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

VI] HIGHER LITERARY EDUCATION 153
Chwang and Alberuni. The demand for experts in
grammar was as keen during this age as the demand
for the teachers trained in English is today. Every
school for higher education had to engage several
grammarians in order to give the necessary instructions
in Sanskrit language, which was the key subject.
The age believed in astrology and astrologers were
in great demand throughout the country for preparing
and interpreting almanacs and prognosticating future
events. The royal courts also used to engage the
services of several astrologers.
The Course in Sanskrit Literature. The
students of this subject were naturally required first
to complete their course in grammar and kosha
(vocabulary) and then enjoined a study of some
famous authors like Kālidāsa, Bhartṛihari or Bāṇa.
Particular attention was paid to prosody and poetics,
and students were expected not only to understand
the classical authors, but also to compose fairly good
poems imitating their style. In order to get a general
knowledge of the culture of the race, they were
also required to study the epics, the Purāṇas and
traditional stories. They were further trained to be
good debators; the ability to defend one's own
position in learned assemblies and the capacity to
compose a good poem in a very short time were
regarded as the most important criteria of good
scholarship.
The Courses in Smritis and Puranas : Almost as
popular as the courses in grammar and astrology
were the courses in Purāṇas and Smṛitis whose hold
over the popular mind during this age was almost
as great as that of the Vedic literature in the
earlier periods. Popular Hindu religion had greatly
changed its complexion during this period and its