Gurukul Curriculum through the ages

The education system in the Hindu society has primarily been driven by Temples, Gurukuls and Patashalas. When the Hindu society was administered by Dharmic rulers, the education system functioned based on Hindu Dharma's injuctions as prescribed by Shastras. However, when it was administered by colonial/invading rulers who were not affiliated to Hindu Dharma, the education system invariably disintegrated.

There is a lot of material that documents the motive of the colonial rulers. At worst, they eagerly destroyed the native Hindu education system and at best left it to rot. As the Hindu education system disintegrated rapidly due to foreign intervention, other systems had taken over to educate the common Hindu student. The Hindu education system had its syllabus designed to ground the student in Dharma. But the foreign-imposed and foreign-borrowed education systems were and are totally alien and inimical to the native ecosystems. The result has been a complete disaster and the native religions, culture, languages and knowledge systems have become uprooted.

The movement of the education system from being Hindu-Dharma-centric to being Anti-Hindu/Secular is documented here by showcasing the educational content that students were exposed through the ages. The Need for Kailaasa and HDH Swami Nithyananda Paramashivam's efforts to revive the Gurukul ecosystem are to be seen in this light.

Curriculum in Vedic era

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Curriculum in Puranic/Ithihasic era

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Curriculum in the era of Mahajanapadas

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Curriculum in the era of colonial rule (Islamic and British)

Gandhian Dharampal had painstakingly collected information on the education system that was prevalent in the pre-British era. He used the educational surveys conducted by British Governors in various presidencies of India, to portray an approximate picture. He quoted British sources in his book "The Beautiful Tree" to showcase the following:

• Caste-wise or Gender-wise aggregated data of teachers and students
• Homeschooling vs formal schooling
• Day schools vs Boarding schools
• Regional variance in educational content
• Teaching and training in the scores of vocational studies, technologies, and crafts
• Teaching and Training in Arts (Music, Dance -largely taken care by temples)
• Functional details of schools
• Student teacher relationship

1822-25 Madras Presidency data - Sir Thomas Munro

Subjects taught in general in Madras Presidency areas

A. Limited list of subjects noted Area-wise (in schools or private aghraharams)

Area	Subjects
Telugu areas	Vedas, Sastras, Law, Astronomy, Ganita Shastram, Ethics
Malabar area	Theology, Law, Astronomy, Metaphysics, Ethics, Medical Science
Madras-area	Astronomy, Astrology
Madurai-area	Vedas, Puranas
Masulipatnam	Vedas, Shastras, Law, Astronomy, Theology
Guntoor	Theology, Laws and Astronomy
Varanasi, Navadweepam	Deeper Theological studies (Outside Madras Presidency)

Books used in the schools of Bellary district

A. Most commonly used

Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Ramayanum	Ramayana	Valmiki
Maha Bharata	Mahabharata	Vyasa
Bhagvata	Srimad Bhagavatam	Vyasa

B. Used by Children from Manufacturing Classes

Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Nagalingayna-Kutha	?	?
Vishvakurma-Poorana	Vishwa-Kurma Purana	?
Kumalesherra Kalikamahata	?	?

C. Used by Lingayat Children

Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Buwapoorana	?	?
Raghavan-Kunkauya	?	?
Geeruja Kullana	?	?
Unbhavamoorta	?	?
Chenna-Busavaswara-Poorana	?	?
Gurilagooloo	?	?

D. Lighter Literature Read

Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Punchatantra	?	?
Bhatalapunchavunsatee	?	?
Punklee-soopooktahuller	?	?
Mahantarungenee	?	?

E. Dictionaries and Grammars used

Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Nighantoo	Nighantam	?
Umara	?	?
Subdamumburee	?	?
Shubdeemunee-Durpana	?	?
Vyacurna	Vyakharana	?
Andradeepeca	Andhra Deepika	?
Andranamasungraha	Andhra Nama Sanghraha	?

