Here’s How Ancient Indian Parenting Values and Approaches Changed Over Time.
Hey everyone, this History Mystery, I’m back with another intriguing blog! Today’s topic revolves around the shift in Indian parenting towards authoritative parenting.
Parenting is undoubtedly a critical and challenging aspect of human life but have you ever wondered how parenting values and approaches have transformed over the ages in India?
Imagine the ancient parents of India, just like parents today, navigating the intricate landscape of raising children to become responsible and successful adults. And what if we told you that their parenting style evolved dramatically, from stern authoritarianism to a more tender and empathetic approach?
In this blog post, we journey through time to explore how ancient Indian parenting styles unfolded and various factors, including cultural, religious, and philosophical influences, that have played a pivotal role in driving this change.
The Parenting Style Of Ancient Indians
Before we delve into the factors that set ancient Indians apart from the strict authoritarian parenting practices of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Sparta, let’s take a closer look at the original parenting style of ancient Indian parents.
The Ancient Indians practiced an authoritative parenting style just like parents in Greece, and Athens, emphasizing warmth, guidance, and control.
The emphasis was on instilling values, respect, and a sense of responsibility, rather than on enforcing harsh punishments.
Parents provided a nurturing environment, taught moral values, and practiced disciplined love. They respected individuality and autonomy, arranged marriages, and ensured family welfare.
According to some sources, the concept of samskaras is prescribed by ancient Indian texts, such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Dharmashastras also significantly influenced the parenting practices in ancient India.
Samskaras prepared children for life’s four goals:
· Dharma (righteousness)
· Artha (wealth)
· Kama (pleasure)
· Moksha (liberation)
Buddhism And Jainism Convincing On Parenting
Ancient Indian society was deeply rooted in spiritual and moral principles. The emergence and spread of Buddhism and Jainism in ancient India emphasized non-violence (ahimsa) and compassion as core values and this philosophy extended to child-rearing practices.
Physical punishments in ancient India weren’t completely gone but were used mildly and infrequently. The focus shifted more toward compassion and empathy just like what we witnessed in the case of shift towards authoritative parenting in Ancient Greece.
Buddhism and Jainism played a big part in this change, promoting gentleness. As a result, ancient Indian parenting became more about understanding and kindness, and less about strict punishment.
Bhakti Movement And Its Influence On Ancient Indian Parenting
The Bhakti movement was a religious and social reform movement focused on personal and emotional devotion to a god or goddess.
It gained prominence in India during the medieval period and encouraged devotion, love, and a more personal relationship with the divine while challenging some of the hierarchal norms and practices of ancient Indian society.
How Bhakti Movement influenced the parenting practices in ancient India?
The Bhakti movement and various Bhakti saints impacted ancient Indian parenting in two key ways. These changes greatly affected parenting, just like Greek philosophers influence on parenting practices in their time.
· First, it led to more kindness and acceptance for children, no matter their cast, gender, and ability differences. Bhakti saints like Kabir, Ravidas, Tukaram, and Mirabai expressed love for children and criticized oppressive treatment by parents and teachers.
· Second, it encouraged personal and emotional parent-child bonds over formal hierarchies. Bhakti saints like Surdas, Tulsidas, Chaitanya, and Nammalvar depicted deity devotion as childlike love and dependence, portraying their deity as an unconditionally caring parent.
Cultural Evolution And Adaptation
Factors such as trade, urbanization, and exposure to different cultures led Ancient Indian society to different lifestyles and opportunities. They increased the diversity of societal norms and parenting practices.
Influence of Dynasties/ Rulers:
Rulers and dynasties contributed to different regions, as they advocated for more benevolent and inclusive governance in parenting approaches and led to methods that focused on teaching values rather than the use of strict and corporal disciplinary methods.
Preserving Core Values Amidst Change
Despite evolution, ancient Indian culture held steadfast to its traditional values. Respect for elders and core beliefs guided parenting approaches, creating a blend of timeless wisdom and evolving practices.
Philosophical Wisdom Of Advaita Vedanta
The emergence of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy marked a profound shift towards unity. This new perspective influenced parenting practices by emphasizing empathy and connectedness, encouraging parents to approach their role with a sense of understanding.
“Does a man who is acting on the stage in a female part forget that he is a man? Similarly, we too must play our parts on the stage of life, but we must not identify ourselves with those parts.”
This quote suggests that parents should not be attached to their roles as parents, but rather see themselves as the eternal Self that transcends all forms and names.
Parents should perform their duties with love and care but without ego and attachment. They should also help their children to realize their true nature, which is beyond the body and mind.
Determination:
It is important to note that, the evolution of parenting styles in ancient India was a complex process influenced by a multitude of religious, cultural, and philosophical factors.
It’s also important to recognize that parenting styles are not monolithic and can vary widely within a society or culture. While there was a shift towards more compassionate and emotionally attuned parenting, elements of authoritarian parenting in ancient India (strict parenting) could still be found in certain contexts.
What did you like the best about the change in parenting approaches in ancient India ? Do you think that being too soft as a parent is ok or should parents be strict from time to time? do let me know in the comments… BYEEEEEE ❤
