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

236 EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA [Ch.
Ribhus were even deified. The educational system of
the age was successful in forming character, developing
personality, promoting the progress of different
branches of knowledge and achieving social efficiency
and happiness.
THE UPANISHAD-SŪTRA PERIOD.
(c. 1000 B.C. to c. 200 B.C.)
General Condition of the Age : This period can
justly be regarded as the most creative period of Hindu
culture and literature, arts and sciences. The founda-
tions of whatever is the best in Hindu culture and
glorious in Hindu achievements were laid down during
this period. Metaphysics made remarkable progress,
as is evidenced by the Upanishadic, Jain and Bauddha
works ; the foundations of almost all the later systems
of philosophy were also laid down. Philology and
grammar were well developed and the literary acti-
vity in the legal literature commenced. Speculations in
the sphere of political thought were original and fruit-
ful. Astronomy and mathematics, medicine and sur-
gery, mining and metallurgy began to be cultivated and
sculpture and architecture recorded remarkable pro-
gress, especially towards the end of the period. Effort
was also made to popularise culture and knowledge by
transforming the epic of the Bhārata war into an
encyclopædia of religion and ethics.
The Condition of Education : These manifold
achievements in different spheres became possible be-
cause Indians had still a free open and enquiring
mind and were making strenuous efforts to extend the
bounds of knowledge and to ensure its transmission
to posterity. With a view to enlist the help of the whole
society for this work, Upanayana ritual was made