Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

PERCEPTIONS

The above discussion could be summa- rized as follows : 1. The word aachaarya can be derived ety- mologically from a) aachaarya = right conduct b) aacharith = to approach, to go to for in- struction or c) achinothi to accumulate knowledge wealth or merit. 2. Aachaarya provides shelter to the An- thevaasins as the meaning of the latter would suggest. 3. Aachaarya gives his students a second birth by performing their upanayana samskaara through which they are initi- ated into the study of the secret and sacred lore. 4. Aachaarya emancipates the student’s hold through the dissemination of esoteric knowledge. 5. Aachaarya is an institutional instructor of intellectual and objective knowledge. Upaadhyaaya is another term that usu- ally denotes a teacher, though it is met with less frequently except in the vocative case in classical Sanskrit literature. In some contexts it may also be used pejoratively as in Mudraraakshasam, where Chanakya tries to mollify the sentiments of his student whom he had treated rather harshly : 'My child, it is only the heady feeling of being pre-occupied with onerous tasks that perturbs us and not the irascibility towards the students that is so commonly co-exis- tent with the upaadhyaayas.’ Even Manu recognises Upaadhyaaya as a person who has chosen teaching as his profession for the sake of his livelihood and has only a limited knowledge of the subjects to be taught. Guru is a ‘word almost impossible to render by one English word. It is applied to anyone to whose authority deference is due -- parents, elderly relative, teachers, per- sons of piety and learning’ as Prof. S.K. Belvarkar so rightly observes, (of H.O.S. Vol. 21. p. 16 note 6). Yajnavalkya defines guru broadly as one who performs the samskaaras and educates the student in the Vedic lore. In the modern context the term 'guru' has acquired a more universal meaning of being a 'super expert' in a field of knowledge. We often hear the term guru being used for someone who is at the forefront of his disci- pline. Hence the terms such as computer guru, political guru, management guru have become part of the language.

In Saura Purana, guru is.described as the destroyer of ignorance. A perusal of the us- age of the term guru in different contexts in Manusmriti reveals that it is used as a synonym for aachaarya more particularly when the rules of conduct are prescribed for the Brahmacharin during the latter’s stay at the teacher’s residence. A closer examina- tion of such contexts suggests that an emo- tional and personal value is attached to guru. Words like bhakti, pujan etc. are more often associated with guru than with aachaarya . From these examples we may fairly summarise that in their connotations the term aachaarya is objective and institu- tional whereas guru is subjective and personal. According to Manu, students can be classified into ten categories or contrarily ten types of people are fit to be educated by a teacher. The son of one’s own teacher, One who ren- ders personal service, One who exchanges knowledge: of one subject for the sake of another, One who is righteous, One who is austere, One’s relative, One who is capable of acquiring and retaining knowledge, A wealthy person, a well-wisher, a dear-per- son - these ten are fit to be educated by a preceptor in accordance with the tradition. A student should be interested in the fruits of Dharma or Artha or at least profi- cient in rendering personal service. Classical Sanskrit literature is replete with stanzas that deal with the various qualities to be found in an ideal student. It

may not be out of place to summarise these qualities: - Capacity to acquire and retain knowl- edge; Perseverence in efforts; Total free- dom from lethargy; Absence of shyness in acquiring knowledge; Absence of compla- cency over one’s own learning; Aversion to comforts; an alert mind; Detached outlook towards home, parents etc.; Presence of mind even in adverse situations; Determi- nation to succeed; Ever active mind; Maturity and Absence of anticipation of re- sults. The norms he prescribes for the student regarding his behaviour during his stay at his preceptor’s house throw a flood of light on the life and social mores and the times. (R.N.N) Tripurashri (fifth sheath of Sri Chakra) is that of guru which is Sarvarthasadhaka (grants all prosparity) one should render seva (guru). Guru grants wisdom in the following manner paving for immortality (1) Sarva siddhi : Attainment direct knowledge of the aatma. (2) Sarva Sampat : ( Nishkama ) wealth without desire. (3) Sarva priyamkari: perpetual pleasure. (4) Sarva man- gaiakarini : the feeling of Shiva auspiciousness. (5) Sarva kamaprada : supreme bliss. (6) Sarva dukha vimochmi : freedom from all miseries. (7) Sarva mrityu prashamani : immortality. (8) Sarva vigna nivarini : re- moval of all differences. (9) arvanga sundari : Beauty by removal of all superstitions and maaya (illusion). (10) Sava saubhagya dayini : Oneness with Shiva.

Guru-dakshina An offering to the guru, In reverence to guru's teachings.