Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c13.2

c13.2

**Education as revealed in the grammatical Sūtras of Paṇini, together with the works of Kātyāyana and Patañjali.** The account of education in the Sūtra period will not be complete without the consideration of the evidence of the grammatical literature as represented in the works of Pāṇiṅi and of his two famous commentators, Katyāyana and Patañjali. That evidence is indeed unique in its interest and importance. It may be further noted that, chronologically speaking, the entire Sūtra period may be roughly considered to lie between the time of Pāṇini with whom it begins and the time of Patañjali with whom it ends. Accordingly, some of the chief characteristics of the educational system and conditions of the period are reflected in the literature that grew round the grammar of Pāṇini. It may also be easily understood that, on account of the inevitable and vital connection that must exist between a grammatical work and the standing language and literature and the established forms and usages of speech upon which it is based, grammatical works must always be a fertile source of social and political history, abounding in references to contemporary and pre-existing institutions, ways of life, and conditions of culture.