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

144 EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA [Ch.
formed the main topic of study in this period. Besides
the sacred hymns, there were also some historical
poems, ballads and hero-songs¹ in existence, which
were also committed to memory by the young scholars
of the day, as they often helped the elucidation of
many references contained in the Vedic hymns.
Students were required to master the principles of
prosody and encouraged to develop the powers of
versification. Those who intended to follow the
priestly profession had to study the details of the
rituals associated with the hymns they had committed
to memory. The study of elementary geometry,
the knowledge of which was necessary for the proper
construction of sacrificial altars, was also included
in the Vedic course. A knowledge of astronomy,
which had enabled the age to find out the difference
between the lunar and solar months, was also imparted.
Grammar and etymology did not trouble the students
of this age because they were yet to be developed.
Vedic studies usually began at about the age of nine or
ten and Initiation Ceremony known as Upanayana was
performed at their commencement. The nature,
details, and educational significance of this ceremony
will be found discussed in Appendix I, B.
The Method of Study : Vedic hymns were studied
in this period as specimens of literature to be
understood, appreciated, imitated and even excelled
if posssible. New hymns² were being composed and
the authors of some of them claimed that they were

1. Itihāsa, Purāṇa and Nārāśaṁsī Gāthā are mentioned as early
   as the Atharvaveda ; XV. 1.
2. The very second stanza of the Ṛigveda, for instance, refers to
   the earlier and later poets of the Vedic collection ; cf. अग्निः पूर्वे-
   भिर्ऋषिभिरीड्यो नूतनैर्वा उत । I. 1. 2.