Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.15

c12.s6.15

**Description of actual Teaching in a Vedic School.** Details of the methods of oral instruction pursued by these ancient teachers are furnished by a Prātiśākhya of the Rigveda [cited by Max Müller in his *History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature* (pp. 503–6)]. They show how the teaching of the Vedic Texts was conducted in the Lecture-rooms of these Brāhmanic colleges: "The Guru, who has himself formerly been a student, should make his pupils read. He himself takes his seat either to the east, or the north, or the north-east. If he has no more than one or two pupils, they sit at his right hand. If he has more, they place themselves according as there is room. They then embrace the feet of their master, and say, 'Sir, read!' The master gravely says, '*Om*,' i.e. 'Yes'. He then begins to say a Praśna (Question) which consists of three verses. In order that no word may escape the attention of his pupils, he pronounces all with the high accent and repeats certain words twice, or he says '*so*' (*iti*) after these words.