Education in Ancient India c8.s2.2

c8.s2.2

The Subjects of Study : The mass of the Vedic hymns was classified in this period and as a result, the *Rigveda*, the *Yajurveda*, the *Sāmaveda* and the *Atharvaveda* came into existence. This led to specialisation in Vedic studies and facilitated the growth of a new type of literature, known as Brāhmaṇa literature, which devoted itself to the exposition of a number of important dogmas, theories and practices connected with Vedic sacrifices. Sacrificial rituals became very complex and complicated in this period and the professional priests had to devote several years in mastering their details and intricacies. The study of astronomy, geometry and prosody contiuned to progress in this period. The development of the sciences of grammar and etymology started in this age and manuals on these subjects were included in the curriculum.