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Book: Hindu Dharma, Written by Swami Chandrashekarendra
Saraswati |
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The fourteen branches of learning were taught in our country from the
remote past until the inception of British rule. Let me tell you
something
interesting about them. You must have read about the Chinese pilgrim
Fahsien and Hsuan Tsang. The former visited India early in the fifth
century A. D. and the latter in the seventh century A.
D. They have both recorded impressions of their travels here and given
particularly glowing accounts of the big universities of Nalanda and
Taksasila. We learn about these institutions from archaeological
investigations also. They were at the peak of their glory when Buddhism
flourished in the country. It is noteworthy that syllabuses of both
these
universities included the caturdasa-vidya. Ofcourse Buddhist religious
texts were also taught, but only after the student had learned the
fourteen Hindu sastras. The reason: acquaintance with Vedic learning was
a help to any religious community in acquiring knowledge and in
character building. The Buddhists thus believed that education to be
called education must include a course in the Hindu caturdasa-vidya.
In the South also these sastras we taught at gatikasthanas and other
institutions established by the rajas of Tamil Nadu. In the copper-plate
inscriptions, dated 868 A. D. , there is a reference to an educational
institution at Bahur, between Cuddalore and Pondicerri, where it is
stated
that the fourteen vidyas were taught. Similarly, there was a school at
Ennayiram, between Vizhupuram and Tindivanam, where the ancient
sastras were part of the syllabus as evidenced by an inscription of
Rajendra Cola (11th century). There are many more similar examples.
Nowadays considerable research is conducted into Tamil history. It has
inspired stories and novels. However, nobody seems to have dealt with
the information that I have gained from my own historical inquiries --
that
the Tamil rulers supported the Vedas and sastras in a big way. There is
much talk about the need for impartiality in all matters and about the
importance of having a scientific outlook, but we do not see any
evidence
of it in practice.
The Buddhists were opposed to the Vedas, but they believed that an
acquaintance with the fourteen Hindu sastras was necessary to nurture
the intelligence and shape the moral character of the students learning
in
their institutions. But people here who claim to have faith in our
religion (
it does not matter thet they do nothing to promote our sastras) maintain
silence about the work done by Tamil kings in the past in the cause of
Vedic learning.
We have come to such a pass that, if we are asked about our vidyas, we
can do no better than keep silent. Indeed we do not even know what is
meant by "vidya". In all likelihood we think it to be jugglery,
witchcraft or
magic. Vidya and kala are the same. Kala means knowledge that waxes
like the moon. Now most people think that "kala" means only dance.
we must no longer be ignorant of our sastras our indifferent to them and
we must try to be true to ourselves. That is why I want to speak briefly
about the fourteen--or eighteen--branches of learning. You must atleast
learn their names.
Siksa, Vyakarana, Mimamsa, and Nyaya are among the fourteen sastras.
You may find these subjects somewhat tiresome and think that they do
not serve the Self in any way. But I ask you, what about all your daily
activities? You take so much time to read the newspaper which has a
whole page or two on sports. What purpose does it serve in your daily
life? Or, for that matter, in your inward growth?
One day, some years ago, I happened to be in a certain town. It was
noontime and, as I went out, I saw a big crowd in front of a shop. The
radio was blaring out the news and I was told that the crowd had
gathered to listen to it. I asked a passer-by what was so exciting about
the
news. He said that a cricket match was being played somewhere, some
thousands of miles away across the seas in a far-off continent, and that
the latest score was being announced.
The fact is that people are prepared to spend their time, money, and
energy on things they fancy but are of no practical value to them. Now I
ask you to take an intrest in our sastras. They are certainly more
useful
than cricket and such other things. They may not seem to bring you any
direct spiritual benefit. While their ultimate purpose is to take us to
the
path of enlightenment, they are essential to our knowledge and to
making us mature.
Knowledge is a treasure and it is a gift of the Lord. If you sharpen it
with
good education and the spirit of inquiry, the Ultimate Reality will be
revealed to you in a flash. Man alone is the recipient of the divine
blessing called speech. If it is used wisely he will have an abundance
of
good will. That is why so many sastras relating to speech like Vyakarana,
Nirukta, Siksa have been developed. Everyone of you must have atleast a
basic knowledge of these subjects. |
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