GURUKUL

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‘Guru’ refers to the ‘teacher’ or the ‘master’. ‘Kul’ refers to his ‘domain’. It also means the one who can carry on the new generation ‘Gurukul’ is an ancient Indian concept of education wherein the participant imbibed knowledge by residing with his teacher as a part of his family.

Indian has been known as the Land of Gurus and Gurukuls. The Guru was more than merely a teacher. He was a father, a guide and a role model for all the students.

The students of the Gurukul lived a life of tutelage and obedience. They would leave their homes and their loved ones and come and live at the Gurukul for years to learn the lessons of life from their guru.

Life at the Gurukul was tough but at the end of their training, the students emerged as responsible individuals that were well learned and capable of facing the toughest challenge of life.


THE GURU

Guru means the one who can play the role of friend, Philosopher and Guide. Guru, who brighten up the five rooms of our life those are: social, economical, mental, political and religious. Like the same way we can explain mud made by GOD, but water jug made by potter, same way our physical body maker are our biological parents, like GOD but our life makers are our GURUS who give us particular turn, shape to our life, just like a potter.


GURKUL SYSTEM OF EDUCATION – INDIA

Education in India has always been regarded as one of the basic inputs in human resource development. In the ancient days, the Gurukul system of education was prevalent. The teacher was the Guru and the disciple was the Sisya. The disciples lived in the Guru’s aashram during the course of their training and in turn offered their services to the ashram. This period of learning of, about 12 years, was considered as a great sacrifice or a penance. The Guru identified the capability of his Sishya and accordingly imparted knowledge. The sishyas learnt amidst the natural surroundings of the ashram, in open air, in close contact with nature.

At the end of their training, the disciples thanked their Gurus with a gift in the form of a gurudakshina – which literally means “offering to the Guru”.

Examples of recent Gurukuls

• Shantiniketn
• Kalakshetra
• Nalanda

GURU – SISYA EXAMPLES FROM OUR EPICS AND MYTHOLOGY

To illustrate by examples from Mahabharata, the contrast in the learning processes through which Eklavya, Arjuna and Abhimanyu acquired their knowledge brings out the essentials of the relationship. Eklavya acquired his knowledge through an impersonal guru, while Arjuna under the loving care and affection of his guru, and Abhimanyu through a medium – his mother. In the last case, the failure of the medium rendered the learning process incomplete.

The guru’s exhalted position and the necessity of his continued supervision in rendering guidance through the learning process best brought out by examples. Even in Ramayana, King Dasrath reluctantly entrusts Ram and Lakshman to the care of sage Vishwamitra so that they could learn from the sage.

The guru’s position in indispensable and going by Avadhoot’s example, a guru can both be impersonal and inanimate. It is the guru who any study of the guru-shishya parampara would be incomplete without allusion to the Bhagavadgita. Three references to the Gita which highlight the heist values of the guru-shishya parmpara are:

The exalted position of the guru in the prampara is best brought out by:
‘Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Gur Devo Maheswara
Guru Sakshat Para Brahma, Thasmaye Shri Guruve Namaha’

ADVANTAGES OF GURUKUL SYSTEM OF LEARNING

In the olden days:

• As it was the only system of learning known in India at the time, most of the shishyas gained their education through this medium.

• It was the only form of education known then.

• The shishyas received knowledge in all subjects.

• They got a practical and in depth look into life.

• Children from all classes of society lived under the gurukul roof as brothers.

• Along with practical knowledge they also received knowledge on various aspects of life.

• They are taught impeccable manners and values that life is based on.

• They were mainly taught respect for elders, mother, father and mainly teacher.

• The children were taught to live with meager material things and no fancy, pretentious object.

• The gurukul was a comprehensive learning center.

• They were also taught skills like singing, dancing, arching, fighting etc.

• They were taught in open air i.e. mainly in jungles, fields or in the shade below a spreading tree. They were learning in a non-polluted atmosphere as a result of which the children remained fresh and grasped everything more easily.

