Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c15.41

c15.41

**Property of Ascetics.** Lastly, the law relating to the inheritance of anchorites and devotees gives some interesting evidence. According to Yājñavalkya [ii, 137] the heirs who take the wealth of a *Vānaprastha* (a hermit), of a *Yati* (an ascetic), and a *Brahmachārī* are in their order the preceptor, the virtuous pupil (*Satśishya*), and one who is a supposed brother and belongs to the same order (*dharmabhrātā* and *ekatīrthī*). Here we have a reference to some typical Hindu institutions. The term *Brahmachārī* points to the institution of perpetual studentship. The pupil who adopts this vow (of continuing as a student through life without marrying and entering upon the householder's state) is technically known as *Naishṭhika*, the temporary student being called an *Upākurvāṇa*. Next we have the term *Dharmabhrātā*, the spiritual brother, the brother by religious duties. The term *Ekatīrthī* means one resident in the same holy place, i.e. the same hermitage, and hence pupil of the same preceptor [Vīramitrodaya]. The *Satśishya*, the virtuous pupil, is he who is "versed in the study of revelation concerning the supreme soul and in preserving that sacred science". Such a man is the most suitable for inheriting the effects of one whose teachings and practices and way of life would have a chance of surviving him through his successor. The wealth of the deceased is best utilized when it is consecrated to the ideals and purposes for which he lived and worked.