Jaina System of Education

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

Page 83

LECTURE VII
69
ait-school were based on the realities of life taking into account the needs of institutions of society, viz the family, the church, the state, the school and industry Hence the curicula were vitally related to the realities of life Specialization was the general rule, though the scholars were made to have an all-round taming in all the courses.
The family, the school, the church and the state played a conspicuous part in the education of rulers of the States to fit them for then 10yal duties in time of peace and of war It will be our purposes here to discuss the educational activities of each of these institutions of Society
In the Jama literatue we find cvidences as to the educational functions of the family it functioned not only biologically but also educationally It helped the individual not only in the growth of his body but also in the development of his soul The home was not only a castle but also a source of culture. The father was also the teacher Thus Rsabha taught his son Bharaha (Bharata) born to him by his wife, Yasavan the various arts, politics, sociology-embracing the social structure and machinery based on hereditary caste system and the civic duties of the members of the respective castes He was also taught the geography of different Indian States, then mter-state iclationships, and this is only a typical example.
School The Art and the Vedic schools existed in all the great cities and metropolis of ancient India such as Campaka, Rajagi ha, Vaisali, Kosala, Kapilavastu, and Baravai, Modeiapuru and Pātalapura in Guzeiat Many such institutions of learning existed in the south and in other parts of India imparting useful and higher learning to the multitudes in India Let us describe here some of the important ait-schools wherein some of the leading princes 1cceived then all round education in these institutions of learning
Education in the Art-school began at the age of eight from conception or seven years from birth which lasted till the dawn of pubertv or adolescence According to modein psychologists pubcity for males begins at the age of fourteen and for the females at the age of twelve and childhood ends for both at the age of six Eight-year curricula
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25 Puspadanta, The Mahapuiana, edited by Dr. P L Vaidya, chap v, also p 604.