Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.17

c12.s6.17

**Life-long Studentship.** We have now completed the consideration of the various regulations governing the life and studies of the Brahmachārin during the period of his stay at his teacher's house. But some students would elect to make the period of that stay life-long without any desire for the householder's life or the married state. Such students are known as *Naishṭhika* Brahmachārins as distinguished from the others called *Upakurvāṇas*. It is probably for these that such long periods of studentship as 24, or 36, or 48 years are meant. Those who would be householders would have to confine their studentship to a period of twelve years, and naturally to satisfy themselves with the mastery of a portion of the prescribed studies. There is a most interesting saying quoted by Āpastamba [i, 4, 13, 19-22] in which the famous scholar Śvetaketu of Upanishadic fame is made to declare: "He who desires to study more after having settled as a householder shall dwell two months every year with collected mind in the house of his teacher. For by this means I studied a larger part of the Veda than before (during my studentship)." But Āpastamba does not approve this practice because it would interfere with the duties belonging to a householder's life, though he makes the concession that it could be allowed where a graduate [Figure: KONARAK (ORISSA) Sculpture showing Vaishṇava Guru and his royal disciple, holding in his right hand a MS, with his attending guards shown below. The sculpture is executed in black slate on the famous temple at Konarak (*Koṇārka*, temple of the Sun, *c.* 13th century]