Prabuddha Bharata or Awakened India

The best and most characteristic of the legendary scenes executed by the Gandhara sculptors may be attributed to a period from about the beginning of the second century A. D. until the collapse of Kushan power in India at the end of the first quarter of the third century. [...] The centre at Pataliputra had the honour of examiing the great grammarians and phillogists Panini Pingala Patanjali and Varuruchi in the scriptures.' The jurisdiction of the Parishad or Assembly of scholars of Manu is extened even to small towns and villages where the number of its members is reduced to the minimum. [...] The following quotations from Manu will support our contention : 'Having peformed the Upakarman according to the prescribed rule on the full-moon day of the month of Shravana or on that of Praushthapada (Bhadrapada) a brahmin shall diligently study the Vedas during the four months and a half.' When the Pushya-day (of the month of Pausha) or the first day of the bright half of Magha has come [...] After the termination of the Utsarga ceremony seven months later the students should observe holidays on the day the ceremony was performed and the night following when they will recite assiduously the Vedas on the bright half of the month and study the Vedangas during the dark fortnight : `Afterwards he shall diligently recite the Vedas during the bright (halves of the month) and duly study a [...] p. 144 verse 98."134 PRABUDDHA BHARATA March end of the Vedic study and the beginning of the spring term when according to Manu the recitation of the Vedas is done in the bright fortnight and the systematic study of the Angas in the dark fortnight.