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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsur Gyanmandir
Ethical Values Regarding Education in Early Upanisads
Dr. Swati Shah* The earlier text of philosophy is Upanişads which is related with the Veda. They depicted the contemporary educational scenario. We find different aspects which really convey the thoughts about education in society yore.
The teacher of the Upanişads dispense the knowledge through dialogues and question-answers.
The meaning of the word Upanisad is, 'originally session, particularly a session consisting of pupils, assemble of a respectful distance round their teacher.' So, in Upanisads, we find teachers and students and their inter-actions, the system of giving and receiving the knowledge and direct-indirect teaching of ethics.
Here we must remember that in India, there was not ever question whether the art is for the life or the art for the art sake. The ancient thinkers and educationalists thought about the life from every of its aspects. The expression in the art expression through philosophy expression, through different sciences, all the expressions went hand in hand. Education in ancient India touched all the aspects of different arts as well as different sciences that is why there are 64 arts and 14 sciences. All these were taught along with the ethical values in life.
The style of edcation seems to revolve around the life as the centre of it. The centre was never forgotten in the process of learning instance of which are scattered in the literature and the different scientific treatise. When one speaks about Upanisadic text, they are talk about the treatise of education, they also teach ethics in life and educational ethics.
The earlier text of the Upanisads are full of instances their bookish education was not important as was the ethics of it. Upanişads dispenses highest of the knowledge. Brihadāranyakopanişad speaks about the anecdote, the anecdote of Gārgya Bālāki. (adhyāya-2/1-3). He came to teach Ajātaśatru the knowledge of Brahman. Within no time he realized that Ajātaśatru was knowledgeable and realized one than him. This realization did not belittle his confidence nor did it create anger or inferiority complex. He surrendered before the realized Ajātasatru and implored him to teach the highest knowledge with the words, 'I come to thee for the instruction'. (Upa tvā yāniti.) This is an example of self less humility.
Chandogya Upanişad narrates the famous story of Svetaketu. (adhyāya-6) Svetaketu returned from gurukula. The learning made him conceited (arrogant). His father Uddalaka asked him that, 'Did you know that' by which every thing can be known ?' Svetaketu,
* Dept. of Sanskrit, Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar 56
zurlu : y. 24, vis 3-8, vsel. 2006 – Hz, 2006
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