Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c13.43

c13.43

**Special Schools.** Specialization was also achieved in the domain of priestly literature and practices. Pāṇini mentions the special schools of the *Chhāndoga* priests (who sang in metre, i.e. the Udgātṛi priests) and also of the *Ukthikas* [who recited certain verses called *Ukthas* to be distinguished from *Sāman* verses which are chanted and from Yajus verses which are muttered sacrificial formulas (Monier Williams)]. There are also mentioned the schools of the Yājñikas and Bahvṛichas (i.e. priests connected with the Yajurveda and Rigveda, the latter being the Hotṛi priests who represent the Rigveda in sacrificial ceremonies). The Schools of these classes of priests were the custodians of the texts and rules which they had to study to qualify themselves for their work [iv, 3, 129].