Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c21.23

c21.23

The chief characteristics of these orders are best given in the *Sutta-Nipāta*. The Brahmans are called *Vādaśīla* or disputatious (v. 381, etc.), *Lokāyatas* and *Vitaṇḍas*, i.e. casuists and sophists [*Mil. Pan.*, i, 10; also *Chullav.*, v, 3, 2, etc.]. Contrasted with the *Samaṇas*, they are called *Tevijjas*, i.e. versed in three sciences (vv. 594, 1019) or Vedas, *Padakas* (versed in metre), *Veyyākaraṇas* (versed in grammar) and proficient in *Jappa* (recitation or *jalpa*), *Nighaṇḍu* (vocabulary), *Keṭubha* (etymology ?), *Itihāsa* as the fifth Veda, etc. Three different sects of these Brahmans are also mentioned, viz. the Titthiyas (Sans. Tīrthikas), Ājīvikas, and Nigaṇṭhas (vv. 380, 891–2). These sects were constituted by disciples gathering round famous teachers. Among these, six are mentioned as living in the Buddha’s time, viz. Purāṇa Kassapa, Makkhali-Gosāla, Ajita-Kesakambalī, Pakudha-Kachchāyana, Sañjaya-Belaṭṭhiputta, and Nigaṇṭha-Nātaputta. These are described as having “an assembly of Bhikkhus, a crowd of followers”, and as “well-known teachers, famous leaders, considered excellent by the multitude” (*Sabhiyasutta*). Each of these great teachers was known for his own particular philosophical system. [See also *Milinda-pañha*, i, 11.] Besides these, we have also the famous teacher, the Brahman Bāvarī, living on the banks of the Godāvarī in Assaka’s territory who had sixteen other disciples, all Brahmans, each having a ‘host of pupils’ and ‘widely renowned throughout the world’. They are represented as itinerant scholars, visiting by turns the chief centres of culture and civilization, viz. Patiṭṭhāna, Māhissati, Ujjeni, Gonaddha, Vedisā, Vanasāvhaya, Kosāmbī, Sāketa, Sāvatthi, Setavya, Kapilavatthu, Kusinārā, Pāvā, Vesāli, and the city of Magadha, “all with matted hair and bearing hides” [*Sutta-Nipāta-Pārāyaṇavagga*]. We have also another teacher, the Brahman Sela, “versed in the three Vedas, Nighaṇḍu, Keṭubha, Sākkharappabheda (i.e. sa + *akshara* + *prabheda*, and hence akin to the Vedāṅga, *Śikshā*), Itihāsa the fifth Veda, Pada, Veyyākaraṇa, Lokāyata (casuistry or materialism),” and “the teacher of hymns of 300 pupils” [ib. *Selasutta*]. There are also mentioned five other distinguished Brahman teachers, viz. Chaṅkin, Tārukkha, Pokkharasāti, Jāṇussoṇi, Todeyya, with Vāseṭṭha and Bhāradvāja as pupils of Pokkharasāti and Tarukkha respectively, themselves “acknowledged masters of the three Vedas” and other allied subjects [ib., v, 594].