Gurukula

Guru teaching students in a gurukula

Gurukula or gurukul (Sanskrit: गुरुकुल) is a type of school in India, residential in nature, with pupils (shishya) living near the guru, often within the same house.^[1] Prior to British rule, they served as South Asia's primary educational institution. The guru-shishya tradition (parampara) is a hallowed one in Hinduism and appears in other religious groups in India, such as Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. The word gurukula is a contraction of the Sanskrit guru (teacher or master) and kula (extended family).

In a gurukula, shishya live together as equals, irrespective of their social standing, learn from the guru and help the guru in his day-to-day life, including the carrying out of mundane chores such as washing clothes, cooking, etc. Typically, a guru does not receive any fees from the shishya studying with him. At the end of his studies, a shishya offers the guru dakshina before leaving the gurukula or ashram. The gurudakshina is a traditional gesture of acknowledgment, respect and thanks to the guru, which may be monetary, but may also be a special task the teacher wants the student to accomplish. While living in a gurukula the students had to be away from his house and family completely. The guru didn't take any fees and so they had to serve the guru.

History

Gurukula have existed since the Vedic age. Upanishads mention many gurukula, including that of Yajnavalkya, Varuni. Bhrigu Valli, the famous discourse on Brahman, is mentioned to have taken place in Guru Varuni's gurukula. Vedic school of thought prescribes an initiation (Upanayana, a compulsory Sanskara or activity for a Hindu living) to all individuals, including women, before the age of 8 or latest by 12. From initiation until the age of 25 all individuals are prescribed to be students and to remain unmarried.

The gurukula were supported by public donation. This was followed by the many following Vedic thoughts making gurukula one of the earliest forms of public school offices.

By the colonial era the gurukula system was declining in India. The Shastriji Maharaj Dharamjivan dasji Swami is the pioneer of the modern Vedic gurukula system. He initiated first Swaminarayan Gurukul, Rajkot, Gujarat State, India in 1948. The present chief of the gurukula is the Mahant Swami Devakrishna dasji Swami; vice chief is PP Devaprasad dasji Swami.

Recently several gurukula have begun, driven both by a desire to uphold the traditions and monetary gain. Examples of these new schools include the Ananda Marga Gurukula. Another examples of Gurukuls in India are Gurukul Kishangarh Ghasera, Gurukul Kaalba etc Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev had studied in Gurukul Kaalba. Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Puttaparthi, follows gurukula system (http://www.ssshss.edu.in/).^{[2] [3]}

See also

References