The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c13.13

c13.13

Often the *purohita* is the teacher and guide of the king in his youthful days; in the Tillamuṭṭhi Jātaka we read that the king makes the teacher who has taught him in Takkasilâ his *purohita* and looks upon him as if he was his father and follows his advice (II. 282). Still the *purohita* probably got the title of *ācariya*, not from his capacity as teacher of the prince; he rather figured, even after his pupil had ascended the throne, still as his teacher, for a king did not apparently consider his spiritual education over with the termination of his studies and let himself be taught further by his *purohita* and given instruction in the Vedas (Bârâṇasirâjâ puro hittassa santike mante gaṇhâti [P. 111.] III. 28).