Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c5.7

c5.7

By the time that the earliest *Dharmasūtras* which are extant were composed (*circa* 500 B.C.) the system was in full working order, and it had become customary² for Kshatriyas and Vaiśyas, as well as for Brāhmans, to be initiated with the sacred thread as a preliminary to entering upon the period of school life under Brāhman teachers, which was to occupy at least twelve years. The difference in the time of initiation, and of dress to be worn by the three ‘twice-born’ castes, has already been referred to in the previous chapter.³ The later age at which the Kshatriyas and Vaiśyas were supposed to start their schooling must be taken to indicate that its character was for them somewhat different from the instruction which the young Brāhman received. The latter was at school to be prepared for his future vocation as a priest and a teacher, and much that he would require to know would not only be useless to the youths of the other castes, but it is not likely that the Brāhmans would wish to communicate all the mysteries of their priestly office to them. For the Kshatriyas and Vaiśyas, ‘studying the Veda’ must have meant much less than for the Brāhmans. It may have included the memorizing of the Vedic hymns, and an acquaintance with the philosophic teaching of the *Upanishads*, and certain parts of the six *Angas*, such as were necessary for the understanding of the Vedic texts, or for an acquaintance with duties to be performed in their subsequent life. It was also for them, as well as for the Brāhmans, regarded as a time of *āśrama* or discipline, and a stage in the preparation for the life after death.