Pedagogical Aspects
in Rik Pratishakhya
See, How the Rig Pratishaakhya
describes pedagogical aspects of the Teacher & the taught. The Teacher
should teach being a Brahmacaari (at the time of teaching). Whom the Teacher
should teach? The pupil who is devoted to the Teacher and the Study is to be
taught.
How they be positioned? The
Teacher should sit facing East, North or East-North. How the disciples be
positioned? If there are One or Two learners then they should sit on the South.
If there are so many learners they can sit as per the availability of space and
convenience.
Then the learners should touch
the feet of the teacher and having their hands on their head, they should pray
the teacher that they are ready for learning. The teacher should reply by
chanting OM with three Maatraas. Both the teacher and the learner should feel
that they are in an auspicious duty.
Do not mix up the previous lesson
with the later one.
Then the teachers shall begin
teaching having recited OM.
When starting Prashna (a part of
Rik), the teacher should start from the student who is on the south.
Teacher shall recite the word
with all udatta svara twice. (For general instruction, the teacher shall repeat
the content wherever there is a chance for doubt).
If the teacher recited two or
more words, the student at the south direction has to recite first, then the
other students. However, in this rule, there seems liberty as this rule is only
for the south Indian teaching as explained by the commentator and for other
parts of the country any student can recite first followed by the others.
Before seeking clarification the
student should say first “Sir” then he shall seek clarification. Once the
clarification is over, the student should pronounce “Om Sir” conveying that
clarification is over.. See the difference when seeking clarification, first “Sir”,
at the end “OM Sir”.
During teaching, the teacher
should utter one word if it is a compound one, or two words if it is
non-compound.
Thus, in this order, the students
recite that part repeatedly.
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