Essay name: Informal Education of Sanskrit in Kerala
Author:
Jayasree M.
Affiliation: Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit / Department of Sanskrit Sahitya
This essay studies the informal education of Sanskrit in Kerala with special reference to Ayurveda. It provides a historical overview of Sanskrit education in India, highlighting its roots in the Vedas and the growth of the Gurukula system. It further discusses educational institutions in Kerala such as Shalas, Mathas, Kalaris and more formalized schools during colonial rule.
Chapter 2 - Informal Education: Definitions and Agencies
3 (of 53)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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107
So the ancient Sanskrit tradition says about the process of
education:
Acāryāt pādamādatte
Pādam śisyaḥ svamedhayā
Pādam sabrahmacāribhyah
Pādam kālakrameṇa ca
'A quarter of education is from the teacher, another quarter is
gained by one's own intelligence and the third quarter is obtained from the
friends and classmates, and finally the last quarter is acquired by the
passage of time'.
The human child is a helpless being highly dependent on its
parents. It has neither friends nor enemies, and completely unaware of the
social customs and traditions. Governed by natural instincts and impulses.
it tries to communicate with its environs. Gradually by the little language it
learns from mother, father and the other family members the
communicative skills develop. But as the child grows older it is influenced
by the informal and formal agencies of education. Education mixes up the
individual and helps to fulfill the individual desires and needs. Education
develops the individual like a blooming flower, which gives out its
fragrance all over the surroundings. Thus education is essential for the
