Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s2.251

v2.c4.s2.251

The Atharvaveda³ has in honour of the Brahmacārin a hymn which already gives all the characteristic features of religious studentship. The youth is initiated (*upa-nī*) by the teacher⁴ into a new life; he wears an antelope skin, and lets his hair grow long;⁵ he collects fuel,⁶ and begs,⁷ learns, and practises penance. All these characteristics appear in the later literature. The student lives in the house of his teacher (*ācārya-kula-vāsin*;⁸ *ante-vāsin*)⁹; he begs,¹⁰ looks after the sacrificial fires,¹¹ and tends the house.¹² His term of studentship might be long extended: it was normally fixed at twelve years,¹³ but much longer periods, such as thirty-two years, are mentioned.¹⁴ The age at which studentship began varied:¹⁵ Śvetaketu commenced at twelve and studied for twelve years.¹⁶