Jaina System of Education

Author(s): Debendra Chandra Das Gupta
Publisher: Bharti Mahavidyalaya

Page 77

LECTURE VII
63
ing to walk and uttei half hazaid way from the nurse or demi-mother by holding her finger - In the fourth stage it can stand on its own legs and walk about unassisted The second and third and fourth stages of development from infancy to childhood is described in the Antagadadasão in connection with the rearing of Lord Gotama, prince of Bāiavai (Dvaravatī) in his infancy as follows “Now little Goyama was attended by five nurses to wit, a wet-nuise, (a2-bath-nurse, a tning-nurse, a lapnurse, and a play-nuise-also by many-women of diverse lands, in foreign garb skilful and accomplished, well-trained Surrounded by this goodly throng of slave-girls and band of maids, encompassed by eunuchs, messengeis, and chamberlains, he was passed from hand to hand, he enjoyed breast after breast, he was danced about, sung to, caressed, embraced, hugged, piaised, kissed, made to walk upon delightful jewelled floors, and so grew in comfort ”
The fourth stage (ujugatabhūmı) is characterized by restlessness peculiar to childhood due to sense and motor activities brought about by surplus inner energy During this period they jump, and run about, and are fond of bids and bullerflies of variegated colours The children have recourse to various tricks to elude the vigilance of then nurses and make them worried by their wild demeanour In brief childhood is characterized by physical activities and restlessness “Running about rapidly as they liked, they tired out their nurses-running after them Strength is a quality of the noble The royal boys, the vāyukumarakas in speed, caught bırds, pleasure-parrols, peacocks, etc By various kinds of flattery, the nurses halled the boys in their course as they wandered at pleasure " We quote again "getting down repeatedly from their laps with the restlessness usual to children, tricking his nurses again and again, the Lord passed his childhood, playing in various games !!
5a Kālıdāsa's Raghuvamsam, canto I, veise no 25
5b DC Das Gupta's Educational Ideas in Kälıdāsa's India, P B March, 1942 6 The Antagadadasão And Anuttai ovavāıya-dasão, pp 28-29
BM Barua's A History of per-Buddhistic Indian Philosophy, pt IIIPhilosophy of Masharın Gośāla
8 Tuşaştıśalāhā-purusa-Caritia, vol II, PhD, p 67 9 Ibid, p 307