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Education, Literature and Sciences
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must have followed the profession of teaching. Āchāryāl and Upadhyāyā' were the titles of female teachers. Pāṇini refers to female students as Chhātri and their hostels Chhātrīšala.2 These hostels were probably under the superintendence of lady teachers, who had made teaching their profession. ;
Women students were divided into two classes--Sadyodvāhas and Brahmavādinis. The Sadyodvāhas used to prosecute their studies until their marriage at the age of 15 or 16. Girls. could remain unmarried until the age of 16 and the Upanayana was as common in the case of girls as it was in the case of boys. During the eight or nine years, they used to learn religious hymns prescribed for daily and periodical prayers and 'for those rituals and sacraments in which they were to take active part after marriage. Like men, women used to offer their prayers regularly in the morning and in the evening. Brahmavādinis aimed at high excellence in scholarship. They were lifelong students of Theology and Philosophy. ART OF WRITING
The period of Lord Mahāvīra is noteworthy for the evolution of the art of writing. G.H. OJHA3, R.B. PANDEY, 4 and D.R. BHANDARKARS are of the opinion that a system of writing was prevalent even earlier during the Vedic period. But, most of the indologists do not ascribe to this view. Since no positive evidence regarding writing has been found in Vedic literature, it is not possible to hazard any final conclusion.
The definite traces of writing hail from the sixth century B.C. The Pāli Tripitakas give numerous references to writing and the material used for it. Pițaka means 'basket which im. plies something to hold or contain—a written document. References to writing occur in the Vinaya Pitaka at many places. The terms Lekhaka and Lekhapeti? are used for 'writer' and 'caused to be written' respectively. Further, a ‘letter-game known as Akkharikā clearly indicates that some 1. India as known to Pāṇini, p. 288. 2. Pā, VI. 2. 36. 3. Prachinalipimālā, p. 12. 4. Indian Palacography, p. 15. 5. Sir Asutosh Mookerjce Silver Jubilee Volumes, Vol. III, p. 494 r.
6. Vin, IV-8. • 7. Ibid, II-110.
