कैसे गुरुकुलों ने बनाया India को Superpower! | Gurukul History, Syllabus, and Routine | EP-29

Summary

This video script explores the rich history of ancient Indian Gurukuls, highlighting their role in shaping India's educational and cultural heritage. It delves into the life and works of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, the father of algebra, and his connection to Indian mathematical theories. The script outlines the daily routine, subjects taught, and the holistic education system of Gurukuls, which included mathematics, astronomy, music, medicine, and philosophy. It emphasizes the need to reintegrate the Gurukul's educational principles into modern education to alleviate student stress and foster a passion for learning.

Takeaways

• 📚 Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, born in the 8th century, is recognized as the father of algebra and algorithms, and his work was influenced by Indian mathematicians like Brahmagupta.
• 🏛 The House of Wisdom in Baghdad was a center for scientific studies and the translation of foreign texts into Arabic, playing a key role in the dissemination of knowledge.
• 🌏 The translation of Sanskrit texts into Arabic contributed to the advancement of Muslim scientific knowledge, which in turn influenced the Christian world and the Renaissance period in Europe.
• 🇮🇳 Indian Gurukuls were the original centers of education, laying the foundation for various fields of study and fostering a relationship between teacher and student akin to a family.
• 🧘‍♂️ The daily routine in Gurukuls included early morning rituals, yoga, classes, and evening worship, emphasizing a disciplined and holistic approach to learning.
• 📘 A wide range of subjects were taught in Gurukuls, including mathematics, astronomy, music, medicine, martial arts, economics, and philosophy, all inspired by the Vedas and their branches.
• 🌿 The Upavedas, derived from the Vedas, covered specialized knowledge areas such as Ayurveda (medicine), Dhanurveda (martial arts), Gandharvaveda (music), and Sthapatya Upaveda (architecture and economics).
• 📖 Important texts studied in Gurukuls included the Shushruta Samhita, Charak Samhita, Arthashastra by Chanakya, and Sangeet Ratnakar for music, among others.
• 🎼 The Gurukul system emphasized the importance of the arts and sciences, with a structured curriculum that nurtured intellectual and practical skills.
• 🌟 The Gurukul system produced great minds like Aryabhatta and Panini, contributing to India's status as an economic superpower in ancient times.
• 🚀 The script suggests that modern education systems could learn from the Gurukul model to address issues like student depression and lack of passion for learning.

Q & A

Who is considered the father of modern algebra and algorithms?

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi is considered the father of modern algebra and algorithms.

In which century was Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi born?

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was born in the eighth century.

What was the significance of the House of Wisdom established by Al-Ma'mun in Baghdad?

The House of Wisdom was established for research and development, where scholars like Al-Khwarizmi studied mathematics and science, and translated foreign texts into Arabic.

What is the relationship between the word 'Sindhind' and 'Siddhanta'?

The word 'Sindhind' is a corruption of the Sanskrit word 'Siddhanta', which was used in the titles of books on astronomy and mathematics translated into Arabic.

Which ruler started the tradition of translating Sanskrit texts into Arabic?

Al-Mansur started the tradition of translating Sanskrit texts into Arabic in the 7th century CE.

What was the impact of translating Arabic texts into European languages during the Renaissance period?

The translation of Arabic texts into European languages during the Renaissance period contributed to the progress and advancement of knowledge in Europe.

What is the literal meaning of 'Gurukul'?

The literal meaning of 'Gurukul' is 'Guru's Kul', where 'Kul' means family or dynasty, signifying the familial relationship between the Guru and the disciple.

What was the daily routine of a disciple in a Gurukul?

The daily routine of a disciple in a Gurukul included waking up early, bathing in a holy river, performing yoga, attending classes, going on alms, and participating in evening worship before dining and sleeping.

How many subjects were typically taught in a Gurukul?

There were about 18 to 20 subjects taught in a Gurukul, including Mathematics, Astronomy, Astrology, Crafts, Music, Language, Medicine, Martial Arts, Economics, and Philosophy.

What is the significance of the Gurukul system in modern education?

