The Chatuspathi (Catuṣpāṭhī Tol) type of School

In the Sūtra period a special type of school came in to existence namely Sūtra schools. This Sūtra school subsequently developed as Catuṣpāṭhī.

In the Catuṣpāṭhī all Varṇas of students were eligible for education. But in majority of the case the teacher and students both were exclusively Brahmins. The Catuṣpāṭhī provided specialized courses. Grammar, Kalpa, Purāṇa, and Philosophy were generally offered as fields of specialization. There were three types of Tols. Subjects offered in the first type were Vyākarana, Kāvya and Purāṇa. Those of second type were Kalpa and Purāṇa. In the third type were offered philosophy and Nyāya. Like that of Agrahāra, these Tol provide education for children. Basically the Tols provide primary education. But those learned Brāhmins who work in the Tol, were not given any specific endowment. The Catuṣpāṭhī Tol totally depended on voluntary gifts or grants of lands by rich people. The student received their food and clothing from the local land lord. In the beginning of 19^th century Catuṣpāṭhī Tol were found large numbers in Bengal. Now days these Tols are in existence all over India. In present days the management of the Tols are now run by Governament. The responsibility of the Catuṣpāṭhī Tol are no longer rested with Sanskrit Paṇḍitas only. Today the traditional method of Sanskrit teaching has lost its previous height. No doubt the condition of the Catuṣpāṭhī Tol are not so good but these Tols continued to maintain the historical tradition^[1].