Pathasala

For the 2010 Indian Hindi-language film, see Paathshaala. For the 2014 Indian Telugu-language film, see Paathasala. For other uses, see Pathshala (disambiguation).

In Hinduism, a pathasala (IAST:Pāṭhaśālā; also written as pathashala) is a traditional religious school where knowledge of the Vedas and Sanskrit is taught. Before British rule, along with gurukulas, pathasalas served as primary educational institutions in India. Pathasalas were non-residential in nature, where as gurukalas were residential. In India, the term pathasala has become synonymous with the term vidyalaya which refers to school.

Photograph of a pathasala class held at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab, 1908

See also

• Gurukula – Traditional Indian religious education system
• Shakha – Hindu theological school
• Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
• Sadvidya Pathashala
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya

Sources

• Cenkner, William (1995). A Tradition of Teachers: Śaṅkara and the Jagadgurus Today. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0932-1.

External links

The dictionary definition of pathshala at Wiktionary