________________
Chapter 3 Branches of Learning in Canons
As defined, śruta is a form of knowledge obtained through verbal or written records. It also means the general learning aiming at all round development of personality and character, preservation of culture, shoulder the responsibilities of the household and society and performance of religious duties towards spiritual aspirations. These aims are achieved by learning such subjects as could strike the balance between the worldly and spiritual life and happiness. The earlier canons mention different subjects of learning as current in Mahāviran days. It seems that the following subjects were predominantly learnt as mentioned in Bhagavati'. They are all non-Jaina subjects which mostly involve four broad topics of today as shown in Table 1. Table 1 : Pre-Mahāviran subjects in Bhagavati. 1. Vedic Studies (a) Six Vedas
1.-4. Vedas, 5. History & Legends
6. Glossary or Index (b) Six Vedic Supplements ( Vedāngas )
7. Vedic phonetics (Sikşā ) 8. Religious Rituals (Kalpa ) 9. Vedic Grammar ( Vyākarana ) 10. Meterology (Chanda ) 11. Etymology or Linguistics (Nirukta )
12. Astronomy (Jyotisa ) (c) Six Vedānga Supplements (Upāngas )
13. Mathematics (Ganita )
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
