Education in Ancient India c3.17

c3.17

How Character was to be Formed: Direct injunctions to develop a sense of moral rectitude were scattered over almost every page of books intended for students; they were also orally given to them by their teachers every now and then. Apart from them, however, the very atmosphere in which students lived, was calculated to give a proper turn to their character. They were under the direct and personal supervision of their teacher, who was to watch not only over their intellectual progress but also over their moral behaviour. Ancient Indians held that good character cannot be divorced from good manners; the teacher was to see that in their every day life students followed the rules of etiquette and good manners towards their seniors, equals and inferiors. These rules afforded an imperceptible but effective help in the formation of character. The rituals which students occasionally performed and the prayers which they regularly offered every day were calculated to emphasise upon their mind the fact that the student-life was a consecrated one and that its ideals could be realised only by those who did not swerve from the strict and narrow path of duty. Examples of national heroes and heroines like Hariśchandra, Bhīshma, Rāma, Lakshmaṇa, Hanumān, Sītā Sāvitrī and Draupadī, which were prominently placed before students, also served to mould their character in a powerful manner. Character was thus built up partly by the influence of direct injunctions, partly by the effect of continued discipline and partly by the glorification of national heroes, held in the highest reverence by society.