The gurukula was a type of education system in ancient India where the shishyas (students) lived near or with the guru. The guru-shishya tradition is a sacred relationship that is the crux of the Gurukula.
Traditional Indian classical music is best learnt and mastered in the gurukula system. At the same time, today an academic education is necessary. These two important aspects are brought together under one roof at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth. It is probably the first university in the world to offer a degree programme where one learns Indian classical music in the gurukula system.
The guru-shishya parampara is an ancient one and is also known as the best system for focused learning. From the Vedic times, education in music has been imparted by the guru orally. This is referred to as guru-mukhi vidya. The best way to acquire the right knowledge of any form of lore is to understand it via guru-mukh. The student while living in a gurukula would offer services to the guru while at the same time living under stringent discipline, following a moderate lifestyle and perpetually practising and learning by rote whatever education the guru was providing. This was the only way to receive musical training.
It is an indisputable truth that knowledge of music can only be acquired through direct contact with the guru because music being a practical subject, books and notations etc. prove to be superficial . It is literally the ancient guru-shishya parampara that has taken Indian music to great heights.
A gurukula is renowned for its unique teaching methodology. Here the teaching pattern is intentionally designed to make the learning process much more interesting so that the legacy of classical music reaches the world with its values intact. This methodology, along with all the activities that are carried out at the gurukula, has made classical music attractive to the younger generation. Students absorb music not only through direct sessions but also through the environment they live in. Comprehensive understanding of music is possible through reading, listening and visualising to gain a broader perspective of the same, so that one can work on one’s creativity and come out with more innovative concepts.
Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth is a one of a kind gurukula, where the students are mentored personally by some of the world’s best artists in their respective fields.
Today it is imperative to ensure that teachers and students share a friendly relation of mutual respect. Children who feel secure and have trust in the caregiver are most likely to emulate the caregiver. This was present in the gurukula system. Today the same can be achieved through the use of activities and workshops to bond with the students.
Advantages of Gurukula Shiksha
1. The gurus have great knowledge and they know how to teach the most arduous of subjects.
2. In a gurukula learning is not time-bound. The shishyas learn at their own pace and come out only when they have gained expertise in the art.
3. The shishyas inherit a certain style and develop efficiency in it.
4. The students get well-trained and attain full authority in their art form.
5. The students develop humility and immense respect for the guru as they live a disciplined life. This way they learn the right attitude while learning the art.
6. Students are taught face-to-face, and even one-to-one.
7. The environment ensures that the shishya comes out as an artist.
Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth’s School of Kalayoga has taken up the task of nurturing and propagating the priceless heritage of Indian classical music, beginning with Hindustani Classical Music, through the tradition of the ‘guru-shishya parampara’. The aims and vision of the School is playing an important role in the resurgence and nurturing of this rich heritage.
The School of Kalayoga offers training in Indian Classical (presently, Hindustani) music in the traditional Gurukula system, with a blend of Indian Knowledge Systems, towards creating performing artists of the future.
