India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c10.s1.6

c10.s1.6

*TEACHERS*—Pāṇini mentions the following classes of teachers: (1) *Āchārya*, (2) *Pravaktā*, (3) *Śrotriya*, and (4) *Adhyāpaka* (II.1.65). The *Āchārya* was of the highest status. By the particular religious ceremony of *upanayana*, he became *āchārya* (*āchārya-karaṇa*, 1.3.36), and the student his *antevāsī*. This was expressed in the language as *māṇavakam upanayate*. The *Atharvaveda* puts it clearly thus: ‘the *āchārya* by drawing the pupil within himself as in a womb, gives him a new birth’ (*āchārya upanayamāno Brahmachāriṇam kṛiṇute garbhamantaḥ*, XI.5.3). The close association of a teacher and his pupil is shown by the practice of naming the pupil after the *āchārya*. This is expressed by Pāṇini in the *sūtra Āchāryopasarjanaś-chāntevāsī* (VI.2.36; VI.2.104), ‘the *antevāsī* is known after his teacher’, e.g. *Āpiśala*, *Pāṇinīya*, the pupils belonging to the schools of Āpiśali and Pāṇini. Such founders of Schools distinguished as *āchāryas*, e.g. Āchārya Sākaṭāyana, Āchārya Pāṇini, represented the highest academic degree and distinction.