Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 355

330
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
[Ch. VI
stage without the stoppage of study, as it is evidenced by the fact that the householders of all classes and the monks of all sects mentioned in this text are found devoted to the studies of certain prescribed texts as a part of duty in their respective states of life ; because it was realized by them that knowledge was the supreme power to lead them to the path of spiritual liberation.
Mass education of modern days was not prevalent at that period, but the evidences of celebrating tonsure ceremony (colayanagar = cūdadharanań), initiation with the sacred thread (uvanayanan), or beginning of alphabet or learning (kalāgrahanan) of every new born child at the proper time and age gives an insight into the fact of admission of a large number of boys to the educational institution based on the principle of Brahmacarya (the life of celibacy) and a close relationship between the students and teachers. It is evidenced by the fact that even the boy like Gośāla Mankhaliputra though born in a poor family of Mankbali and Bhairā, was not deprived at least of this primary religious and literary education, the beginning of which was marked by his 'Upanayana' (investiture with the sacred thread).'
Thus it appears that this system of 'Upanayana' & 'Kala. grāhana' ensured the primary education to a great number of boys of those days.
It is further revealed that the parents generally educated their boys in the art of their traditional hereditary occupations to make them their worthy successors in these professions, as it is found in the case of Gośāla Mankhaliputra® and Mahābala 10 respectively. The former took up his father's vocation of painting picture and exhibiting them, while the latter ascended the throne of his father in Hastināpura at least for one day as a Ksatriya prince before renouncing the world.
BhS, 3, 1, 134 ; 9, 33, 380. · 10, 11, 11, 429, • Ib (common) 11, 11, 429. 7.0 T6, 15, 1, 540.
* 16 2; 1, 90; 9, 33, 382. 4 16, 15, 1, 540. # 10, 11, 11, 429. 10 10, 11, 11, 431.