Education in Ancient India c8.s3.8

c8.s3.8

Combination of Liberal and Useful Education : Several references in the contemporary literature indicate that an attempt was made in this period to combine liberal with professional or useful education. Graduates of this age are usually described as well versed in the Vedas as well as in eighteen *sippas*, i. e. practical arts and sciences.¹ These latter included archery, military art, medicine, magic, snake charming, conveyancing, administrative training, music, dancing, painting, engineering, etc². It is of course clear that no graduate could get mastery in all the Vedas as well as in all the *sippas* as is suggested by some passages; it is however clear from some references in Jātakas that literary education was combined with one of the useful professions referred to above in the famous centres of education like Taxila. This practice enabled the average literary student to stand on his own legs.