Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.2

c12.s6.2

**Academic Session: 'Upākarma' and 'Utsarjana' Ceremonies.** In connection with the length of the period of studentship, we have to consider the length of what may be called the academic session, i.e. the number of days of actual teaching done in these Brahminical schools in the year. The school-term opens solemnly with the performance of a special ceremony called the *Upākarman* on the full moon of the month of Śrāvaṇa (July-August). From this opening day, for a month, study in the evening is not permitted (though, according to Haradatta, the commentator, it is not sinful to study later in the night after evening). The term then continues until the full moon of the month of Pausha or the Rohiṇī day when it is solemnly closed by the performance of the *Utsarjana* ceremony after which the student has to leave off reading the Veda. Thus the term comprises five months in the year, viz. latter half of Śrāvaṇa, Bhādrapada, Āśvina, Kārttika, Mārgaśīrsha, and the first half of Pausha [see *Āpas.*, i, 3, 9]. Manu [iv, 95–6] makes the academic session comprise four months and a half by prescribing for the *Upākarman* ceremony the alternative date of the full moon of Bhādrapada, and for the *Utsarjana*, the Pushya (or sixth) day of Pausha or the first day of the bright half of Māgha. Thus the interruption of Vedic teaching lasts for six months and a half or five months and a half [*Sāṅkh.*, iv, 6, 7–8]. During this period, though the teaching was not done, the private study of students was, however, not to be interrupted. Manu [iv, 98] lays down the rule that, after the performance of the *Utsarjana* ceremony, the student is to study the Veda during the light nights of each month until the full moon of Śrāvaṇa in order to fix in his mind the part learned already; and in the dark fortnight of each month he is to study all the Vedāṅgas, grammar, and the rest [Haradatta’s commentary quoted in *SBE.*, ii, 33]. With the commencement of the next academic session the student will begin the study of a fresh part of the Veda.