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

62 EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA [Ch.
most promising students; the custom was so deep rooted in
certain teachers' families that students had often no option
in the matter, even if they were not in favour of the
match.¹
Mutual Relations in After-life: The cordial rela-
tions that existed between the teacher and the student
continued also in their after-life. Even when the student
had returned home after his education, he was to call on
his teacher frequently, bringing him some present, it may
be even a tooth-stick.² Teachers also used to return these
visits.³ The teacher's visit was not without its benefit
to the student ; he used to utilise the occasion to ascertain
how far the ex-student was keeping up his reading and
studies. In the Anabhirati Jātaka⁴ the ex-student informs
his teacher that he was quite up-to-date in his studies
for some time after he had left his school, but admits
that he had forgotten some of his Vedic Mantras since
the time he was married; he however promises to mend
the matters without delay. The mutual contact between
the teacher and the student thus continued in the after-
life and was not without mutual benefit
The Daily Life of the Student:—Let us now see
what was the daily life of the student. Naturally it
differed in different courses and we have detailed informa-
tion only about the religious and literary education.
The students taking these courses used to get up early
in the morning before birds had begun to stir,⁵ i. e. at
1 See Silavimansa Jātaka, No 305. In Mahāmagga Jātaka, we
find the student marrying his teacher's daughter because there
was no option for him in the matter. He was against the match.
2 Ap. Dh. S., 1, 2, 8,22.
3 Jātaka No. 130.
4 No. 185.
5 T. S., VI. 4. 3. A. Br. II. 15