Books used in the schools of Rajamundhiry

School books

Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Baula Ramauyanum	Bala Ramayanam	?
Rookmeny Culleyanum	Rukmini Kalyanam	?
Paurejantahpatraranum	?	?
Molly Ramauyanum	?	?
Raumayanum	Ramayanam	Valmiki
Dansarady Satacum	?	?
Kreestna Satacum	Krishna Shatakam	?
Soomaty Satacum	Sumathi Shatakam	?
Janakey Satacum	Janaki Shatakam	?
Prasunnaragara Satacum	?	?
Ramataraka Satacum	Rama Taraka Shatakam	?
Bahscara Satacum	Bhaskara Shatakam	?
Beesanavecausa Satacum	?	?
Beemalingaswara Satacum	BhimaLingeshwara Shatakam	?
Sooreyanaraina Satacum	SuryaNarayana Shatakam	?
Narraina Satacum	Narayana Shatakam	?
Plaholanda Charatra	Prahalada Charithra	?
Vasoo Charatra	Vasu Charithra	?
Manoo Charetra	Manu Charithra	?
Sumunga Charetra	?	?
Nala Charetra	Nala Charithra	?
Vamana Charetra	Vamana Charithra	?
Ganintum	Ganitham	?
Pauvooloory Ganintum	Pavuluri Ganitham	?
Bhauratam	Bharatham	?
Bhaugavatum	Bhagavatham	?
Vejia Valousum	?	?
Kroostnaleelan Velausum	?	?
Rathamathava Velausum	?	?
Suptama Skundum	Sapta Ma Skhandam	?
Astma Skundum	Ashta Ma Skhandam	?
Rathamathava Sumvadum	Ratha Madhava Samvaadam	?
Bhaunoomaly Paranayem	Bhanumathi Parayanam	?
Veerabhadra Vejayem	Veerabhadra Vijayam	?
Leelansoondary Paranayem	LeelaSundari Parayanam	?
Amarum	Amaram	?
Sooranthanaswarum	?	?
Voodeyagapurvem	?	?
Audepurvem	?	?
Gajandra Motchum	Gajendra Moksham	?
Andhranamasungraham	Andhra Nama Sanghraham	?
Coochalopurksyanum	?	?
Resekajana Manobharanum	RasikaJana ManoBharanam	?

Books used in colleges of Rajamundhiry

College books

Vedas
Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Roogvadum	Rig Veda	?
Yajoorvadum	Yajur Veda	?
Samavadum	Sama Veda	?
Sroudum	Srotram	?
Dravedavedum or Nunlauyanum	Dravida Vedam/?	?
Kavyas
Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Ragoovumsam	Raghuvamsam	?
Coomarasumbhavem	Kumara-Sambhavam	?
Moghasundasem	Moha-sandesham	?
Bharavy	?	?
Maukhum	Moham?	?
Nayeshadum	Naishadam ?	?
Andasastrum	Anda Shastram ?	?
Shastras
Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Sanskrit Part-1: Sidharuba/Sarasvada (Sanskrit Speaking)	?	?
Sanskrit Part-2: Vyakharana (Sanskrit Syntax)	?	?
Sanskrit Part-3: AmaraSimha (Sanskrit Dictionary)	?	?
Siddhanda Cowmoody	Siddhanta Khaumudi	?
Turkum	Tarkam	?
Jeyoteshem	Jyotisha	?
Durmasastrum	Dharmasastra	?
Cauveyems	Kavya	?

1776-89 - Malabar data - Paulinus of St. Bartholomew

Paulinus was an Austrian Carmelite missionary who visited India in late 18th century and published the first translation of Sanskrit Grammar in Europe. In his account, he noted that, atmost respect for teacher, worship of Shiva in Linga form, worship of Ganesha, Saraswathi were common in places of learning.

He also noted the religiosity of Hindus thus:

"...for among 2000 Indians you will scarcely find one who is not convinced of the necessity of supplicating the gods. Education, and the nature of the climate, are the strongest incitements to the natives to worship the deity, and to submit themselves to his will".

He recorded that Brahmacharis at Thrissur temple observed strictest silence (Mauna) for a prescribed number of years (5 years). He also declared that Pythagoras borrowed this idea and subjected his students to identical years of silence.

Subjects and Arts taught

Foreign term	Native Name	Author
Poetry, Gavya	Kavya	?
Fencing, Payatta	(Kalari) Payattu	?
Botany and medicine, Vaydyassastra, or Bheszagiashastra	VaidyaShastra and ?	?
Navigation, Naushastra	Naushastra	?
Hastiludium, Cundera	?	?
Ball play, Pandacali	?	?
Chess, Ciudarangam	Chaturangam	?
Tennis, Coladi	?	?
Logic, Tarkashastra	TarkaShastra	?
Astrology, Giodisha	Jyotisha	?
Law, Svadhyaya	Svadhyaya	?
Silence, Mauna	Mauna	?

