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far off places to participate in it. Manytimes the king presided over the debates. From the Kathākośa, we know that a princess went to his teacher for study. Higher education in the Vedic system was primarily restricted to the Brāhmins. The Jains had no caste restriction for anytype of education except that the study of Āgams was restricted to the monks. The householders could listen from the monks about religion in the form of popular lectures but were not allowed to study the Āgamas for themselves.
Family Education
In Ancient times, education started in family. Merutunga has mentioned the case of Brahmin who had sons from the wives belonging to different castes. He taught sons of caste wives openly but he taught the son of the lower caste wife in a secret manner. Naturally the children had first training in correct speech at home.
Financial support
The monastery of the Jains is older than that of the Buddhist. Tradition mentions that there was a vast literature even before Lord Mahavīra. It was known as Pūrva literature. Much of this literature was lost because the method of teaching was oral and scripture were not put into black and white for quite a long time. The monasteries were financially supported by grants from the rich and also by the ruling chiefs. Whereas Buddhist king like Ashok established an independent department for looking after Ecclesiastical education, the Jain kings never made religious education a responsibility of the state even though they financially supported it from outside. It appears that education was not the responsibility of the state but of the society. In any case, the financial burden of educating one's ward was very nominal on the parents. The students have not to pay any fees but even got the facility of free boarding and lodging. Education of Commerce
During the historical period, we find that Jainism became mostly confined to merchantile community who's children had to be educated in the art of business. The secular education, therefore, must have been
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