Gurukul
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A Gurukul (Guru refers to "teacher" or "master"; Kul refers to his domain) is a type of ancient Hindu school in India that is residential in nature with the shishyas or students and the guru or teacher living in proximity, many a time within the same house[1]. The Gurukul is the place where the students resided together as equals, irrespective of their social standing. The students learns from the guru and also helps the guru in his day-to-day life, including the carrying out of mundane chores such as TAKING CARE OF COW HERDS (This is very important because later they are recognised as alumni of the gurukul as Gothra, which in vedic language means 'taking care of cows'. The usual question used to be what is your gothra. That means in which gurukul you were taking care of cows. Even today many communities use this word Gothra to identify themselves, but, unfortunately is delinked from gurukul system and is meaningless in the present context), washing clothes, cooking, etc.
The guru-shishya parampara is a hallowed tradition in Hinduism, and has also carried over into Sikhism. At the end of a shishya's study, the guru asks for a "guru dakshina," since a guru does not take fees. A guru dakshina is the final offering from a student to the guru before leaving the ashram. The teacher may ask something or nothing at all.
[edit] References
- ^ Cheong Cheng, Cheong Cheng Yin, Tung Tsui Kwok Tung Tsui, Wai Chow King Wai Chow, Magdalena Mo Ching Mok (Eds.) (2002). Subject Teaching and Teacher Education in the New Century: Research and Innovation. Springer, p.194. 9629490609.
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