Education System in Noorumbada

The standard of culture of the people in a region or country is reflected in the education that is imparted to them. 'Ancient Indian education was predominantly religious'. This system of education was considered as a means to attain salvation or self-realisation, atma-jnana in the ancient period. It was for this reason only that while making religious grants, people many a time, also made donations to the educational institutions, which were usually attached to the temple or matha and for the maintenance of the teacher and the taught. Thus, usually the temples served as the centres of education. Obviously, the various records indicate even in Noorumbada the prevalence of the same system of education. The epigraphs also indicate that, as in other parts of ancient India, in Noorumbada too, a close relationship between the teacher and the faught prevailed, for the students usually lived in a common home with the teacher. Hence, the disciples were often described in the records as anicvasi, meaning the home of the teacher, which was also the school, gurnkiila, in those days.