Curriculum And Methods of Teaching In Vedic Education

Curriculum:-

According to recent researches, following disciplines were included in the curriculum in the graded forms in accordance with the stages of education.

1.      Anthropology

2.      Astronomy

3.      Economics

4.      Epistemology

5.      Eschatology

6.      Ethnology

7.      Geology

8.      Human eugenics

9.      Mathematics

10.  Military Science

The system of education was well-organized. It was suited to the needs of the society education was considered as the greatest gift in ancient India. It was aimed at the development of personality of an individual to his maximum extent. Education helped in the realization of spiritual & moral values, besides preparing for worldly pursuits. It was freely available to all those who wanted the relations between teachers and the pupils were based on love and affection. They were very cordial & intimate.

1. Vedas & Vedic literature:- During the Vedic - age, education became centered on religion which is essentially an effect to establish an harmony between man's total personality and the totality of the universe. The curriculum was dominated by the study of Vedas and Vedic literature, spiritual and moral lessens. Hymns of the Vedas were primarily composed by Rishis as an expression of the inner light for the benefit of man kind. There are four Vedas namely 1 Rig Veda 2 Yajur Veda 3 Sam Veda 4 Atharva Veda.
2. Vedangas:- It includes the study of i. siksha ii. Kalpa iii. Nirukta iv. Chandas v. Jyotisha v. Vyaleama (granner).
3. Logic:- It develops the resonsry facilities.
4. Scheme of Arts & Crafts (silpa - vidya):- It develops aesthetic sense & practical skill in construction regarding symmetry, proposition & beauty.
5. Physical Education:- Meditation & salvation are possible only when one is physically healthy. Hence intense physical education was also included in the curriculum. It built stamina students had to learn riding, wrestling, hunting, swimming, running, jumping, etc. for developing physical & mental strength, early marriage was not in practice in Vedic – age. They strictly observed celibacy upto a particular age to avoid premature old age & death. (Atharva Veda).
6. Professional &technical subjects:- Some professional and technical subjects like medicine and surgery, astronomy, Astrology, Mathematics, economics, were given the importance the curriculum.
7. Dharma:- It was also the part & parcel of curriculum.
8. Meditation:- It was also included. Hymns of Vedas were composed by Rishis as an expression of the inner light for the benefit of mankind. This was in fact the main object of Vedic education. The education of Vedic period was the education of the complete man.
9. Student centered:- A great quality of curriculum of Vedic education was that it was student centered i.e. according to the educational needs, interests & aptitudes of the student. the curriculum was planned in such a way that it met the requirements of every student.
10. stress on other worldliness:- Curriculum in Vedic age, laid more stress on other worldliness. Although provision was made for all the student, yet he was not prepared for this world, but for the eternal happiness in the other world. The highest wisdom was to seek release from worldly claim & the highest knowledge was to acquinted with the method by which self - realization could be attained.