The Gurukul system can provide insights into holistic education, emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded curriculum, the relationship between teacher and student, and the integration of practical life skills and spiritual development.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Origins of Algebra and Gurukul Education

This paragraph introduces Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, an eighth-century scholar from the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan region, recognized as the father of algebra and algorithms. It discusses the significance of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, established by Al-Ma'mun, where Al-Khwarizmi studied and translated Indian mathematical concepts into Arabic. The script highlights the influence of Indian Gurukuls, which were educational institutions that laid the foundation for various disciplines and produced great minds like Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta. The paragraph also touches on the historical flow of knowledge from India to the Middle East and Europe, contributing to the Islamic Golden Age and the European Renaissance. It sets the stage for an exploration of the Gurukul system, its daily routine, subjects taught, and its role in shaping India's legacy.

05:01

🎼 The Curriculum and Subjects of Ancient Gurukuls

The second paragraph delves into the diverse curriculum of ancient Gurukuls, which included 18 to 20 subjects inspired by the Vedas and their respective Upavedas. It explains how each Upaveda, such as Ayurveda from Rigveda, Dhanurveda from Yajurveda, and Gandharvaveda from Samaveda, contributed to the development of various fields like medicine, warfare, music, and economics. The paragraph provides examples of texts studied in these fields, such as Shushruta Samhita for medicine, Sangeet Ratnakar for music, and Arthashastra by Chanakya for economics and governance. It also mentions the promotion of audiobooks as a modern method of learning, specifically recommending Kuku FM for its wide range of educational content in multiple languages.

10:03

🌟 The Vedangas, Upavedas, and Modern Reflections on Education

The final paragraph discusses the six subjects of Vedangas, which were crucial for preserving the original form of the Vedas through correct pronunciation and recitation. It outlines the subjects: Shiksha (phonetics), Chhand (poetic meters), Vyakarana (grammar), Nirukta (etymology), Kalpa (rituals), and Jyotish (astronomy and astrology). The paragraph also touches on the study of history, including the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita, in Gurukuls. It contrasts the holistic and diverse education of the Gurukul system with the modern education system, which is criticized for being business-oriented and causing stress among students. The speaker advocates for incorporating the positive aspects of Gurukul education into contemporary learning institutions to alleviate student distress and reignite a passion for learning.

Keywords

💡Al-Khwarizmi

Al-Khwarizmi, born in the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan region in the 8th century, is recognized as the father of algebra and algorithms. His contributions to the field of mathematics are foundational to modern computational and algebraic practices. In the video, his role is highlighted as he translated and expanded upon the works of Indian mathematicians, particularly Brahmagupta, which underscores the historical exchange of knowledge between cultures.

💡House of Wisdom

The House of Wisdom was an intellectual center established in Baghdad by the Muslim ruler Al-Ma'mun. It served as a hub for research and development, where scholars like Al-Khwarizmi studied and translated foreign texts into Arabic. The video emphasizes its significance as a beacon of the Islamic Golden Age, illustrating the confluence of scientific and philosophical ideas from various cultures.

💡Gurukul

A Gurukul refers to an ancient Indian residential school where students lived and learned under the guidance of a Guru. The term 'Gurukul' itself means 'Guru's family', highlighting the familial relationship between the teacher and the taught. The video discusses the Gurukul system's role in shaping India's intellectual and spiritual history, and its potential lessons for modern education.

💡Upavedas

Upavedas are subsidiary Vedas, which are considered to have branched out from the main Vedas, each focusing on a specific field of knowledge. The video mentions several Upavedas, such as Ayurveda from Rigveda for medicine, Dhanurveda from Yajurveda for warfare, and Sthapatya Upaveda from Atharvaveda for architecture and civics. These Upavedas represent the diverse curriculum taught in ancient Gurukuls.

💡Vedangas

Vedangas are the six auxiliary disciplines that support the study and recitation of the Vedas. They include Shiksha (phonetics), Chhand (prosody), Vyakarana (grammar), Nirukta (etymology), Kalpa (ritual procedures), and Jyotish (astronomy and astrology). The video explains their importance in preserving the Vedas and the integral role they played in the Gurukul education system.

