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

I, B] UPANAYANA RITUAL 273
emphasising the intellectual superiority of the
Brahmanas¹, when a lower age was prescribed for their
Upanayana. Family traditions in Brahmanical circles
facilitated Vedic educatiou at an early age ; such was
not the case with Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. Brahmana
boys could very often begin their Vedic education at
home ; Kshatriya and Vaishya boys had necessarily to
leave their families and go to a Brahmana teacher for
that purpose ; the age of 11 or 12, when boys are to
some extent able to look after themselves, was there-
fore found convenient for them. It is interesting to
note that the Brahmana boy Śvetaketu also performed
his Upanayana at the age 12 and immediately went
to stay with his preceptor for prosecuting his education
(Ch. Up. VI. 1-2). It would therefore appear that
even in Brahmanical families, the Upanayana was post-
poned to a later age when it was to be followed by the
separation of the boy from his family. It is the similar
necessity of sending the boys outside to a town or a
city that compels villagers of our time to begin their
wards' secondary education at about the age of 11 or
12. In cultured Brahmana families, which were very
keen about the quick progress of their sons, the
tradition was to perform the Upanayana and begin the
Vedic studies even earlier than the 8th year². This
practice is similar to that of many well-to-do and
cultured city families, which begin the secondary or
English education of their wards at about the age of
6 or 7. Smṛitis have therefore naturally given much
latitude about the age at the Upanayana in order to
suit the circumstances and convenience of the different

1. As supposed by Keay (p. 29) and Das (p. 72).
2. सप्तमे ब्राह्मणमुपनयीत पंचमे ब्रह्मवर्चसकामम् । J. Gr., S., I. 12.
   Cf. also G. D. S., 1. 1. 7; M. Gr. S., 1. 22. 1; Vâ. Gr. S., 6.
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