Cultivating Common Sense And Wisdom Through Hindu NitiShastras
                      
Cultivating Common Sense And Wisdom Through Hindu 
NitiShastras
 
Chaitanya Kumari
Writes informational articles on ancient Indian 
artisan vocational education,what is niti ,
Niti shastra  along with others articles on 
finance, health,philosophy, social skills, 
technology, wellness and wisdom.
Ancient Wisdom Beyond Academics
A long time before the modern systems of education were formalized, the 
Gurukul system of Hinduism taught people how to become wise, balanced, 
and morally upright citizens. The instruction in the Gurukul did not confine 
itself to literacy or to reciting the scriptures - it was an exclusive system of 
training the common sense, the useful intelligence, the emotional maturity, 
and the moral wisdom. The students were taught to live with consciousness, 
self-control, and compassion to gain a profound perception of the world, life, 
and spiritual reality.
 
Role of NitiShastras in Character Formation
The core of this comprehensive education was the NitiShastras, ancient texts 
on morals, statecraft, behavior, and administration of life. Literary works such 
as the ChanakyaNiti, ViduraNiti, and Hitopadesha were used as living guides 
to the art of developing discernment (viveka), prudence, and ethical 
reasoning. According to these Shastras, the wisdom originated in the right 
understanding, not what to think, but how to think. They stressed that niti 
(ethics) did not merely mean acting in accordance with rules, but to balance 
the activities with the dharma, the universal law of righteousness and 
balance.
 
Education Rooted in Real Life
The Gurukul education was highly experiential in contrast to the abstract 
systems and exam systems of the current era. Students acquired lessons by 
learning in everyday life, serving their teachers, looking at nature, and using 
logic in everyday life. These teachings developed an intuition of judgment, 
both in the political tactics of Kautilya and the fables of Panchatantra. They 
taught students to differentiate between reality and illusion, bravery and false 
modesty, generosity and debauchery, virtues that no one can be a good 
leader or citizen without.
 
Common Sense as a Sacred Skill
Contemporary education neglects such an important aspect of education as 
common sense, the power to use knowledge in a sensible manner in context. 
Hindu education in ancient times held it sacred as the source of all 
knowledge. This situational awareness and decision-making were honed by 
discussion, reflection, and guided questioning, which we now call critical 
thinking.
Wisdom as the Goal, Not Information
Vidya (education) was judged not based on what one knew but on how one 
lived in the Gurukul. Without humility, knowledge was viewed as dangerous. 
This was intended to open the buddhi - the higher intellect, which controls the 
feelings and desires through reason and pity. The teachers (gurus) were not 
only respected as teachers but as spiritual guides, molding the inner 
personality of the student as much as his or her smartness.
 
Reviving Ancient Niti in Modern Education
In the face of moral confusion and a value crisis the current society is 
struggling with, the NitiShastras remain a source of eternal truth. Their 
instruction helps to remind us that learning should not only make careers 
clear but also conscience as well. The postulates of niti, the principles of 
truth, patience, foresight, humility, and self-control, can be integrated into the 
contemporary curricula so as to bring about a balance between the intellect 
and integrity, ambition and ethics.
Sanskrit and Linguistic Heritage
India's linguistic heritage has been enriched greatly in classical languages such 
as Sanskrit, Pali, Tamil, and Prakrit. Sanskrit, otherwise known as the mother of 
all European languages, is the language of ancient Indian scriptures, and it has 
been noted that it has a logical structure.
Ancient Gurukul studies had 4 of the 6 Vedangas focusing on language and 
communication -  Siksha for phonetics, Vyakarna for grammar and Chanda for 
prosody and Nirukta for etymology. The emphasis on clear communication for 
quality education cannot be missed.
 
 
Innovations in Sciences and Tech
The ancient Indians had tremendous development in metallurgy. 
Astronomically, the nation achieved great steps in celestial bodies' knowledge 
and time. More than 1,400 years before modern calculations, Aryabhata 
estimated the circumference of the world. India was also a pioneer in ancient 
medical science. Sushruta, a very ancient Indian surgeon, is also believed to 
have made the biggest contribution in the world of Surgery, more specifically, 
the Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery) and Ophthalmology (cataract removal).
Conclusion
The ancient Hindu Gurukul system perceived education as the path of 
ignorance to understanding, of selfishness to service. The NitiShastras gave 
the guidelines on how to lead a clear, compassionate, and courageous life. 
The revival of this practice nowadays can serve not merely to produce 
intelligent men, but wise, responsible, and conscious men - the real object of 
education since time immemorial.
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