💡Brahmagupta

Brahmagupta was a notable Indian mathematician and astronomer whose works significantly influenced the development of mathematics. The video script mentions his theories that were translated and further expounded upon by Al-Khwarizmi, indicating the global impact of Indian mathematical thought.

💡Acharya Chanakya

Acharya Chanakya was an ancient Indian teacher, philosopher, and author of the 'Arthashastra', a treatise on economics, politics, and governance. In the video, his work is highlighted as a key text studied in Gurukuls, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of ancient Indian education that included practical knowledge alongside spiritual and philosophical teachings.

💡KuKu FM

KuKu FM is mentioned in the video as a platform for audiobooks, offering a wide range of titles including religious scriptures, historical accounts, and case studies. The script promotes it as a resource for learning and personal development, aligning with the video's theme of continuous education and the pursuit of knowledge.

💡Renaissance

The Renaissance is a period in European history characterized by a revival of learning based on classical sources and the development of new ideas and techniques. The video mentions the Renaissance as a result of the translation of Arabic texts into European languages, showing the script's emphasis on the historical flow of knowledge and its impact on cultural development.

💡Ganga of knowledge

The term 'Ganga of knowledge' is used metaphorically in the video to describe the flow of knowledge and wisdom that originated from India and influenced various cultures and regions, including the Middle East and Europe. It symbolizes the rich intellectual heritage of India and its contribution to global learning.

💡Yagyopaveet Sanskar

Yagyopaveet Sanskar, also known as Upnayan Sanskar, is a traditional Hindu ceremony of the sacred thread, performed for a disciple upon admission to a Gurukul. The video script describes this ceremony as the first step in the Gurukul education process, emphasizing the cultural and spiritual aspects of the educational system.

Highlights

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, born in the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan region in the 8th century, is known as the father of modern algebra and algorithms.

Al-Khwarizmi translated and expanded on the theories of Indian mathematicians, particularly Brahmagupta, in his works.

The term 'Zij as-Sindhind' is an Arabic translation of Sanskrit astronomical scriptures, with 'Sindhind' being a corruption of 'Siddhanta'.

Al-Mansur, an Arab ruler, initiated the translation of Sanskrit texts into Arabic, contributing to the Islamic Golden Age.

Christians began translating Arabic works into their own language to keep pace with Muslim advancements in education and research.

The Renaissance period in Europe was influenced by the translation and spread of knowledge from India through the Middle East.

Indian Gurukuls are credited with pioneering the concept of residential education and establishing educational criteria and relationships.

Gurukuls produced geniuses like Panini, Patanjali, and Brahmagupta, contributing to India's status as an economic superpower.

The Gurukul system had a structured daily routine for disciples, including waking up early, bathing, yoga, and various classes.

Disciples in Gurukuls had the option to study 18 subjects, ranging from mathematics to music and martial arts.

The subjects taught in Gurukuls were inspired by the Vedas and included specialized fields like Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, and Sthapatya Veda.

Important texts such as Shushruta Samhita, Charak Samhita, and Arthashastra were part of the Gurukul curriculum.

Vedangas, the six auxiliary disciplines of the Vedas, were crucial for preserving the original form and correct pronunciation of the Vedas.

The Gurukul system emphasized a holistic education, including physical, spiritual, and intellectual development.

Modern education can learn from Gurukuls by implementing aspects that can reduce student depression, anxiety, and dispassion with life.

The video encourages the use of platforms like Kuku FM for audiobook learning to make use of idle time productively.

Transcripts

Friends Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, who

was born in the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan region in the eighth century, is considered the father of modern algebra and algorithms. By the beginning of the eighth century,

Muslim rulers had conquered the Persian region and made Baghdad the center of trade

and scientific studies. At the same time, there was a Muslim ruler named Al-Ma'mun in Baghdad, who

established a House of Wisdom there for research and development, and in this House of Wisdom, Al-Khwarizmi used to

study mathematics and science, along with translating foreign texts into Arabic.

I am telling you all this because Al-Khawarizmi has translated the concepts and theories of Indian mathematicians,

especially of Brahmagupta in his books. And did his bit further expounding on those theories.

