Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c4.167

c4.167

The composition of this assembly is interesting as showing how specialization in Vedic study had begun in very early times. Thus in Gautama, besides the four men who have completely studied the Veda—that is, men of the walking library type—there are those who know the different *Dharma Sūtras*, besides the three representatives of the orders. In *Vasistha* and *Baudhāyana* the three specialists are a student of the *Mīmāmsā*, that is, one who knows the sacrificial rules, one who knows the *Angas*, and one who recites the works on the sacred law. In Manu those who know the Vedas are reduced to three, and the specialists are a logician, a *Mīmāmsaka*, one who knows the *Nirukta*, and one who recites the Institutes of the sacred law. No doubt the exact composition of the *parishad* may have varied in different places, but the growth of specialization in studies seems to be clearly shown. The representatives of the three orders were a student, a householder, and a hermit, or according to some authorities a student, a householder, and an ascetic.