1835-38 - Bengal Presidency data - William Adam

Bengal presents an interesting facet of Hindu education that schools did not have numerical grades like 1st Grade, 2nd Grade etc. Another interesting point to note is that since Bengal was under British rule for a much longer time than rest of India, it had already introduced courses to write letters/petitions etc in late elementary classes, which are not found in the records of British from other areas.

The duration of elementary education was flexible overall and it was divided into 4 stages:

Stages of elementary education

Stage	Duration	Details
Stage 1	10 days	Akshara abhyasam (writing in ground with fingers or bamboo stick)
Stage 2	2.5 to 4 years	Writing (Palm leaves), Reading, Memorizing the Cowrie Table, the Numeration Table as far as 100, the Katha Table (a land measure Table), and the SerTable etc
Stage 3	2 to 3 years	Writing (Plantain leaves), Addition, Subtraction, Arithmetic rules
Stage 5	Up to 2 years	Writing (Paper), Ramayana, Mansa Mangal etc, Writing of letters and petitions

Courses offered in Institutions of Sanskritic learning

Courses
Grammar
Logic
Law
Literature
Mythology
Astrology
Lexicology
Rhetoric
Medicine
Vedanta
Tantra
Mimamsa
Sankhya

1882 - Punjab Presidency data - G.W.Leitner

Punjab was the last of the native janapadas to accede to the British Raj. It is probable that due to this prolonged independence, Hindu educational content was well-documented in Punjab.

List of Sanskrit book used

Basic
Book	Author
Balabodha	?
Akshara Deepika	?
I. Grammar
Book	Author
Saraswat	?
Manorama	?
Chandrika	?
Bhashya	?
Laghu	?
Paniniya Vyakharana	?
Kaumudi	?
Siddhanta Kaumudi	?
Shekar	?
Prakrita Prakasa	?
II. Lexicology
Book	Author
Amara Kosha	?
Malini Kosha	?
Halayudha	?
III. Poetry, Drama and Religious History
Book	Author
RaghuVamsa	?
Mahabharata	?
MeghDhoota	?
Venisanhara	?
Magh	?
Sakuntala	?
Kirat Arjun	?
Naishadha Charita	?
Ramayana	?
Mrichhakatika	?
Srimad Bhagavad	?
Kumara Sambhava and other Puranas	?
IV. Rhetoric
Book	Author
Kavya Deepika	?
Kavya Prakasha	?
Sahitya Darpana	?
Dasu Rupa	?
Kuvlayanand	?
V. Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrology
Book	Author
Siddhanta Shiromani	?
Nil Kanthi	?
Mahurta Chintamani	?
Brihat Jatak	?
Shighra Bodh	?
Parasariya	?
Garbh Lagana	?
VI. Medical Science
Book	Author
Sham Raj	?
Nighant	?
Susruta	?
Sharang Dhar	?
Charaka	?
Bhashya Parichehed	?
Madhava Nidan	?
Vagbhat	?
VII. Logic
Book	Author
Nyaya Sutra Vritti	?
Gada dhari	?
Vyutpattivad	?
Tarkalankar	?
Tark Sangrah	?
Kari kavali	?
VIII. Vedanta
Book	Author
Atma Bodh Sarirak	?
Panch Dashi	?
IX. Law
Book	Author
Manu Smriti	?
Parasara Smriti	?
Yagya Valk Gautama	?
Mitakshara	?
X. Philosophy
Book	Author
Sankhya Tatwa Kaumudi	?
Patanjali Sutra	?
Britti Sutra with Bhashya	?
Sankhya Pravachan Bhashya	?
Vedanta, Vedantsar (see Yoga Sutra also above)	?
Vaiseshika Siddhant	?
Mimansa Sutra with Bhashya	?
Muktavali Sutra with a commentary	?
Artha Sangraha	?
XI. Prosody
Book	Author
Srut Bodh	?
Vritta Ratnakar	?
XII. Prose Literature
Book	Author
Hitopadesa	?
Vasavadatta	?
Dasa Kumara Charita	?
XIII. Religion
Book	Author
Rigveda Sanhita (rare)	?
Samaveda, Mantra Bhaga	?
Yajurveda, Shukla Yajur	?
Chhandasya Archika (very rare)	?
Vajasneyi Sanhita	?

Curriculum in the post-Independence era

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Curriculum in the Modern era

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Curriculum in the Nithyananda Gurukul

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References

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External Links

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