1. Education in Vedic Age
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2. Becoming Historians
Read the stories from the Mahabharata about education in Vedic age.
You will hunt for clues, on the education in Vedic age with help of the worksheet.
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3. Story 1
Upamanyu
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4. Once upon a time there was a boy called Upamanyu,
When we was around 8 years, his parents performed the upanayana – wearing the thread ceremony.
Once upon a time there was a boy called Upamanyu,
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5. After the ceremony he went to live with his teacher Dhaumya in his Gurukul.
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6. Archery and other military sciences Four Vedas
Mathematics
The subjects that were taught to him were
He was a brilliant student, he learnt quickly.
Grammar, logic
Astronomy
Medicine
Meditation, philosophy and esoteric subjects
Mineralogy
Biology
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7. Follow the link to see how they learn
Most scholars agree that the learning in the Vedic age was through oral transmission
Follow the link to see how they learn
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8. His daily schedule included
Tending the cattle
and then studies
Bath and other oblations
His daily schedule included
Seeking alms from the nearby homes
Exercise,
Tending the fire altar
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9. All the students went begging for food everyday, and the teacher then collected it together and distirbuted them equally among the students.
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10. One day Upamanyu was sent to the King on behalf of the Gurukul, The king gave him some grains
Upamanyu was very hungry, he ate a few of them but confessed it to his teacher
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11. Dhaumya was pleased that his student spoke the truth but to set an example for other students Upamanyu was denied any food the next day
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12. Upamanyu after his studies became a great teacher himself
Upamanyu after his studies became a great teacher himself. He paid his fees- Gurudakshina by composing poems. a few hymns in the Rig Veda were composed by him
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13. Story 2
Drona
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14. Drupada was a son of a king
Drona was a son of a bramhin
There were two boys in Rishi Bharadwaja’s Gurukul. Both had come to spend around 12 years learning various subjects
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15. Like all other students they too wore the skin of antelope, the girdle of Kusa grass and collected fuel for worshipping the fire.

16. Both learnt archery together, they also tended the cattle and went seeking alms together
Their friendship became legendary
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17. Drona grew up and became a teacher himself and started his own Gurukul.
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18. He taught the famous Hero - Arjuna

19. As apart of his fees Drona asked Arjuna to win a battle for him.
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20. Drona refused to teach Karna and Eklavya , they were sent off

21. Eklavya was denied admission because he was a tribal or Nishad
Karna was denied admission because he was a charioteer’s son
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22. Story 3
Janaka
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23. This parishad was headed by Rishi Yajnavalkya, even women participated in it.
One of the famous association or parishads for higher studies on Philosophy was organised by KingJanka
This parishad involved discussions on the topics related to esoteric subjects
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24. Sources © Mithun Dhanrajellu, IISP Picture sources
Information sources:
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