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EDUCATION, LITERATURE AND ART
437
A physician conversant with quick modes of treatments prescribing the application of a cold treatment in case of a burning fever has been suggested.'
Regarding the teacher and the taught, education and educational institutions also Dhanapala has made some casual remarks.
He has referred to the 'Vatharacchātras' reciting the benedictory verses in the beginning of the granthas (Manuscripts connected through folios) in context with the circle of lecturers working in the educational institutions wherein the books of personal possessions were being covered up by the groups of pupils studying in the caranas (schools professing the dicta of Vedic lores) of the revered Acaryas. The words 'Vatharacchatra', 'Acārya', 'Carana', 'Sisyagana' and Vidyamatha Vyakhyānanaṇḍalīṣu' arc significant Mathas used to be the sanctuaries and more widely the institutions where the process of delivering lectures used to be most prevalent. The students as well as the teachers assembled in these 'Mathas' to discourse upon or listen to the discourses delivered after concentrated studies. Caraņas used to be the private institutions of the Acaryas where the students obtained instructions in private. 'Vathara' has been construed by the commentator as well as the dictionary to mean a stupid or dull student. But the context demands its meaning as 'diligent' or 'mature' and not stupid or dull.
The 'Bhikṣācaras' (i.e. students roving about for alms) from the houses of the landlords, in the outer-orchards, roving about hither and thither, being vociferous in studying-have been referred to. The sacrificer's chambers have been described as crowded with the Brāhmaṇas wide awake or alert enough to read aloud when being examined by the ecclesiasts or chaplains (Purohitas) mounted on the tops of the "turrets on the parapets."
There is reference to the Gandharvikopādhyāyas i.e. the music teachers having their pride gone afar in their perfection of the lore of music;" who practised in the instruments such as flute and the lute etc.
1. क्वचिद्वातिका इव सूतमारणोद्यताः । TM Vol. II p. 208.
2. सुप्रहष्टबठरच्छात्रसत्वरोच्चार्यमाणग्रन्थादिग्रथितदेवतास्तुतिश्लोकासु
वन्दिताचार्यचरणशिष्यगणसंक्रियमाणनिजनिज
पुस्तकासु... विद्यामठव्याख्यानमण्डलीषु । Ibid Vol. II p. 166.
3. अध्ययनमुखरष्वितस्ततोः भ्रमत्सु गृहपतिभवनवनखण्ड भ्रमरेषु भिक्षाचरेषु । Ibid Vol. II. p. 167.
4. प्रतालीशिखराधिरूढपुरोहितपरीक्ष्यमाणाध्ययनमुखरोन्मुखद्विजेषु सर्वतः संवृतेषु सत्रिणां भवनेषु । Ibid. II p. 167.
Y
5. KAS II. 3. 11. part I p. 36 Glossary p. 53.
6. गौतशास्त्रपरिज्ञानदूरारूढगर्वेगन्धिविकोपाध्यायः सह वेणुवीणादिवाद्यविनादन दिनशेपमनयत्। Vol. 11 p. 171.
