India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c10.s1.3

c10.s1.3

Two classes of pupils are distinguished (1) *daṇḍa-māṇava*, and (2) *antevāsī* (*Na daṇḍamāṇavāntevāsishu*, IV.3.130). The *daṇḍa-māṇava*, also called by the shorter name *māṇava* (VI.2.69) was a novice, not initiated in the Vedic study (*anṛicha*), as observed by Patañjali (*anṛicho māṇave Bahvṛichaścharaṇākhyāyām-iti*, V.4.154; II.444). He was named after his distinctive emblem, a wooden staff which he carried (*daṇḍa-pradhānaḥ māṇavaḥ*, *Kāśikā*). Pāṇini mentions the religious staff of the student as *āshāḍha* (V.1.110), being named after the wood of the *palāśa* tree (*Butea frondosa*) of which it was made. The *Tattvabodhinī*, a late commentary, takes *daṇḍa-māṇavas* to be students without *upanayana*. The *Mataṅga Jātaka* refers to a *māṇava* as being of tender age (*bāla*), moving to and fro with a *daṇḍa* and wearing sandals (*Jāt.* IV.379). A class of such young pupils was called *māṇavya* (IV.2.42).