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PROLEGOMENA TO PRAKRITICA et JAINICA
Phy
Subjects of Study
From the study of the Kumārapālacarita, we can frame our ideas about the subjects of study. The four Vedas and the Brāhmaṇas and Upanişads were studied seriously. Then the sadangas were equally studied. The Purānas, Grammar and Philosophy got prominence in the Vidyāmathas. From the mention of some Classical Sanskrit literature it is assumed that Classical Sanskrit was also studied. The arthaśāstra, Poetics and Medicine were also in their curriculum.
The Rgveda was studied with various pāthas. There are eight Vedic pāțhas which are
jață-mālā-śikhā-lekha dhvajo dando ratho ghanaḥ / aştāu vikstayaḥ proktāḥ krama-pūrvāḥ manişibhiḥ //
"Jatā, Mālā, Sikhā, Lekhā, Dhvaja, Danda, Ratha and Ghana are eight kinds of Vikstipāthas each headed by krama”.
Of these eight types of pāțhas, the padapātha and kramapatha were generally taught (XV. 124). Two recensions of the Rgveda - Sākala (XVI. 85) and Rgayana (XVI. 75) — were taught. Among the Yajurvedas, the Katha (XVI. 88) recension was also read. Other recensions of the Vedas are also mentioned.
Among the Brāhmaṇas, the Satapatha and the Şaşthīpatha are mentioned (XV. 122). As the Brāhmaṇa literature is mainly meant for the sacrifice, it is believed that the practice of sacrifice was also in vogue.
The study of the Upanişad as a jñānagthya vidya (XI. 23) was very much prevalent.
As the dictum svādhyāyo' dhyetavyaḥ “The Vedas are to be studied along with the Vedāngas", the study of şadangas, was also current at that time. Hemacandra mentions the name şadanga in several places of his Kāvya (XV. 120-21, I. 108; XVI. 75). The six Vedāngas are
