प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

62 EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA [Ch. most promising students; the custom was so deep rooted in certain teachers' families that students had often no option in the matter, even if they were not in favour of the match.¹ Mutual Relations in After-life: The cordial rela- tions that existed between the teacher and the student continued also in their after-life. Even when the student had returned home after his education, he was to call on his teacher frequently, bringing him some present, it may be even a tooth-stick.² Teachers also used to return these visits.³ The teacher's visit was not without its benefit to the student ; he used to utilise the occasion to ascertain how far the ex-student was keeping up his reading and studies. In the Anabhirati Jātaka⁴ the ex-student informs his teacher that he was quite up-to-date in his studies for some time after he had left his school, but admits that he had forgotten some of his Vedic Mantras since the time he was married; he however promises to mend the matters without delay. The mutual contact between the teacher and the student thus continued in the after- life and was not without mutual benefit The Daily Life of the Student:—Let us now see what was the daily life of the student. Naturally it differed in different courses and we have detailed informa- tion only about the religious and literary education. The students taking these courses used to get up early in the morning before birds had begun to stir,⁵ i. e. at 1 See Silavimansa Jātaka, No 305. In Mahāmagga Jātaka, we find the student marrying his teacher's daughter because there was no option for him in the matter. He was against the match. 2 Ap. Dh. S., 1, 2, 8,22. 3 Jātaka No. 130. 4 No. 185. 5 T. S., VI. 4. 3. A. Br. II. 15