Slide 1

Education in Vedic Age

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 2

Becoming Historians
• Read the stories
from the
Mahabharata about
education in Vedic
age.
• You will hunt for
clues, on the
education in Vedic
age with help of the
worksheet.
© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 3

Story 1
Upamanyu

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 4

When we was around
8 years, his parents
performed the
upanayana – wearing
the thread ceremony.

Once upon a time there
was a boy called
Upamanyu,

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 5

After the ceremony he
went to live with his
teacher Dhaumya in
his Gurukul.

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 6

Four Vedas
He was a brilliant
student, he learnt
quickly.
Archery and
other military
sciences

The subjects that were
taught to him were
Mathematics

Grammar, logic
Medicine

Astronomy

Mineralogy
Meditation, philosophy and esoteric subjects

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP
Biology


Slide 7

• Most scholars agree that the learning in the
Vedic age was through oral transmission
• Follow the link to see how they learn
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMQS03V
NU-w&NR=1&feature=fvwp

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 8

His daily schedule
included

and then studies
Tending the cattle

Seeking alms from the nearby
homes

Bath and other
oblations

Exercise,
Tending the fire altar © Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 9

All the students went
begging for food everyday,
and the teacher then
collected it together and
distirbuted them equally
among the students.

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 10

One day Upamanyu was
sent to the King on
behalf of the Gurukul,
The king gave him some
grains

Upamanyu was very
hungry, he ate a few of
them but confessed it to
his teacher

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 11

Dhaumya was pleased that his
student spoke the truth but to
set an example for other
students Upamanyu was
denied any food the next day

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 12

Upamanyu after his studies
became a great teacher
himself. He paid his feesGurudakshina by composing
poems. a few hymns in the
Rig Veda were composed by
him

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 13

Story 2
Drona

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 14

Drupada
Drona
was
was
a son
a son
of of
a a
bramhin
king

There were two boys in Rishi
Bharadwaja’s Gurukul. Both
had come to spend around 12
years learning various
subjects

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 15

Like all other students they
too wore the skin of
antelope, the girdle of Kusa
grass and collected fuel for
worshipping the fire.


Slide 16

Both learnt archery
together, they also
tended the cattle and
Their friendship
went seeking
alms
togetherbecame legendary

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 17

Drona grew up and
became a teacher himself
and started his own
Gurukul.

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 18

He taught the famous
Hero - Arjuna


Slide 19

As apart of his fees
Drona asked
Arjuna to win a
battle for him.

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 20

Drona refused to
teach Karna and
Eklavya , they were
sent off


Slide 21

Karna was denied
admission because he
was a charioteer’s son

Eklavya was denied
admission because he
was a tribal or Nishad

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 22

Story 3
Janaka

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 23

One of the famous
association or parishads for
higher studies on
Philosophy was organised
by KingJanka

This parishad was headed
by Rishi Yajnavalkya, even
women participated in it.

This parishad involved
discussions on the topics
related to esoteric subjects
© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP


Slide 24

Sources
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•
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•
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•
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•
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•
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•
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Information sources:
•
http://www.indianetzone.com/24/education_literature_later_vedic_period.htm

© Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP