Relation between teacher and its student is considered equal to the relation between God and its devotee. From our early childhood we are taught by our parents and society to give respect to our elders and teachers. This respect and admiration towards teachers grows by the time and you never forget the contribution of a person who gave you the life time learning and lessons to grow into your professional life. Teacher-student relations have always been considered as a growth wheel for anybody’s life. Whether you are working into corporate or you are into your business the difference you make in your performance has the direct connect with the time and efforts you had put to make optimum use of this pious and beautiful relation.
During the times in school and college you sometimes feel like aggravated when you have to go through the bitter dose of teachings just to make you realize mistakes you are doing and expected to be improved by you. At certain stage of life you perceive that all that which has done or is happening has that hidden meaning in the course of action. May be that outcome can be visible in instant time or may it take long to prove the existence of its occurrence in series of life events.
Lot has said about Teacher-Student relations in different mythologies around the world wherein in Indian mythology teachers are brought equal to the stature of God, whereas guru mantra is mentioned in Guru stotram which says in Sanskrit and I quote ‘Gurur Brahmaa Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwarah Guruh Saakshaata Parabrahma Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah’ which means Guru(teacher) is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Maheshwara(Shiva), Guru is Supreme Brahma Itself, Prostration unto that Guru. This mantra is recited in praise of the Trimuthi, the hindu mythology talks about three manifestations of the almighty, Brahma –The Creator, Vishnu – The Preserver, Mahesh – The destroyer.
This Guru-Shishya parampara or lineage of relations between teacher and its pupil is defined meticulously in various ‘Vedas’, ‘Granthas’, and other holy books. Traditionally the word used for a succession or the cycle of passing down the knowledge through progressive generations from teacher to its disciples is known as ‘Parampara’ or an uninterrupted series of succession of knowledge.
In early days of mankind this succession of knowledge was based on oral lore, as mentioned in Upanishads. These Upanishads are a collection of texts that contain some of the philosophical teachings and concepts of Hinduism, some of these are shared with other religions like Buddhism and Jainism too. Even in Vedas the sacred books of Hinduism, it is mentioned that the knowledge of Brahman which is known as Brahmvidya was communicated from guru (teacher) to shishya(disciple) by oral lore.
Indian education system has been adored and respected worldwide for long time. Indian brilliant minds have proved their mettle time and again. India has been adorned as Vishva Guru or World Teacher for long say it be spiritualism, education, social structure, family values or anything else India has taught much to the world. Today is the time to bring that brightest part of this World Teacher identity in front of humanity to show the path of development and happiness to the world.
And this can be possible only when our teachers come up with their best and we as a student adapt the importance of knowledge and information. Today Indian professionals are doing wonders in scientific researches, information technology, astronomy, spiritual advancement and lot more. We had teachers like Aryabhata who was great mathematician and astronomer of ancient India, who was the pioneer to infer that the Earth is spherical and it rotates on its own axis. Due to this rotation day and night occurs. He even concluded that the moon is dark and shines only because of light of the sun. We have other mathematics geniuses like Srinivasa Ramanujan, who made substantial contribution to the analytical theory of numbers.
When you talk about famous teachers of the world or the best teachers in Indian history, we have teachers like Maharishi Valmiki, Ved Vyasa, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhans, Swami Dayanand Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Chanakya like political scholars who gave enormous contribution to politics and general ethics, great teacher and motivator like Gautam Buddha as Buddhism was founded on the basis of his teachings, Swami Vivekanand who mesmerized whole world with his spiritual speeches and sermons , and likes of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and many more who tremendously contributed in development of mankind.
Taking leads from those ancient days and between today’s times things have been changed immensely, what is not changed is the respect, commitment, devotion and obedience of the student towards teacher, which is said to be the best way for subtle or advance knowledge to be conveyed from teacher to student. In this learning process pupil eventually masters the knowledge that the teacher embodies. There are certain characteristics which are defined for Teacher-Student relations in ancient literature and books and are recognized as a path to Moksha or salvation for successive generations.
According to ancient time theories from Indian process of teaching these relations should be based on these attributions:
- The first and foremost characteristic of this relation is to establish this relation between the teacher and student.
- The next is to consider it with formal recognition, generally in a structured initiation ceremony where the teacher accepts the formal request or initiate of teaching by the pupil, here teacher also accepts responsibility for the spiritual well-being and progress of the disciple in all forms of life.
- In formal way of teachings this initiation process may include conveying of some esoteric wisdom or meditation techniques other than regular studies.
- One important ritual of this education/teaching process is to give Gurudakshina to teacher by its student. Gurudakshina is sought as a gift to the guru in some monetary form or may be something else according to teacher’s desire or student’s wish. This is marked as a token of gratitude towards teacher for assisting and showing the right path to student to grow in life spiritually, academically or any other ways.
- The student life according to ancient school of four age based life stages is called Brahmacharya, and the student is called Brahmchari. The Brahmchari-ashram(a place of spiritual shelter amongst four age based life stages), is often away from the home (somewhat like boarding school), was preliminary intended for fostering spiritual and humanity values in disciple. It was based on austere and rigorous training.
- Memorization and skill development were subsidiary to character formation and self-realization of the soul. While being into Brahmchari ashram you are supposed to live a simple and austere life, free from all sensual pleasures.
- To serve the Acharya(spiritual teacher), collect alms for him, to hear, study and assimilate the Vedas were the primary tasks for the pupil.
- To develop qualities like simplicity, hard work, humility, discipline, purity of thoughts soft-heartedness were the other qualities expected from them.
In modern day’s study and education process things have been changed a lot like in today’s time we have big school/college buildings with range of subjects available to study, Ashrams are replaced with smart and high-tech study rooms, tech-savvy teachers have taken place of ‘Acharyas’ from ancient times who were the back-bone of academics. As almost whole education scenario has been changed but still one thing is same as times before and that is respect and devotion towards teacher as we still give our teachers place equal to Gods.
Today school/college/universities are filled with students and they are guided by some immensely intelligent minds and are doing wonders in their fields. Education system has been changed and continuously improving for better results from very first teaching of some known/unknown teacher to its pupil. This refashion of education system has opened the doors for new and advanced technologies making lives of common being easy and comfortable.
We have done some great inventions and are able to lead successful and comfortable life just because of the efforts our teachers have put on us to make us good human being and intelligent minds. This whole world will stand still if the teachings and knowledge will put on stop, thus there will not be any inventions, no solutions to difficult situations, no developments, no answers to questions of existence of anything in the world thus nothing will remain in existence for long time.
So we should thank for those tireless and brilliant efforts from our substantially intelligent teachers to carry this world towards growth and happiness. Some brilliant minds from academics and education have supported this brilliant venture called AllstudyX to help ease the life of students to transect and make deals for their used goods within or around their school/college campus.
We at allstudyx provide online exchange platform to the students from all age groups to exchange their used goods in very easy and approachable manner. All you need to do is to place an ad for your used item online on www.allstudyx.com and wait for instant buyer. Even if you are a buyer you can choose product of your need from variety of used products available online at one click away.
We express our gratitude and feel blessed for the teachings of our perspicacious teachers and Acharya’s for laying foundation of Indian education system with their prudent and brilliant edification from ancient times. We hope this pious Teacher Student relations will remain with the sanctity and importance they are associated with always, as then only you can expect the well being of mankind and development of this whole world.
