Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana

by Chaitali Kadia | 2021 | 91,183 words

This page relates ‘Education in the Matsya Purana’ of the study on the historical elements of the Matsya-purana: one of the eighteen Mahapuranas which are Sanskrit texts that have preserved the cultural heritage, philosophy, religion, geography, etc of ancient India. This Matsyapurana was originally written in 20,000 verses and deals with topics such as architecture, ancient history, polity, religion and philosophy.

Education in the Matsya Purāṇa

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After caste system and āśrama system, the thing that affects the society the most is the education system. And it also affects the education system by the society. The Caturāśrama practice remains incomplete unless the education system is described. Because the education system is directly connected with the Brahmacaryāśrama of Caturāśrama . At that time celibates are educated in the Guru’s house. This education helps to build people and create values in later life. The primary function of the education system is to impart to the society the knowledge of the society the knowledge of the forms and skills required for its survival and improvement. The Value of real education lies in the fact that it not only develops one’s own personality but also the intellectual development of how one should live in harmony with different groups. The ancient Indian education system accomplished this great task on its own. There are also examples of this Brahmanical education system in the Matsya Purāṇa. The Matsya Purāṇa mentions that the Kaca went to demon guru Śukrācārya and wanted to learn the mysterious Sanjivani Vidyā . He goes and tells Śukrācārya that he is the grandsonof Angirā Ṛṣi that is the sonof Bṛhaspati and he wants to observe full celibacy for a thousand years by following the complete prohibition.^[1] The guru could choose his disciple or the disciple could choose his guru without hesitation. In that case, it did not matter who was the enemy or the ally, or the relative. For example, Kaca was the child of Bṛhaspati, the opposite enemy of Śukrācārya. Even then, Śukrācārya was satisfied disciple.^[2] During the education, the children had to go through various trainings in the house of guru. Disciples worked equally for their teacher inside or outside the teacher’s home. Even the teacher’s livestock had to be raised. Kaca used to graze cows in the forest for his guru, collect fruits and flowers etc.^[3]

The student relationship with the teacher was open. Teachers or gurus thought disciples were like their own family. For example, the relationship between Devayāni and Kaca. Devayāni thought Kaca was like her family and she loved Kaca so much that she thought that she would not live without Kaca, when the fierce monsters killed Kaca.^[4] Sometimes the kinship between the guru and the disciple grows so much that the marital relationship with the disciple also becomes. For example–Devayāni proposed marriage to Kaca.^[5] But Kaca was reluctant to establish a marital relationship with the Guru’s daughter. So he did not accept Devayāni as his wife. Devayāni, the daughter of Śukrācāryā is considered to be equally revered by the kaca and is placed in a higher position than the guru. And this is why he thought that he was the son of the guru in the guru’s house, so in that sense Devayāni is equal to his sister. So this marriage proposal is immoral (MP-26/6, 7, 8, 13, 14).

During the education, the students had to live according to strict rules in the house of guru. The Matsya Purāṇa says about the rules of the celibate–the disciple should rush to him as soon as the guru calls, the guru’s service should always be without guru’s command, go to bed after the guru goes to bed at night and get up before the guru wakes up in the morning. The disciple will always be ‘Kimri ’, ‘Jitendriya ’, patient, careful and self-sufficient.^[6] Kaca always worshiped his guru and guru’s daughter. According to Devayāni’s orders, he would satisfy her with dance songs and also arrange fruits for her.^[7] The rules of celibate life in Kaca are also captured by Devayāni’s words. Kaca was always engaged in celibacy, austerities were the property of his life he was always alert and good at deeds (MP-25/46).

The punishment of the disciples during the teaching was very short because the gurus in those days did not believe in any punitive teaching. However, there is no special description of this punishment in the Matsya Purāṇa . However, during the period of education, the disciples had to follow a number of daily activities or rules, such as bathing, daily giving, humble attitude towards the education guru, observing vows, chanting mantras etc. The disciples received various kinds of education in the house of guru. He is mentioned in various places in the Matsya Purāṇa . Kaca wanted to get the knowledge of Sanjivani from the demon guru and he also acquired that knowledge well.^[8] Elsewhere in the Matsya Purāṇa , the rise of Āyurveda has been mentioned by Yayāti and its creator has been identified as Dhanvantvari.^[9] In order to qualify as a king’s charioteer, it was necessary to know some special knowledge in that era. Such as–weapons education, Āyurveda education, knowledge of all parts of the world or geographical knowledge, chariot driving etc. (MP-215/20). Experts in various disciplines were also given a place in the king’s fort. Such as the best warrior, artist, scholars of Kalamantra, cow doctor, horse doctor, yard doctor, musician, Brahmin , carana etc.^[10] This proves that all the above sciences were studied at that time, so that people could become proficient in those special subjects. Some people qualified themselves in the culinary arts. They were employed as the head of the royal kitchen by their skill and their nails and hair always had to be cut short. Many were also hereditarily appointed to this position.^[11] Also who was proficient in education of elephant was appointed as the king’s courtier and the horseman who was proficient in horse science was appointed.

In addition to these teachings, there was a separate education system for the princes. Later separate teachers were appointed to make a suitable king. And the princes were taught religion, work and economics, as well as archery and elephant education. They were also given proper education for their physical and mental as well as intellectualdevelopment (MP-220/1, 2). The Matsya Purāṇa mentions that Satananda’s son Satyadhṛti was a great ascetic and an expert in archery.^[12] The ten sons of Prācinvarhi and Savarṇā were known as Pracetas. They were all proficient in archery.^[13] However, this education system was not only for sons or men. The girls were equally involved. But in the ancient Vedic age, girls did not have much advantage which has already been discussed.