Thread by @I_am_the_Story

🪔Gurukul - The Vedic House of the knowledge

🪔Do you know that Gurukul education system of
ancient Vedic period is responsible for existence of
the Veda and Vedic scriptures in their original form
in today's times?

🪔Lets explore this wonderful tradition of the
Vedic education system to understand the
cultural heritage it treasured and represented from
ancient Vedic times till now:

#SpiritualKnowledge #Gurukul #SanatanaDharma #Hinduism #Veda

1. Four Ashrams of the Vedic Life
Under the Ashram system, the human lifespan was divided into four periods. The goal of each period was the fulfilment and development of the individual. The classical system, in the Ashrama Upanishad, the Vaikhanasa Dharmasutra, and the later Dharmashastra, presents these as sequential stages of human life and suggests ages for entry to each stage. But in the original system introduced in the early Dharmasutras, the Ashramas were four alternative available ways of life, neither shown as sequential nor with age recommendations

Brahmacharya (Student Life) - Age: Till 25 yearsBrahmacharya represented the bachelor student stage of life. This stage focuses on education and included the practice of celibacy.
Grihastha (Household Life) Age: From 25 years to 48 years. This stage referred to the individual’s married life, with the duties of maintaining a household, raising a family, educating one’s children, and leading a family-centred and dharmic social life.
Vanaprastha (Retired Life) Age: From 48 years to 72 years. In this stage, a person hand over household duties to the next generation took an advisory role, and slowly withdrew from the world.
Sannyasa (Renounced Life) Age: 72+ (or anytime)This stage was marked by the renunciation of material desires and dislikes described by a state of disinterest and detachment from material life, usually without any significant property or home (Ascetic), and focussed on Moksha, peace, and simple spiritual life. Anyone could enter this stage after completing the Brahmacharya stage of life.

Ashrama and Purushartha
The Ashramas system is one aspect of the complicated Dharma concept in Hinduism. It is combined with the concept of Purushartha, or four proper aims of life in Hindu philosophy, namely,
Dharma (piety, morality, duties)
Artha (wealth, health, means of life),
Kama (love, relationships, emotions)
Moksha (liberation, freedom, self-realization).
Each of the four Ashramas of life is a form of individual and social environment, each stage with moral guidelines, duties, and responsibilities, for the individual and for the society. Each Ashrama stage places different levels of importance on the four proper goals of life, with different stages viewed as steps to the attainment of the ideal in Hindu philosophy, namely Moksha.

For details, please refer to my thread on Vedic Rishikas:
()

2. Samskara - The Vedic rules of the passage of the Life
Samskara is also known as Sanskar in traditional vocabulary. Samskaras in Hinduism are sacraments that begin with one's birth, celebrate certain early steps in a baby's growth and his or her welcome into the world in the presence of friends and family, then various stages of life such as first learning day, graduation from school, wedding and honeymoon, pregnancy, raising a family, as well as those related to final rites associated with cremation.

The word samskara is rare in the oldest layer of Vedic literature, but its roots Sam and kr occur often enough. the word appears in rig veda hymns 6.28.4 and 8.33.9, as well as other vedic texts, where the context suggests it simply means "purify, prepare". It appears in Jaimini Purva Mimamsa-sutra (500-200 BCE) many times, where it again means "prepare, perfect, polish" something, either through action, speech or mind. In sections 3.8.3, 9.3.25 and 10.2.49 of the Jaimini Purva Mimamsa-sutra, the word samskara is used to describe actions of "washing the teeth, shaving the head, cutting nails, sprinkling water" as part of a ceremony. Samskara is defined by ancient Indian scholar Shabara as, "that which prepares a certain thing or person fit for a certain purpose". Another ancient text viramitrodaya defines samskara, notes kane, as "a peculiar excellence due to performance of certain actions which resides in the soul or the body of the actor". Gautama Dharma sutra enumerates a large list of "forty outer karma samskaras" and "eight inner karma samskara (good qualities)", all of whom have the purpose of empowering a human being to discover, recognize and reach union with the brahma-atman (his or her soul, self, highest being).
40 Samaskara's of Gautam Dharma Sutra: Garbhadhana (conception),
Pumsavana (rite celebrating the fetus), Simantonnayana (parting of pregnant woman's hair in 8th month),
Jatakarman (rite celebrating the birth)
Namakarana (naming the child),
Annaprashana (baby's first feeding of solid food), Choulam (baby's first haircut, tonsure),
Upanayana (entry into school rite)
The four vows associated with vedic study: Graduation ritual at the conclusion of school; Marriage sva-dharma rite (Vivaah)
Five sacrifices to Devas, ancestors, humans, spirits, and all knowledge
Seven remembrances and donations (sacrifices) using cooked food, in the form of ancestral offerings.
Seven remembrances and donations (sacrifices) in the presence of fire (yajna), to mark harvests, seasons and deities
Seven kinds of soma sacrifices: Agnistoma, Atyagnistoma, Ukthya, Shodasin, Vajapeya, Atiratra and Aptoryama.