His book Zij as-Sindhind which is an Arabic translation of Sanskrit astronomical scriptures and the

word 'Sindhind' is a corruption of Sanskrit word 'Siddhanta'. When this word of Sanskrit went to Arab,

then there they called 'Siddhanta' as 'Sindhind' and these books which are Sanskrit books,

be it astronomy or mathematics, there was an Arab ruler named Al-Mansur,

he brought them from India in the 7th century CE. In fact, it was he who

started the tradition of getting Sanskrit texts translated into Arabic. Now what happened because of this, the Arabs or you can say that that Muslims

started getting ahead of the Christians, and this period was the golden period of Islam. Progress was made in many

things in these centuries, so when Christians felt that Muslims would go ahead in education, would

become technologically strong in their research works, then Christians also

started translating these Arabic translations into their own language. And then we saw that from 13th, 14th century,

changes started taking place in Europe as well, which later was called as Renaissance period. So everyone has bathed in the Ganga of knowledge which

flowed out of India till Europe and when Middle East bathed, Middle East attacked India

and when Europe bathed, Europe attacked India because everyone wanted to win this golden land.

And if anyone has the hand behind this golden land becoming golden, then it is the Indian Gurukuls. These

are the Gurukuls who first gave the whole world the concept of studying by staying in hostels.

These are the Gurukuls where it was decided what should be the criteria of education,

what should be the relationship between Acharya and Shishya, and Shastrarth i.e. how to conduct a debate,

what is the 'Kulpati' who today is called by the English Vice-Chancellor. These are the Gurukuls who have given India

geniuses like Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, Panini, Patanjali, Acharya Chanakya, Brahmagupta, Aryabhatta, Varahmihir

who made India an economic super power in the whole world. So friends, welcome to

the episode number 29 of Hyper Quest. In today's episode, we will see how Gurukul used to function,

what was the routine, what subjects were taught, and what was their role in making India a world

leader. Friends, videos on Gurukul will come in future also, there we will know what

today's universities and schools can learn from Gurukuls. Now without any delay, let's start the video.

Friends, the literal meaning of Gurukul is: Guru's Kul. Kul means family or dynasty,

like Raghukul we have heard, so what is Raghukul, Raghukul is the genealogy of King Ram ji, his family. Thus,

a Gurukul meant the same way; since the relationship between Guru and disciple is seen as a family, hence it was called Gurukul.

and that is why among the three main pillars of Gurukul, the first is the Guru, the second is the disciple,

the third is the ashram. What was the role of the Guru in this? It was the job of the Guru to keep the disciples in the ashram,

teach them, and guide them in their research and the work of the disciple was to help in the

work of the Guru in the ashram and learn from his behavior, so this was the primitive structure of Gurukul.

Of what it looked like. Now let us see how the daily routine of the disciples looked like [music]

Friends, when a disciple was admitted to the Gurukul, first of all his

Upnayan Sanskar was performed, which is also known as Yagyopaveet Sanskar and After this ceremony, the disciple

entered the ashram of the Guru taking the vow of celibacy. After this, in the daily routine,

the first thing to do was to wake up in the Brahma Muhurta. Then if there is a holy river nearby, especially if

it is the Ganges river or any other river, then one used to bathe there. After that, Surya Namaskar was performed and

other asanas of yoga were practiced. After that classes would start, around seven, or a quarter past seven

And the classes used to run till 11:15. After 11:15, the disciples used to go on alms again, which we also

call Madhukari. They used to take some rest after eating some part of whatever was available there and

after that classes were started again from 2.30 pm which continued till evening worship. When the evening

worship was done, the disciples used to return to their respective places after receiving the Prasadam. Then after that they

used to gather to dine and then they were sent to sleep. So by and large it

used to be a routine and what I have talked about the classes which used to take place twice,

students had the option of about 18 subjects to understand, study, and do their researches. So now let us see

which subjects were these and what kind of syllabus was there and which books were studied.

[music]

Friends, on hearing the name of Gurukul, today it comes to our mind that pundits must be

made there to perform Yagya Havan, but it is not so. It is mentioned that about 18 to 20 subjects like

Mathematics, Astronomy, Astrology, Crafts, Music, Language, Medicine, Martial Arts, Economics, Philosophy were taught there.

