We may have often wondered how education was in ancient India? What was the system and what process was followed? How was the teacher-student relationship?
The answer is that education was a collaborative effort between the teacher and the student where both the teacher and student seeked to be uplifted. This is depicted in the famous ‘Sahana-vavatu’ chant which used to be chanted before their joint study.
सह नाववतु | सह नौ भुनक्तु | सह वीर्यं करवावहै |
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ||
Let us understand the meaning in detail,
सह नाववतु | सह नौ भुनक्तु |
Please protect we both together (teacher & student). Please nourish we both together (teacher & student).
सह – Together
नौ – We both
अवतु – Please protect
भुनक्तु – Please nourish
सह वीर्यं करवावहै |
Together may we both accomplish great valiant tasks.
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु
May our joint study be filled with radiance.
मा विद्विषावहै
May there not be any difference of opinion/dispute between us.