Shodhash Samaskar of Kalpa Shastras:
There are diverse number of samskaras in Hinduism, varying by texts between 12 and 18 in the grhyasutras (Kalpa Shastras which deal with Karma Kand part of Vedas while Upanishads deal with the knowledge part of the Vedas).
Of these, 16 are referred to as "shodasha samskaras" Garbhadan the first coming together of the husband & wife for bringing about conception.
Pumsvan ceremony performed when the first signs of conception are seen, and is to be performed when someone desires a male child.
Seemantonayan a ceremony of parting of the hairs of the expectant mother to keep her spirits high & positive. Special music is arranged for her.
Jatakarma after the birth of the child, the child is given a secret name, he is given taste of honey & ghee, mother starts the first breast-feeding after chanting of a mantra.
Nama-karana in this ceremony the child is given a formal name. Performed on the 11th day.
Nishkramana in this the formal darshan of sun & moon is done for the child.
Annaprashana this ceremony is performed, when the child is given solid food (anna) for the first time. Choodakarana Chooda means the 'lock or tuft of hair' kept after the remaining part is shaved off.
Karna-vedha done in 7th or 8th month. Piercing of the ears.
Upanayan & vedarambha the thread ceremony. The child is thereafter authorized to perform all rituals. Studies of vedas begins with the guru.
Keshanta hairs are cut, guru dakshina is given Samavartan returning to the house
Vivaha marriage ceremony (Considered most Important)
Vanprastha as old age approaches, the person retires for a life of tapas & studies.
Sanyas before leaving the body a hindu sheds all sense of responsibility & relationships to awake & revel in the timeless truth.
Antyeshthi the last rites done after the death.

For details, please refer to my thread:
()

Brahmcharya Ashram - Initiation of Upanayana and journey to the Gurukul

What is Upnayana Samskara?

Manu Smirti says:

गुर्ह्योक्तकर्मणा येन समीपं नीयते गुरोः |
बालो वेदाय तद्योगाद्बालस्योपनयं विदुः ||
Meaning:
By the action spoken by the Guru he is brought near to the Guru
The child knows the Vedas and by that yoga they know the child's future.

UpNayana is made of two words "Up" and "Nayana" which means to "bring near to".
Contextually it means

गुरोः समीपे नयनं
Means - Taking the prospective Antevasi (student) near to the Guru (Teacher)

As per Vedic scripturtes a person is born twice:

Jatkarman - Physical Birth - Sadhna Sharira
Upnayana - Intellectual Birth - Antkarka Sharira

As per Atstambha Griha Sutra Upnayana ceremony can be performed for a person from age 8 to 24 years.

As per Muktavali Smriti:

ब्राह्मणस्योपनयनम् वर्षे गर्भाष्टमे भवेत् |
अथ वोत्पत्तिमारभ्य भवेदष्टंमवत्सरे |
एकादशे क्षत्रियस्य गर्भात्तु द्वादशे विशः ||
Meaning:
A Brahmana must undergo upanayana at eight years of age, counted from conception. Or it must be done when he is eight years after birth. For a Kshatriya, the same must be performed when he is eleven years old and at twelve years of age for a Vaishya.

