Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s5.1

c12.s5.1

It has been already indicated that there were prescribed some special *Vratas* or observances which the student had to keep through certain periods of time before the different texts appointed in the course of Brahminical studies could be taught him. We have already referred to the first of these, the *Sāvitra Vrata*, by the observance of which the student is introduced to the Sāvitrī verse. Then follows the *Śukriya Vrata* (duties of holiness) to be kept for three days, or twelve days, or one year, or any other period of time, according to the teacher's discretion [*Śāṅkh. Gṛ. Sū.*, ii, 11, 10]. By this *Vrata*, the student is enabled to study the main portion of the Veda. Next follows the *Anuvāchana*, or the way of studying the Veda "which can be done only after the Śukriya Vrata has been enjoined on the student. Before that nothing but the Sāvitrī can be taught to him" [ib., p. 69, note, *S.B.E.* ed.]. Finally come the *Śākvara*, *Vrātika*, and *Aupanishada* observances, each of which has to last one year, and which refer to the different parts of the Āraṇyaka. These three are special *Vratas* connected with the character of mystical secrecy attributed to the Āraṇyaka. After the lapse of the year through which the Vrata is kept, a ceremony is performed called *Uddīkshaṇikā*, i.e. the giving up of the Dīkshā or preparatory observance for the study of the Āraṇyaka texts. This *Uddīkshaṇikā* consists chiefly in the teacher's ascertaining whether the student has fulfilled the duties involved by the Vrata. Besides that, a repetition of the Upanayana also formed par of the preparatory rites for the study of the Āraṇyaka.¹ After this, the teacher goes out of the village in a north-eastern direction and sits down on a clean spot, turning his face to the east. Then when the sun has arisen, he recites in the way prescribed for the Veda-study (i.e. the *anuvāchana*) the Āraṇyaka texts to the student or the "*Rahasya*", as termed by Manu.