Svādhyāya or Self study

The word Svādhyāya is composed of Svā+adhyāya. Svā means one’s own self. Adhyāya means lesson or chapter reading. Therefore, it means one’s own reading lesson.

In other words, the word Svā means one’s own self and Dhyāya means meditating on. The root of Adhyāya and Dhyāya is from “Dhyai” which means “think of, imagine, contemplate, meditation^[1]. Therefore it literary means ‘to study one’s own self.

The term Svādhyāya was explained in number of ways in the scriptures. Some authorities mentioned that only reciting, repeating and rehearsing of Vedic text was the Svādhyāya. But the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa pointed out the efficacy of Svādhyāya. The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa mentions that it was the Brahmayajña^[2]. Through the Svādhyāya of Vedas a person can achieve eternal or imperishable fame. It is also pointed out that by regular self study of Vedas an individual becomes lover of the Vedas. He becomes self satisfied and never depended upon any one. He enjoys sound sleep. He becomes perfect physician of the soul and he also gains the control over senses. His power of concentration, intellect and comprehension increases. He goes on developing his intellect and succeeds in discharging the obligation of his religion^[3].

The Manusmṛti refers that it is the greatest Tapasyā^[4].The Āpastamba Dharmasūtra states Svādhyāya is a form of Tapas^[5]. Because through the Svādhyāya a man acquires proficiency in the Śāstras and he becomes successful in his life^[6]. That is why, the Mahābhārata states that ‘vedaṃ ca nityaśaḥ’ that means one should study the Vedas daily^[7].

For this Svādhyāya or self study, the Upaniṣads give three steps of learning i.e., Śravaṇa, Manana and Nididhyāsana^[8].Through this students first studiously listen the words of the preceptor, after that they understand the meaning of the mantras with proper recitation and ultimately realized the metaphysical truths of the instructions through his own experience and contemplation. Like that the Buddhist scriptures also mention three steps of learning viz., Śruta, Cintā and Bhāvanā^[9]. These three steps are equivalent to Śravaṇa, Manana and Nididhyāsana. Because these steps also signify that the students first read the portion of the scriptures, then understand the instruction and ultimately absorb the meaning of the text through their own experience. During the age the teachers always encouraged their students that they had to daily practice their instruction for the realization of ultimate knowledge of the truth. In the Taittirīya Upaniṣad^[10] we find that Varuṇa after giving his son Bhṛgu the outline of divine knowledge instructed him to realize it through the continuous self realization. Bhṛgu adopting this method gained the real knowledge after four years. In the Cāndogya Upaniṣad^[11] we also find that Aruṇi also gave the similar instructions to his son.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Monier-Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary,P 521,1277.

[2]:

Svādhyāyo vai brahmayajñaḥ |Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 11.5.6.3.

[3]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa VII.1.

[4]:

Vedābhyāso hi viprasya tapaḥ paramihocayate|| Manusmṛti II.166.

[5]:

tapaḥ svādhyāya iti brāhmaṇam || Āp.Ds.I.4.12.1.

[6]:

Yathā yathā hi puruṣaḥ śātraṃ samadhigacchati| tathā tathā vijānāti vijñanañcāsya rocate||Manusmṛti IV.17-20.

[7]:

Mahābhārata Anu.104.39.

[8]:

Ātmā va are draṣṭabhyaḥ srotabhyo mantabhyo nididhyāsitavyo maitreyyātmano va are darśanena sravaṇena matyā bijañānenedaṃ sarvaṃ viditaṃ ||Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad II.4.5.

[9]:

Das, S.K The Educational system of the ancient Hindus,Ryan Publishing House, New Delhi,1996.P.178.

[10]:

Tapasā brahma vijijñāsasva |tapo brahmeti |sa tapohatapyate|Taittirīya Upaniṣad III.2.

[11]:

Chāndogya Upaniṣad VI.