As per Manu Smriti:

आ षोडषाद् ब्राह्मणस्य सावित्री नातिवर्तते |
आ द्वाविंशात् क्षत्रबन्धोराचतुर्विम्शतेर्विशः ||
Meaning:
Upanayana is performed before sixteen years of age for a Brahmana. If that limit is crossed, the child becomes ‘vratya’ or uncultured. Similarly the limit for a Kshatriya is twenty-two years and for a Vaishya it is twenty-four years.

Yajnopavita
It is a sacred thread worn by the person during the Yajna homage for the Upanayana ceremony.
It is made of two words "Yajna" and "Upavita", so it means something which is worn during the Yajna Homage or sacrifice.
Yajnapavitam thread is made of 3 threads made up of nine cotton strands each. It is said that these three threads are representations of three swarupas of Aadi Shakti.
After the Upnayana samskara ceremony, child is called द्विजः that is twice born. (जनि प्रादुर्भावे).

🪔 Upanayana rituals are too brief to be covered in this thread and it will be discussed in separate thread. So, we stick to the topic of this thread.

Yajnavalkya Smriti 1.39 says:

मातुर्यदग्रे जायन्ते द्वितीयं मौञ्जिबन्धनात् | ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशस्तस्स्मादेते द्विजाः स्मृताः ||
Meaning:
The Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaishya first take birth through their mother; After the maunjibandhana (upanayana) they undergo a second birth and come to be known as a dvija.

As per Upanishads, Darshan Shastra and Dharmasutras, human body is made up of
Sharira (शरीरम् The Body),
Manas (मनः The mind),
Buddhi (बुद्धिः The intellect)
Atma (आत्मा The spirit) constitute a human being

Rina Sidhanta (ऋणत्रयसिध्दान्तः)
According to Rina Sidhanta when a person is born he inherits three debts (ऋणत्रयम्):

Taittriya Samhita says:

जायमानो वै ब्राह्मणस्तृभिर्ऋणैर्ऋणवाञ्जीयते । यज्ञेन देवेभ्यो ब्रह्मचार्येण ऋषिभ्यः प्रजया पितृभ्यः ॥
Meaning:
When a brahmaṇa is born, he becomes indebted to three kinds of debts. By sacrifice to the demigods, by celibacy to the sages, by progeny to the forefathers.

देवऋणम् - Debt to the Devatas is relieved by learning how to perform yajnas and by regularly offering homage to Devas to preserve the rituals

ऋषिऋणम् - Debt to the Rishis of the previous birth can be get rid of by studying their works and continuing their Vedic traditions to preserve them for future generations.

पितृऋणम् - Debt to the Pitras or ancestors can be repaid by getting married to raise progeny and impart education to them to preserve the family tradiition.

So, to carry on the family traditions as per four ashrams, four Purusharthas, shodash Samskaras to get rid of three debts, a person is initiated into "Upnayana" ceremony to nurure the Manas, Budhhi, Atma by seeking the knowledge of Vedas (Vidya) through a Guru in Gurukul.

Atharvaveda 11.7.3. says:

आचार्य उपनयमानो ब्रह्मचारिणं कर्णुते गर्भमन्तः |
Meaning:
The teacher leading the boy near him makes the brahmachari like unto a foetus.

4. The Guru - The Teacher

Who is a Guru?

The divine conversation between Bhagwan Shiv and Devi Parvati noted as Guru Gita in Skanda Purana says:

गुकारश्चा-न्धकारस्तु रुकारस्-तन्-निरोध-कृत् । अन्धकार-विनाशित्वाद्-गुरुरित्य्-अभिधीयते ॥ (१:३३)

गुकार अंधकार है और रुकारा उसका अवरोधक है। अंधकार का नाश करने के कारण उन्हें गुरु कहा जाता है। (1:33)

The gukara is the darkness, and the rukara is the inhibitor of that. Because he destroys darkness, he is called Guru. (1:33)

For detailed study of the Guru Gita, please refer to my thread:
()

Types of the Guru (The Teacher):

