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BANERJEE : THOUGHTS IN HEMACANDRA
191
Barbara (VIII. 58), Mleccha (IV. 33), Turuşka (Ku. VI. 96), Yavana (XV. 26), Saka (XV. 26) and Huņas (VII. 102). Some of the foreign names also occurred in earlier Sanskrit literature. The mention of these tribes shows that at the time of Hemacandra Indian society was heterogeneous, and each one has a part to play in the society.
Education
It goes without saying that there was nothing like modern system of education. But we can believe that some sort of primary and secondary education existed. The kings used to encourage such education by granting lands or money to different monasteries, individual saints and āśramas. The usual name of the educational institution is Vidyā-matha (I.7). The students, both boys and girls, used to reside in Gurukulas and studied various branches of learning (XV. 37). These Vidyāmathas were patronized by the kings (XV. 120-121). The gurus or sādhus (sages) were the teachers. The students were normally asked to learn a subject by heart (I. 66). There were discourses among students (I. 43). The teachers were highly respected. (I. 33).
It will not be unwise to presume that at the time of Hemacandra, at least, four principal languages were prevalent and these were Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa and Pāli. It was the time of the birth of modern Northern Indian languages-like Mārāțhi, Gujarātī, Bengali and others. But from the subjects of study it can be inferred that Sanskrit studies were mainly in vogue. So I believe that Sanskrit schools continued to function for the benefit of the students. It can also be surmised that the Prakrit language was also studied mainly by the Jain Sadhus and Sādhvis. As it was the time of Apabhramśa, lots of Jain scholars composed their treatises in Apabhraíśa. The Pali was studied only by the Buddhists.
