purpose and the nature of education

purpose and the nature of education 

 to the purpose and the nature of education imparted in theancient India. In ancient India, learning was pursued, notfor its own sake, but for the sake of and as a part of religion.It was sought as a means for the ultimate end of life (i.e.,salvation). The mainaim of education was training of themind as an instrument of knowledge and the discharge ofone’s dharma (duty or moral-ethical value). Education wasalso conceivedas the means to develop the physical and thesubtle body, so that the inner spirit or the pure consciousnesscan express itself without getting hampered by the illusionsof the world. In this context, it was felt that the purposeof education was to train and exercise the five sheaths orlayers – physical (gross body), vital (subtle body), mental,intellectual and spiritual – in such a way as to make themthe sound instruments for leading a good life (Kabir, 1961).However, the meaning and aims of education underwenta change according to the social, political and the culturalconditions of different periods. For instance, education inmedieval India was confined to the ideals and goals of life. The meaning of education has been visualised in differentways in the post-independence period by the Indian thinkersand educationists. Among the many great thinkers who havecontemplated on the meaning of education,