Agurukula (Sanskrit:गुरुकुल,romanized: gurukula) is a traditional system of religious education inIndia withśiṣya ('students' or 'disciples') living near or with theguru.[1]
The wordgurukula is a combination of the Sanskrit wordsguru ('teacher' or 'master') andkula ('family' or 'home').[2][3] The term is also used today to refer to residential monasteries or schools operated by modern gurus.[4]
Thegurukula system of education has been in existence since ancient times. TheUpanishads (1000-800 BCE) mention multiplegurukulas, including that of guruDrona atGurgaon.[2] TheBhrigu Valli (a discourse on theBrahman) is said to have taken place in Guru Varuni'sgurukula. The vedic school of thought prescribes theUpanayana (sacred rite of passage) to all individuals before the age of 8 at least by 12. From initiation until the age of 25 all individuals are prescribed to be students and to remain unmarried, a celibates.
Gurukulas were supported by public donations. This was followed by the many following Vedic thoughts making gurukul one of the earliest forms of public school centres.
Dharampal was instrumental in changing the understanding of pre-colonialIndian education system.[5][6] Dharampal primary works are based on documentation by thecolonial government on Indian education, agriculture, technology, and arts during the period of colonial rule in India.[7][8] His pioneering historical research, conducted intensively over a decade, provides evidence from extensive early British administrators’ reports of the widespread prevalence of indigenous educational institutions in Bombay, Bengal and Madras Presidencies as well as in the Punjab, teaching a sophisticated curriculum, with daily school attendance by about 30% of children aged 6–15.[9]
By the colonial era, the system was on a steep decline in India.Dayananda Saraswati, the founder ofArya Samaj andSwami Shraddhanand, were the pioneers of the moderngurukula system, who in 1886 founded now-widespreadDayanand Anglo-Vedic Public Schools and Universities.[10][11][12]
In 1948, Shastriji Maharaj Shree Dharamjivan das Swami followed suit and initiated first Swaminarayangurukul inRajkot inGujarat state ofIndia. Recently, severalgurukulam have opened up in India as well as overseas with a desire to uphold tradition.
Variousgurukulas still exist in India, and researchers have been studying the effectiveness of the system through those institutions.[6] With the advent of new means ofmass communication, manygurus andVedantic scholars are opening E-gurukul. These gurukuls are operating online and are now imparting knowledge about differentHindu scriptures using the internet.[13][14][15][16]
In 1990, Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji founded Ananda Marga gurukula with its headquarters at Anandanagar, Dist Purulia,West Bengal, India and its branches all over the globe. {www.gurukul.edu} He nominated Acharya Shambhushivananda Avadhuta as its kulapati (chancellor) and formed a skeletal structure for spreading "neohumanist education" all over the globe.
The students learn from the guru and help the guru in his everyday life, including carrying out of mundane daily household chores. However, some scholars suggest that the activities are not mundane and very essential part of the education to inculcate self-discipline among students.[6] Typically, a guru does not receive or accept any fees from theshishya studying with him as the relationship between a guru and the shishya is considered very sacred.[17]
At the end of one's education, ashishya offers the gurudakshina before leaving the gurukula.[3] Thegurudakshina is a traditional gesture of acknowledgment, respect and thanks to the guru, which may be monetary, but may also be a special task the teacher wants the student to accomplish.[3] While living in agurukula, the students would be away from their home from a period of months to years at a stretch.Through Gurukul, students used to learn self discipline, politeness, good humanism and spirituality that would assist them to be an enlightened person in the future.
The gurukula system of education is available outside of India as well. They are known as gurukul.
At theJain Culture Center of Antwerp, children between the ages of 8 till 16 studyVedic mathematics,Art,Music, as well asVedic Astrology, Jyotishi,Sanskrit andYoga.
Children participate in this gurukul during holiday times at the traditional schools, for a week in October / November, 2 weeks during Easter break, and 1 month during summer break.[citation needed]
... [C]hildren of Swami Nithyananda's gurukul school demonstrated ....]
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