Gurukul Curriculum through the ages

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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 Siddhant Shiromani Nil Kanthi Mahurta Chintamani Brihat Jatak Shighra Bodh Parasariya Garbh Lagana

VI. MEDICAL SCIENCE Sham Raj Nighant Susruta Sharang Dhar Charaka Bhashya Parichehed Madhava Nidan Vagbhat

VII. LOGIC Nyaya Sutra Vritti Gada dhari Vyutpattivad Tarkalankar Tark Sangrah Kari kavali

VIII. VEDANT Atma Bodh Sarirak Panch Dashi

IX. LAW Manu Smriti Parasara Smriti Yagya Valk Gautama Mitakshara

X. PHILOSOPHY 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 Srut Bodh Vritta Ratnakar

XII. PROSE LITERATURE Hitopadesa Vasavadatta Dasa Kumara Charita

XIII. RELIGION 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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