Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s2.5

c12.s2.5

**Admission.** The teacher's formal acceptance of the pupil is made with the following words which indicate the sacred and inviolable character of the spiritual bond that connected them: "Thy heart shall dwell in my heart; my mind thou shalt follow with thy mind; in my word thou shalt rejoice with all thy heart; to me alone thou shalt adhere; in me thy thoughts shall dwell; upon me thy veneration shall be bent; when I speak thou shalt be silent.” [*Hiraṇya.* i, 2, 5, 11; *Śāṅkh.*, ii, 4, 1; *Pārask.*, i, 8, 8 (formula for marriage); *Āśval.*, i, 21, 7.] The pupil was also formally asked the question, “Whose Brahmachārī art thou?” When he answered, “Thine,” the preceptor stated: “Thou art the Brahmachārī of Indra, Agni is the Āchārya, I am thy Āchārya” [*Pārask. Gr. S.*, ii, 3]. He also stated that he was admitting him as a pupil under god Savitṛi [*Āśva. Gr. S.*, i, 20, 4].