At present:

• Though not many gurukul are seen in present, a need is felt to have this amazing system of learning in today’s corrupt world.

• The children today are losing touch of our values and culture, which can be imbibed at an early age and can be done through gurukuls.

• Many skills can be taught to the shishyas in the gurukuls like arching, classical music etc.

• The children can learn in a pollution free environment.

• The children can be given a more practical and realistic approach to life rather than just bookish knowledge.

• The children of today who are starved for role models may find one in form of their gurus.

Disadvantages of the Gurukul System:

In the olden days:

• The children had to stay away from home for long periods of time, i.e. for more than 12 years. Hence when the children returned the felt lost in the real world.
• They were kept away from their parents and family.
• They led a sheltered life at the gurukul.
• They did not face the harsh realities of everyday life at the gurukul.
• They had to blindly follow the guru in all aspects whether he was right or wrong.

At present:

• It’s an outdated system of learning that is way too behind for today’s jet age.
• The children of today would have respect neither for the guru nor for the gurukul.
• The skills taught in the gurukul would not arm the children of today for the present life.
• People would scoff at the ideologies and teaching that are offered the gurukuls of yester years.

MODERN DAY GURU AND GURUKUL

An ideal modern day Gurukul is an environment free of caste restrictions, conventional examinations and textbooks, fostering discipline and self-reliance. It offers an atmosphere of serenity and intellectual growth in which a student’s questioning nature is never satisfied. A respect for nature and the environment, patriotism, and the value of simple living are just some of the values instilled.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of Gurukul system of education. However there’s Bengali proverb, ‘gancai noale vas, mas korbe tans tas’_; “When the bamboo is green, you can bend it, but when it is yellow, dried, it will crack.” So education begins from the very chil;dhood. Therefore a Gurukul is required. It doesn’t require how much he has learned ABCD and grammar. Gurukul system will first emphasize on character.

“Only by the grace of the Guru can the disciple attain the Final Liberation.”
 
‘Guru’ refers to the ‘teacher’ or the ‘master’. ‘Kul’ refers to his ‘domain’. It also means the one who can carry on the new generation ‘Gurukul’ is an ancient Indian concept of education wherein the participant imbibed knowledge by residing with his teacher as a part of his family.

Indian has been known as the Land of Gurus and Gurukuls. The Guru was more than merely a teacher. He was a father, a guide and a role model for all the students.

The students of the Gurukul lived a life of tutelage and obedience. They would leave their homes and their loved ones and come and live at the Gurukul for years to learn the lessons of life from their guru.

Life at the Gurukul was tough but at the end of their training, the students emerged as responsible individuals that were well learned and capable of facing the toughest challenge of life.


THE GURU

Guru means the one who can play the role of friend, Philosopher and Guide. Guru, who brighten up the five rooms of our life those are: social, economical, mental, political and religious. Like the same way we can explain mud made by GOD, but water jug made by potter, same way our physical body maker are our biological parents, like GOD but our life makers are our GURUS who give us particular turn, shape to our life, just like a potter.


GURKUL SYSTEM OF EDUCATION – INDIA

Education in India has always been regarded as one of the basic inputs in human resource development. In the ancient days, the Gurukul system of education was prevalent. The teacher was the Guru and the disciple was the Sisya. The disciples lived in the Guru’s aashram during the course of their training and in turn offered their services to the ashram. This period of learning of, about 12 years, was considered as a great sacrifice or a penance. The Guru identified the capability of his Sishya and accordingly imparted knowledge. The sishyas learnt amidst the natural surroundings of the ashram, in open air, in close contact with nature.

At the end of their training, the disciples thanked their Gurus with a gift in the form of a gurudakshina – which literally means “offering to the Guru”.

Examples of recent Gurukuls

• Shantiniketn
• Kalakshetra
• Nalanda

GURU – SISYA EXAMPLES FROM OUR EPICS AND MYTHOLOGY

To illustrate by examples from Mahabharata, the contrast in the learning processes through which Eklavya, Arjuna and Abhimanyu acquired their knowledge brings out the essentials of the relationship. Eklavya acquired his knowledge through an impersonal guru, while Arjuna under the loving care and affection of his guru, and Abhimanyu through a medium – his mother. In the last case, the failure of the medium rendered the learning process incomplete.

