Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.23

c12.23

Secondly, we shall consider such of the Sūtras of the Sāmaveda as give us evidence on the points we are dealing with. The *Lāṭyāyana Śrauta Sūtra* is probably connected by its very name with the country of Lāṭa lying quite in the west, directly south of Surāshṭra, and its western origin is borne out by other data too. Among the teachers cited are Śāṇḍilya (mentioned in the Chhāndogya), Dhānañjapya, and Śāṇḍilyāyana as expounders of the *Pañchaviṁśa Brāhmaṇa*; Gautama Sthavira; Śauchivṛikshi (a teacher known to Pāṇini), Kshairakalambhi, Kautsa, Vārshagaṇya, Bhāṇḍitāyana, Lāmakāyana, Rāṇāyanīputra, etc.; the Sāṭyāyanins and Śālaṅkāyanins (of the western part of India). There is also a reference to the Śūdras and the Nishādas (i.e. the Indian aborigines) who are treated better than later, being allowed to attend in person at the ceremonies although outside of the sacrificial ground. The general name given to these western, non-Brahminical Aryan tribes is *Vrātīnas* (cf. Pāṇini, v, 2, 21], and they are put on a par with the non-Brahminical peoples of the eastern parts, for we are told by Lāṭyāyana that the converted Vrātyas must transfer their wealth (and thereby their own former impurity) to such of their brethren as abide by the old mode of life or else to a "Brahmabandhu Māgadhadeśīya".