Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.23

c12.s6.23

**Grades of Teachers.** There seem to have been different classes or grades of teachers. The *Āchārya* is defined by Manu [ii, 140 f.] to be one who initiates a pupil and teaches him the Veda, together with the *Kalpa* (the Sūtras referring to sacrifices), and the *Rahasyas* [lit. the secret portions, i.e. the Upanishads and their explanation (Medh., Gov., Kull., Rāgh.), or the extremely secret explanation of the Veda and Aṅgas, *not* the Upanishads, because they are included in the term *Veda* (Nār.)]. According to Gautama [i, 9–10] the title *Āchārya* belongs to one who initiates a pupil and teaches him the Veda. According to Vishṇu, the *Āchārya* is he who, having initiated a pupil, instructs him in the Vratas,¹ teaches him *one branch*² of the Veda, together with its Aṅgas. Vasishṭha [iii, 21], however, insists on the teaching of the *whole* Veda for the *Āchārya*. One who teaches only a portion of the Veda or who teaches the Aṅgas of the Veda is to be called *Upādhyāya* (sub-teacher) according to him. Manu [ii, 141] and Vishṇu [xxix, 2], however, regard the *Upādhyāya* as the person who teaches the aforesaid subjects "for a fee" or "for his livelihood". The *Āchārya* is ten times more venerable than the *Upādhyāya* [Manu, ii, 145]; he is chief among all Gurus [Gautama, ii, 50]; he is called an *Atiguru*, along with father and mother [Vishṇu, xxxi, 1–2].