Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c13.26

c13.26

**Methods of Study.** There is some evidence available regarding the methods of study and instruction. These were, of course, necessarily determined by the character of the curriculum. Where only Vedic texts were the subject of study, rote-learning was the suitable method. It is this method of study that Pāṇini refers to in his Sūtra—*Śrotriyaśchhandodhīte* [v, 2, 84], which means that the Śrotriya is he who learns by heart the Chhandas or Veda. Patañjali refers to "reading aloud" and "reading low" [ii, 1, 2 (7)]. Examinations in the recitation of texts seem to be contemplated in two Sūtras of Pāṇini [iv, 4, 63 and 64] upon which Patañjali unfortunately does not comment, so that we have to depend upon the *Kāśikā* for information on the point. The examinee who made a single mistake in the pronunciation of sacred texts¹ was designated *Aikānyika*, i.e. pupil of one error. We have similar epithets based on the number of lapses thus committed which might be even twelve, thirteen, and fourteen. These epithets which became so common and important as to deserve the notice of Pāṇini indicate that there were different grades or classes according to which the examinees were ranked in the order of merit on the results of their oral examination. In this connection we may also refer to a Sūtra [v, 1, 58] in which the practice of learning by repetition seems to be alluded to. Thus *Pañchakodhītaḥ* means "what is studied five times" [*Kāśikā*].