Education in Ancient India c5.60

c5.60

Mutual Relations in After-life: The cordial relations that existed between the teacher and the student continued also in their after-life. Even when the student had returned home after his education, he was to call on his teacher frequently, bringing him some present, it may be even a tooth-stick.² Teachers also used to return these visits.³ The teacher's visit was not without its benefit to the student; he used to utilise the occasion to ascertain how far the ex-student was keeping up his reading and studies. In the Aṇabhirati Jātaka⁴ the ex-student informs his teacher that he was quite up-to-date in his studies for some time after he had left his school, but admits that he had forgotten some of his Vedic Mantras since the time he was married; he however promises to mend the matters without delay. The mutual contact between the teacher and the student thus continued in the after-life and was not without mutual benefit.