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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
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JAINA PATH OF EDUCATION
Education aims at equipping man with the art of living-living a successful life. In ancient and medieval India education and religion were closely related, or rather, religion also played the role of educating its followers. Jainism has been no exception to this fact. Therefore, Jainism can be said to have had its own influence on the educational system and values of India, more particularly of the ancient and medieval period.
A characteristic feature of the Hindu system of education in ancient days was its Gurukula system. The teacher's house itself was the school, the higher educational institute and the hostel - in one'. The four Vedas, the six Angas, the eighteen Dharmasastras, logic, grammar, lexicography, economics-sociology-law (Cāṇakya), medicine, astrology etc., all these subjects were taught in the course of seven or eight years. Later with the retention of the Gurukula system, places of pilgrimage also developed as centres of education. Gradually in places like Takṣaśilā educational centres of University level and model came up. Some Agrahāras turned up to be small centres of education. Some pontiffs of the Hindu mathas took considerable interest in and helped the cause of education. Such work, in varied ways and by many pontiffs, is going on even to this day.
Jain Education International
As we enter and peep into the early Buddhist system of education, we arc struck with a peculiarity that imparting of
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