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

I, F] DHANURVEDIC UPANAYANA 291
type. An auspicious day was selected for the purpose.
Darbha, Samidhs (sacred fuel), flowers, etc. were
collected, an altar was specially prepared, and
oblations of ghee and honey were offered to various
deities and sages, first by the teacher and then by the
student. Naturally Dhanvantari, Aśvins, Indra,
Prajāpati and the Sūtrakāras intimately connected
with the development of the medical science occupied
the place of honour in this sacrifice. Both the teacher
and the student circumambulated the fire on the altar.
Brahmanas and celebrated physicians were then
worshipped by the pupil. Then in the presence of the
sacred fire the Guru charged the student to follow the
well known rules of the student life and refrain from
lust, anger, covetousness, laziness, pride, untruth and
cruelty.¹ The student was specially required to be
always industrious and engaged in the pursuit of fresh
knowledge. He ought to have faith in his teacher,
who was required to teach him all that he knew.
SECTION F.
DHANURVEDIC OR MILITARY UPANAYANA²
Ritual described : The ritual was to be performed
on an auspicious day at the beginning of the military
education. The student, who was required to observe
a fast on that day, used to offer oblations to gods at
the outset. Brahmanas were then fed and presents
were offered to the teacher. The most important part
of the ritual was the offering of a weapon to the youth

1. Suśruta, Sūtra-sthāna, chap. 2.
2. Described only in Dhanurveda-Saṁhitā of Vasiṣṭhra, which
   is a very late work.