The guru’s exhalted position and the necessity of his continued supervision in rendering guidance through the learning process best brought out by examples. Even in Ramayana, King Dasrath reluctantly entrusts Ram and Lakshman to the care of sage Vishwamitra so that they could learn from the sage.

The guru’s position in indispensable and going by Avadhoot’s example, a guru can both be impersonal and inanimate. It is the guru who any study of the guru-shishya parampara would be incomplete without allusion to the Bhagavadgita. Three references to the Gita which highlight the heist values of the guru-shishya parmpara are:

The exalted position of the guru in the prampara is best brought out by:
‘Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Gur Devo Maheswara
Guru Sakshat Para Brahma, Thasmaye Shri Guruve Namaha’

ADVANTAGES OF GURUKUL SYSTEM OF LEARNING

In the olden days:

• As it was the only system of learning known in India at the time, most of the shishyas gained their education through this medium.

• It was the only form of education known then.

• The shishyas received knowledge in all subjects.

• They got a practical and in depth look into life.

• Children from all classes of society lived under the gurukul roof as brothers.

• Along with practical knowledge they also received knowledge on various aspects of life.

• They are taught impeccable manners and values that life is based on.

• They were mainly taught respect for elders, mother, father and mainly teacher.

• The children were taught to live with meager material things and no fancy, pretentious object.

• The gurukul was a comprehensive learning center.

• They were also taught skills like singing, dancing, arching, fighting etc.

• They were taught in open air i.e. mainly in jungles, fields or in the shade below a spreading tree. They were learning in a non-polluted atmosphere as a result of which the children remained fresh and grasped everything more easily.

At present:

• Though not many gurukul are seen in present, a need is felt to have this amazing system of learning in today’s corrupt world.

• The children today are losing touch of our values and culture, which can be imbibed at an early age and can be done through gurukuls.

• Many skills can be taught to the shishyas in the gurukuls like arching, classical music etc.

• The children can learn in a pollution free environment.

• The children can be given a more practical and realistic approach to life rather than just bookish knowledge.

• The children of today who are starved for role models may find one in form of their gurus.

Disadvantages of the Gurukul System:

In the olden days:

• The children had to stay away from home for long periods of time, i.e. for more than 12 years. Hence when the children returned the felt lost in the real world.
• They were kept away from their parents and family.
• They led a sheltered life at the gurukul.
• They did not face the harsh realities of everyday life at the gurukul.
• They had to blindly follow the guru in all aspects whether he was right or wrong.

At present:

• It’s an outdated system of learning that is way too behind for today’s jet age.
• The children of today would have respect neither for the guru nor for the gurukul.
• The skills taught in the gurukul would not arm the children of today for the present life.
• People would scoff at the ideologies and teaching that are offered the gurukuls of yester years.

MODERN DAY GURU AND GURUKUL

An ideal modern day Gurukul is an environment free of caste restrictions, conventional examinations and textbooks, fostering discipline and self-reliance. It offers an atmosphere of serenity and intellectual growth in which a student’s questioning nature is never satisfied. A respect for nature and the environment, patriotism, and the value of simple living are just some of the values instilled.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of Gurukul system of education. However there’s Bengali proverb, ‘gancai noale vas, mas korbe tans tas’_; “When the bamboo is green, you can bend it, but when it is yellow, dried, it will crack.” So education begins from the very chil;dhood. Therefore a Gurukul is required. It doesn’t require how much he has learned ABCD and grammar. Gurukul system will first emphasize on character.

“Only by the grace of the Guru can the disciple attain the Final Liberation.”

Hey sunanda, thanks for sharing such a nice and beautiful article on Gurukul and i am really liked it. Well, i have also got a document related to the comparative study of ancient gurukul system and the new trends of guru-shishya parampara and sharing it with you.
 

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