Types of the Guru as mentioned in Vedas and Vedangas based on their spiritual context of the teaching are:

VARTMA PRADARSAKA GURU:The person who first introduces you to devotional practices. वह व्यक्ति जो सबसे पहले आपको भक्ति प्रथाओं से परिचित कराता है।

SIKSHA GURU:One who teaches you about Lord and scriptures जो तुम्हें भगवान और शास्त्रों की शिक्षा देता है

DIKSHA GURU:जो आधिकारिक तौर पर शिष्यों को स्वीकार करके उन्हें अपने वंश में दीक्षित करता है और उनके उत्थान की जिम्मेदारी लेता है One who officially initiates the disciples into their lineage by accepting the disciples and taking responsibility for their elevation.

PRERAK GURU:जो साधक के मन को दीक्षा से प्रेरित करता है। One who inspires the seeker’s mind with an initiation.

SUCHAKA GURU:सुचक गुरु वह है जो कम से कम एक बाहरी सांसारिक विज्ञान में विशेषज्ञ है। जैसे: विज्ञान, कला आदि और जो आध्यात्मिक अभ्यास और दीक्षा के प्रकार सुझाता (सूचित) करता है। The Suchaka Guru is one who is an expert in at least one external worldly science. Eg: Science, arts, etc. and who suggests (Informs) the types of spiritual practice and initiation.

VACHAKA GURU:गुरु जो विभिन्न जातियों और वर्णों (वर्ण और आश्रम) के अनुसार कर्तव्यों का निर्देश देता है। The Guru instructs the duties according to the different castes and orders (Varna and Ashram).

DARSHAK GURU:वह जो आध्यात्मिक अभ्यास और दीक्षा के फायदे और नुकसान समझाता है/दिखाता है। One who shows/ Guides explaining the advantages and disadvantages of spiritual practice and initiation.

BODHAKA GURU:गुरु जो किसी को दीक्षा मंत्र देकर अध्यात्म में प्रवेश कराता है। वह वाचक और सूचक प्रकारों से श्रेष्ठ है। The guru who initiates one into the spirituality by giving a Diksha Mantra. He is superior to the Vachaka and Suchaka types.

NISHIDDHA GURU:वह गुरु जो किसी को निम्न प्रकार की निषिद्ध विद्याओं, जैसे मोहना, मारण, वस्या आदि में दीक्षा देता है। The Guru who initiates one into the lower types of prohibitted Vidyas, like Mohana, Marana, Vashya etc.

VIHITA GURU:जो गुरु इस भौतिक संसार के दुखों को समझाकर और सभी संदेहों को दूर करके वैराग्य (वैराग्य) की ओर ले जाने वाला मार्ग दिखाते हैं, उन्हें विहिता गुरु के रूप में जाना जाता है। The Guru who shows the path leading to Vairagya (dispassion) by explaning the miseries of this material world and clearing all doubts, is known as the Vihita Guru.

KARANAKYA GURU:गुरु जो शिष्य को संन्यास की दीक्षा देते हैं और जो संन्यास देकर इस सांसारिक संसार के रोग को दूर करते हैं। The Guru who initiates the disciple into sanyasa and who is the remover of the disease of this mundane world by giving sanyasa.

KAMYA GURU:यह व्यक्ति को दोनों दुनियाओं में खुशी सुनिश्चित करने के लिए अच्छे भौतिक कार्यों में संलग्न करता है। This makes one engage oneself in Good Material deeds to secure happiness in both the worlds.

PARAM GURU:वह, जो सभी प्रकार के संदेहों को पूरी तरह से दूर करने में विशेषज्ञ है और जो जन्म और मृत्यु के भय को दूर करता है, वह परम गुरु है। He, who is expert in total removal of all types of doubts, and who removes the fear of birth and death, is Param Guru, the Supreme Guru.

