Teacher Education in Vedic Period:
In the Vedic period, religion played a prominent role in education. The aim of education then was to attain salvation (Moksha). While receiving education, a person was supposed to engage in karmopasana, i.e., work of worship and, thus, purify the inner senses and gain the absolute (Brahma). The soul forgets the absolute due to ignorance and illiteracy and so thinks of itself as one who is neither born nor dies and suffers in miseries.
The literal meaning of ‘Vedas’ is knowledge. Hence, Vedas refer to various forms of knowledge. There were four different types of Vedas, namely, Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. These four Vedas represent different bodies of knowledge. Students of the Vedic period were supposed to internalize these Vedas from teachers, who were called gurus. The knowledge was transferred to students by the gurus mainly through verbal medium and students were supposed to repeat it.
The students internalized different concepts either through mediation or realization. Once this process was completed, students internalized different bodies of knowledge and they reached the stage of realization.
The chief characteristics of Vedic education are:
- Gurukul
- Ideal of guru
- Duties of shishyas (students)
- Relation between guru and shishyas
- Education
- Women education
- Physical education
Teachers of the Vedic Age were men of high calibre in terms of knowledge and spiritual progress. Gurus maintained a high reputation in the society. They always paid attention in transmitting knowledge to the shishyas in gurukuls (places were classes were conducted). Gurus considered their shishyas as their sons and shishyas treated gurus as their father. Gurus helped in the all-round personality development of their shishyas. Gurus also tried to impart education to women and also imparted training in physical education, and art and craft. Gurus helped in accomplishing the needs of all their students.
Teachers occupied a pivotal position in the Vedic system of education. The teacher was a parent surrogate (parent substitute), a facilitator of learning, exemplar and inspirer, confidant, a friend and philosopher, moral educator, reformer, evaluator, character and personality developer, importer of knowledge and wisdom and above all a guru—a religious and spiritual guide.
The relationship between the teachers and pupil was regarded as filial in character. A teacher was the spiritual father of his pupil. In addition to imparting intellectual knowledge, gurus were also morally responsible for their shishyas. He was to always keep a guard over the conduct of his shishyas. Gurus were expected to instruct their shishyas how to sleep and what food eat and not eat. During the Vedic period, learning was transmitted orally from one generation to another. Great importance was attached to the proper accent and pronunciation in the Vedic recitation and these could be correctly learnt only from the lips of a properly qualified teacher. The spiritual solution depended almost entirely upon the proper guidance of a competent teacher.