Gurukula
Topic: The Vedic Age · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 7 "India's Cultural Roots"
Meaning
A gurukula was a traditional place of learning. Students lived with their teacher (guru) in his household and learnt from him directly. The bond between teacher and pupil, the guru–śhiṣhya paramparā, was regarded as sacred. Students studied the Vedas, grammar, logic, philosophy, ethics, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, music, arts and crafts, and archery. They also practised yoga and meditation and served the guru. The aim was to train pupils to live by dharma (right conduct) and to lead them "from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge".
Example
In the Chhāndogya Upaniṣhad, Śhvetaketu goes to a teacher at the age of twelve and studies the Vedas for twelve years. He comes home proud of his learning. His father, Uddālaka Āruṇi, then shows him that he has still not understood brahman, the hidden essence of all things.
Don't confuse with
- Monastic universities such as Nālandā: These were large, later institutions with many teachers and students. A gurukula was a small home-based school run by one guru.
Related concepts
- Upanishads
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
- Chandogya Upanishad
- Uddalaka Aruni
- Tat tvam asi
- Katha Upanishad
- Nachiketa
- Mundaka Upanishad
- Satyameva Jayate
- Atman