Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.51

c16.51

When the necessity of a study of *Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā* as a part of "the inquiry into Dharma" is thus established, the next point to be considered is, what is the kind of preliminary and preparatory training contemplated by the Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā? According to Prabhākara (in his *Bṛihatī* commentary on *Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā Sūtras*), such preparation means the study of the Veda. Kumārila in his *Tantravārttika* goes a little farther and holds that for a study of Dharma or acquisition of knowledge of Self, the performance of Vedic rituals is a necessity, and such performance depends on a study of the Veda, and that under the prescribed system of *Brahmacharya*. Thus the point of view advanced here is (1) that for the knowledge of Self the proper performance of sacrificial ceremonies is essential and is thus a means to that end; and (2) that this knowledge of Self is achieved by a process of worship led up to by inquiry and understanding undertaken by the *Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā*.