Types of Gurus mentioned in Vedic Gurukul system as per their duties and functional aspect:

Guru: वह जो अपने विद्यार्थियों/शिष्यों को अपना ज्ञान प्रदान करके जीविकोपार्जन करता है the one who makes a living by imparting his knowledge to his disciples

Sikshaka: जिन्होंने गायन, नृत्य आदि कलाएँ सिखाईं who taught arts like singing, dancing, etc

Charakas: जिन्होंने पूरे देश की यात्रा की और महान ज्ञान प्राप्त किया, हालाँकि वे नियमित शिक्षक नहीं थे Who traveled throughout the country and attained great knowledge, though they were not regular teachers.

Acharya: शिक्षक, जिन्होंने बिना किसी शुल्क के अपने विद्यार्थियों को वेद, पवित्र ग्रंथ पढ़ाए teacher, who taught Vedas, the holy scriptures to his pupils without any fee.

Upadhyaya: वे शिक्षक जो अपनी शिक्षाओं में वेदों या वेदांगों का केवल एक भाग पढ़ाते थे teachers who taught only part of the Vedas or Vedangas in their teachings.

Yaujanasatikas: जिनके पास समृद्ध ज्ञान और बुद्धिमत्ता थी, इसलिए दूर-दूर से छात्र मार्गदर्शन और शिक्षा पाने के लिए उनसे मिलने आते थे who had rich knowledge and wisdom, so students from far off places travelled to meet them seeking guidance and education.

5. Antevasi - The Student - The Shishya

Who should be an Antevasi (Student)?

According to the Yajnavalkya Smriti 1.27:

कृतज्ञाद्रोहिमेधावि शुचिकल्यानसूयकाः । अध्याप्या धर्मतः साधु शक्ताप्तज्ञानवित्तदाः । ।
Meaning:
One who is Gratefulness (कृतज्ञः)
Free from enmity (अद्रोहिः)
Intelligent (मेधावि)
Pure (शुचिः) free of mental and physical diseases,
Not in the habit of fault-finding, virtuous, strong and capable (of serving), family member, giver of knowledge (in return for knowledge), and giver of wealth (in return for knowledge) shall be an antevasi or Shishya (The Student).

An Antewasi had following parts and duties in his Gurukul life:

Adhyayan - A student will learn from his Guru through Shruti and memorize all the knowledge through Smriti.

a) Sravana (Shruti) - A student would daily recite the Shruti texts (Four Vedas) under guidance of his Guru

b) Manana (Shashtrarth) - A student will discuss and debate his knowledge with fellow students and his teacher for an in depth understanding of the meaning and context of his leanings.

c) Nididhyanasana (Mediatation) - A student will mediate to reflect and self-realise all the learnings through self-consciousness and spiritual growth.

Anadhyayana (Holidays) - A student will take break from his learning cycle to rejuvenate his mind and body.

As per Manu Smriti the Anadhyayana days of the month which were 6 days in a month:
The two Ashtami (eight day)
Chaturdashi (fourteenth day) tithis of the fortnight
The Amavasya (new moon day) and
Purnima (full moon day) days

Nirvahanam - A student will seek donations from Villagers and Kings for the sustenance of the daily life of Ashram.

Guru Dakshina - Once a student completes his education, he would undergo Samavartana (समावर्तनम्) (Graduation) ceremony.

Manu Smriti 2.245 says:

न पूर्वं गुरवे किंचिदुपकुर्वीत धर्मवित् । स्नास्यंस्तु गुरुणाज्ञप्तः शक्त्या गुर्वर्थं आहरेत् । ।
Meaning:
A Dharmik brahmachari, does not give anything to the guru before he completes his education. Just after samavartana, with the permission of the guru and according to his capacity, a student should offer guru Dakshina. Agricultural land, gold, cow, horse, umbrella, shoes, chair (asana), food grains, vegetables and clothes may be offered to the guru and win his pleasure.

Such was the reverence of the Guru in Vedic times that, a student will have to pay Guru Dakshina to his Guru as per his Guru's wishes if a Guru asks for a particular Guru Dakshina and as per Vedic scriptures even entire land of Bhu Loka was not enough to pay Guru Dakshina.

6. Be very proud of your Sanatan Lineage.

Sanatan is the light and Dharma is the path.

Please share it further to spread the light of the Sanatan.

Blessings of Shri Krishna to you

Radhe Radhe