Milestones of Indian Education - Unit I

Unit I - Milestones of Indian Education

• Dravidian Education
  • People inhabiting Southern India are generally known as Dravidians.
  • They speak Dravidian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tulu.
  • Pazhathamil was the language of Dravidians.
  • Information about social life was gathered from ancient literatures like Chilapopathikaia, Manimeghalai, Unniyadic haritham, Unnineelisandesami, Thol kappiyam, Akananooru, and Purananuru.
  • Also, Jeeraka chinthamans and Thirukkural are included.
  • The term "Chattan" or "Chattiran" was used for teachers in Dravidian education.
  • Teachers were small in stature and dark-skinned.
• Aim of Education - Development of personality and social efficiency -Moral and Spiritual development -Cultural and vocational competence.
• Curriculum -Pupils learned in schools attached to temples (vidya-salai) -Examples are Kanthaloor and Muzhikulan
• Institutions Serving Social functions -Pallikkoodam -Kidai -Saalai

Vedic Education

• The pivotal sources for Vedic education were the Vedas.
• The Vedas consist of Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda.
• Vedic texts are dated from prehistoric times to 1000 BCE.
• The Sanskrit word "Veda" means "to know".
• Vedas' etymological meaning is knowledge being power.

Vedic Society

• The Vedic civilization was founded by the Aryans.
• They migrated to the Indian subcontinent and spread rapidly.
• Vedic period is divided into early Vedic (1500-1000 BCE) and later Vedic (1000-600 BCE).

Rig Veda

• The oldest of the four Vedas.
• Consists of 1028 hymns divided into 10 mandalas.
• Mandala 7: Contains Mandooka Slogan, concerned with education.
• Mandala 10: Contains Purusha Sukta, concerned with the origin of the 4 varnas.

Sama Veda

• Deals with melodies, prayers, and chants.
• Originated from the Rig Veda.

Yajur Veda

• Book of sacrificial prayers.
• Contains mantras in prose.
• Sukla Yajur Veda
• Krishna Yajur Veda

Atharva Veda

• Contains magic chants and spells.

Other Literary Sources

• Brahmanas- Commentaries on the Vedas, frequently dealing with agriculture.

• Aranyakas- Treatises on philosophy and metaphysics.

• Upanishads- Philosophical and metaphysical texts.

• Sathyameva jayathe- Mundaka Upanishad

• Vedangas - Parts of the Vedas: Kalpa, Vyākaraṇa, Nirukta, Chanda, and Jyotisha

• Sutras - Threads and laws

• Dharmashastras - Civil and religious laws

• Puranas - ancient stories

• Upavedas - Ayurveda, Shilpa Veda

• Epics - Ramayana and Mahabharata

Abstract Social Institutions

• Arai: For all sections of people, acted as a Court of Justice.
• Sabha: Center of devotees
• Sangam: Center of poets and traditions.

Method of Teaching

• Early stage of instruction has Tamil medium.
• Oral method and memorization were given importance.
• Teacher commanded great respect.

Other Topics

• Vedic Education
• Vedic Society

This quiz covers the significant aspects of Milestones in Indian Education, particularly focusing on Dravidian education and its unique features. It includes discussions on the languages spoken, the role of teachers, educational aims, and the curriculum associated with Dravidian educational institutions. Test your knowledge on these foundational elements of Indian educational history.