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Education, Literature and Sciences
351
HOLIDAYS
A systematic list of holidays has been given in the Brahmanical literature. Interruptions of study were allowed for a variety of causes and circumstances. The principal cause of such interruption was the occurrence of certain natural phenomena-untimely clouds, thunder, heavy showers, frost, dust-storms etc. Secondly, the standing list of holidays included the following : four in the month at an interval of a week, the new and full moon days and the eighth day of each fortnight; certain other days were set apart for religious ceremonies and festival days. Thirdly, study was forbidden in the event of certain political or other incidents taking place, e.g. when the peace of the settlement was disturbed by an invasion or by incursions of robbers or cattlelifters, or when the king or a Brāhmaṇa had met with an accident or died. Arrival of distinguished guests led to the suspension of studies. Fourthly, study was to be stopped when certain sounds were heard, e.g. howling of jackals, barking of dogs, braying of donkeys, grunting of camels, cry of a wolf, screeching of an owl; the sound of an arrow, of a large or small drum; the noise of a chariot and the wail of a person in pain or weeping ORGANIZATION AND DURATION OF COURSES
There was no clear cut course of a definite duration in different subjects because cducation was mostly imparıcd by private teachers without any government control. Tlie duration and contents of the course were therefore largely determined by the will, capacity and convenience of the student. Thosc, who were content with a superficial knowledge, used to return home in six or even three years. Persons desiring higher education had to spend about 15 or 16 ycars subscquent to the time of his Upanayana at the age of cight or ninc. Usually one could finish education and become an espert in one particular subject at about the age of 24 which was regarded as the ideal age for marriage. Actua!cd by spiritual motives, som persons used to observe life-long celibacy 1, Gall. Dk. S, 11. 7; Baile Dh. S. 1. 11. The works of lasishtis, Vishnu
and Vibhānas a hardly add anything new regarding intcrrup:io:1 of study.
