varanasi – 2001
4) Dr.Jagadishchandra Mishra – The Shukraniti of Shukracharya
Choukhamba Surabharati Prakashan, Varanasi – 1998 – PP 521523
5)
Panditha Madhavacharya - Maharshi Vatsyayana virachita
Kamasutram – Khemaraj Shrikrishnadas Publication,
Mumbai – 2008
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