And all these subjects were inspired by the Vedas, which were

also called Upavedas. From each Veda, a branch has emerged, a Upveda has emerged, like if you

look at Rigveda, Ayurveda has emerged from Rigveda and medical methods have been developed from there. Medical

knowledge has advanced from there. If you go to Yajurveda, Dhanurveda has emerged from there, it is also called Upveda,

from this Dhanurveda itself, the art of warfare and its science have been developed from it.

Gandharvaveda has emerged from Samaveda. So all of the musics including the art of Indian classical singing, all its

branches have been developed from this Upveda. After that comes Atharvveda from which Sthapatya Upveda has come.

Sthapatya Upaveda has all that knowledge, all that specific knowledge that

can discipline our human life, such as economics, civics, political science, or your architecture, sculpture,

all these have come from Atharvaveda. So we will look at all these subjects, look at their syllabus and also

try to see which were the books that were taught. In such a situation, first of all, we see

that Ayurveda originated from Rigveda and medicine was a very important subject. Not only curative,

but also preventive treatments were given a lot of emphasis and in the curriculum of ancient Gurukuls, the Shushruta

Samhita, the Charak Samhita, the Bela Samhita, or your Sharangdhar Samhita,

these were taught under medicine. And then as there was further development in the field of medicine, after the seventh century,

new books were also added to the syllabus like Ashtanga Nighantu, Siddhasara Nighantu or

your Dravyawali or Dravyagun Sangrah etc. were also added to the curriculum.

You will find the pdf link of all these books in the description box, and you can study them

by going there. Then after that comes Gandharvaveda, it is a sub-veda of Samaveda and all of the music scriptures were born from it

,here Sangeet Ratnakar is the main book which was taught in Gurukulas for education on music

and then we talked about Dhanurveda which is the upveda of Yajurveda and there are some important

books like Vashishtha Dhanurveda, Shiv Dhanurveda, and Niti Prakasika, which

were studied for this course. Then after that from Atharva Veda came Sthapatya Upveda, from which we

study economics, crafts etc. So what was taught in this? The most important book was by

Acharya Chanakya who wrote his book Arthashastra. This Arthashastra book was

taught in Gurukuls not only for diplomacy, but also for politics, the art of governance and economics. So this book

is a very detailed book and there used to be a very long course. So if you read this book Arthashastra which

is written by Chanakya ji then you will get to learn a lot of things, and friends if you cannot

read such a big book, you do not have a lot of time, then I would recommend that you Listen to audiobooks and

a great platform for that is Kuku FM. I have listened to Acharya Chanakya ji's

audiobook on economics on Kuku FM by listening to Chanakya Neeti. It is a very detailed audiobook,

you get all 17 chapters there and this audiobook is available in five languages ​​including Hindi,

so you can go there and listen to learn all about Acharya Chanakya's politics and diplomacy in your free time.

Friends, while sleeping at night or doing some routine work, by putting headphones in the ear

I keep listening to audio books.This way my work gets over without much boredom and I

get to learn something new. Plus what happens is that by listening to audio book, your screen time on your mobile

reduces which is very important for your mental peace and health of the eyes and Kuku FM

offers you hundreds of audiobooks in almost every category, so there are more than 10,000 titles available

here . If you want to listen to religious scriptures, listen to Ramayana, listen to Mahabharata,

listen to Bhagwat Gita, listen to Garud Purana, then all these are also available. If you like history, then what was the Chola dynasty,

what was the Ahom dynasty, or what was the Gupta dynasty, you can listen to all these titles. If you like case studies

, you want to know whether Aryan invasion theory is true or not or what

is the secret behind Dwarka city, what is the secret of Mount Kailash, then all these titles are also available. So

you will not get a better platform than this to learn things. Already 2.5 million paid subscribers are enjoying

the benefits of KuKu FM on a daily basis. Friends, you get to listen to all these audiobooks for just Rs 99 per month,

but if you use the coupon code: 'HYPER50', then you will get the first month's subscription for Rs 49 only,

which is not even ₹ 2 daily. So friends make your time on KuKu FM even more productive

from today itself. I have put the download link in the description box below,

you must check out. Friends, now let's move towards other subjects which were taught in Gurukul.

