Who Is An Acarya?
A teacher is referred to as Acarya in Sanskrit.
It is derived from acara, 'course,' according to Nirukta 1.4, although Katyayana and maybe also Panini regarded it as 'the one to be approached' (Scharfe 2002: 90f.).
The upanayana in the Veda creates a link between the acarya
and the brahmacarin, who resides in the teacher's home (acarya-kula, later
called gurukula).
Normally, an acarya had a small number of pupils, although
some reports record huge groups, with assisting instructors (Scharfe 2002:
220).
Acarya also refers to a master artisan who instructs a student (Scharfe 2002: 265).
Although the terms guru and acarya are sometimes used
interchangeably to refer to the same individual, acarya denotes his authority
in his field, whilst guru denotes the respect and adoration owed to him (Hara
1980).
Acarya may be appended to any name, such as Dron-acarya (Drona), Sankaracarya, and so on (Sankara).
Dignaga, a Buddhist logician, is simply known as Acarya by
his disciples.
Acarya, or 'minister' in English, is the title given to
Brahmo Samaj preachers.
See also:
Brahmo Samaj, Drona, Guru, Katyayana, Nirukta, Panini, Sankara,Upanayana, Veda
References And Further Reading:
Hara, Minoru. 1980. ‘Hindu Concepts of Teacher: Sanskrit guru and acarya’. In M. Nagaromi, B.K. Matilal, J.M. Masson and E. Dimock, eds, Sanskrit and Buddhist Studies: Essays in Honour of Daniel H.H. Ingalls. Dordrecht: Reidel, 93–118.
Scharfe, Hartmut. 2002. Education in Ancient India. (Handbuch der Orientalistik, Section 2, vol. 16.) Leiden: Brill.