Friends, there were six subjects under Vedang course and these were called six parts of Vedang.

The Vedas were protected by them only. Protection of Vedas means that which is the original form of Vedas,

since it used to be taught orally earlier, things should not go wrong due to pronunciation; otherwise

these mistakes will increase generation after generation and the form of Vedas will get distorted. These studies

were very important and this was definitely taught to the child. Now these were the six parts, there were six subjects,

'Shiksha' comes first among them. It was taught in 'Shiksha' that your vowels, consonants, letters,

how they are pronounced. A child must correctly pronounce these. After that came 'Chhand'. 'Chhand' was the second subject,

in which poetic meters were explained to you. Means what is the matra of Laghu and Guru.

It was taught how many types of poems can be made with their different combinations. Third is 'Vyakaran',

in this subject you were taught Sanskrit grammar, how sentences are made correctly, how 'Sandhis' [Word Formation] are made

If you want to make Sutras [Short forms] then how will they be made and the important book on this subject was

Ashtadhyai by Panini ji. Ashtadhyai was taught here. Friends, if you

want some basic knowledge on Ashtadhyai, ​​then I had also made a video, the link must be appearing, you

can go there and watch that video. And if your interest is more then you must visit ashtadhyayi.com. It is a complete website

for you if you want to learn Ashtadhyayi. So these are the three subjects of Vedang. Now the fourth subject

used to be 'Nirukta' and here it was told that how words have been derived, means

why the meaning of the words become the way they mean. After that the fifth subject was 'Kalpa' and in 'Kalpa' the

rituals given to you in the Vedas were practiced in their purest form

and after that the sixth was 'Jyotish' where you would receive knowledge on astronomy and astrology.

Because in ancient India, there was a belief that all the works of mankind depended on the movement of the planets,

so this was also taught. So these six subjects are: 'Shiksha', 'Chhanda', 'Vyakarana', 'Nirukta', '

Kalpa' and after that the last one is your 'Jyotish', together they used to protect the Vedas and this course was very

important for the Brahmchari disciples. So I have told about Vedangas and Upavedas. Thus apart from Vedas and Upanishads

Vedangas and Upavedas were also studied. Further, you were also taught history

where you were given knowledge on subjects like Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita.

So you can see that there was a choice of many subjects in the Gurukuls. For this reason, not

only Indians but also foreigners used to come and study in Gurukuls and friends, if you

look at today's modern education, today's education has become only a business. Here the parents see

how many lakhs they have spent on the education of their child, that is why they also want that the child

also get the package in lakhs. Coaching is also taking lakhs from you to get you a package of lakhs.

No one wants to stop for a minute and think why are we doing all this. Because

in our childhood, we used to study in a closed room for 8 hours daily, stuck to the chair, and when we got a

job, there too we stuck to the same chair for 8 to 10 hours. Neither our backbone

is left nor the will inside us to live. Today 's era has become modern but

we will have to bring the good things of Gurukul someday. We can bring back the old Gurukuls for

the society has changed. We live in a modern world and It is impossible to do such a thing again,

but we can definitely implement those good things in our universities and schools,

through which the depression we see in students, the anxiety we see and the problems of dispassion

with life among them can be removed. So friends we will definitely bring a video in future

where we will see those five-six things from Gurukul that we can implement today so that today's

education system can help children, disciples, students reach their life objectives.

And friends, if you also have big objectives, then make good use of your time, do not waste it, go and

start listening to lots of informative books on KuKu FM today itself. Friends, I

have given the link below in the description box, definitely download it. Friends, I hope that

through this video you would have come to know that how our ancient Gurukul used to work, what was the routine,

what subjects were taught there. If you liked the video then

do share it with your family and friends. Subscribe to the channel as well because every week we bring

such videos related to religion, science, and Indian history. Now I will stop this video

here. See you in a new video with a new topic. Till then Jai Shri Ram!

[music]