Guru Shishya Parampara is the traditional residential method of education wherein the Shishya lives in the vicinity of his Guru and undertakes the studies in a one to one manner by accompanying the guru in his regular routine clinical work. This system vanished with the disappearance of Gurukula. RAV realized that in Ayurveda, this method of knowledge transfer had been very effective and hence the Vidyapeeth is making efforts to revive this system through its courses.

In institutional form of learning only relevant portions of the Samhitas (classical texts of Ayurveda) are being taught in the form of syllabus. On the contrary, the Guru Shishya Parampara programme of RAV provides the students to study whole text to get adequate knowledge of selected Samhita and its Teeka (commentary) and exposes them traditional skills of the Ayurvedic practices. The Shishyas get sufficient time for interaction with the guru and get a live demonstration upon the patients, herbs or formulations during the course of the study.

COURSES:

(A) Acharya Guru Shishya Parampara (Two-year course of Member of Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth-MRAV) This is an academic programme based upon literary research imparting the knowledge of Ayurvedic Samhitas and commentaries to participants. The main aim of this course is to prepare good teachers, research scholars and experts in Ayurveda Samhitas. The Shishya studies the Samhita, related to his/her specialization in PG course under the guidance of the Guru for a period of 2 years. The Vidyapeeth started this course in 1992 with an objective of preparing the post graduate doctors as experts in classical texts of Ayurveda.

Candidates possessing adequate theoretical and practical knowledge and good understanding of Sanskrit are admitted to this course. At the end of the course, they are required to submit a dissertation which is regarded as a contribution of the Shishya. Though, the Shishya studies the entire Samhita (text) under the expert guidance of Guru, he/she writes dissertation only on prescribed chapters/topics as suggested by Vidyapeeth in consultation with respective Guru in order to avoid duplication of the same work.

(B) Chikitsak Guru Shishya Parampara (One-year course of Certificate of Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth-CRAV) This course was started in February, 1999. This course has the duration of one year for both Ayurvedic graduates and postgraduates. In this course, the candidates possessing Ayurvedacharya (BAMS) or equivalent degree/PG in Ayurveda are selected for training under eminent practicing Vaidyas, who are empanelled as Chikitsak/Institutional Gurus. During the course of study, the students learn the procedures like Nadi Pariksha, Aushadhi Nirman, Ksharsutra, Panchakarma, treatment of diseases, Netra Chikitsa, Asthi Chikitsa pertaining to the Ayurvedic system. Every month, the trainees are required to prepare record of the patients they studied for its subsequent submission to RAV. The work done by the Shishyas like patient history sheets, monthly study reports etc. is examined in Vidyapeeth. Suggestions for improvement are communicated to the Shishyas through their respective Gurus.

GURUS:

(A) Guru for Member of Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (MRAV) course: Scholars fulfilling the following criteria are appointed as Gurus- A person is eligible to be appointed as Guru for MRAV course, who is a retired Professor of Ayurveda possessing PG or Ph.D qualification with good published recognized research work and excellent academic experience Or a retired Director of Research Institution of Ayurveda Or any other person of eminence in Ayurveda having held the post of departmental head of the State, Central/Autonomous organization and other office of repute with vast knowledge and adequate experience in academic or any specialty of Ayurveda Or eminent scholar of Ayurveda.

The Guru should be above 60 years of age, proficient in Sanskrit and in classical texts of Ayurveda. Further, he/she must have very special knowledge and skills to justify selection. In the subject of Dravyaguna, Rasa-Shastra, Bhaishjya Kalpana and other clinical subjects, the Gurus should have basic facility for demonstration or should have access to such facility/Institution in the near vicinity.

(B) Guru for Certificate of Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (CRAV) course: Eligibility criteria for Gurus (CRAV)

Following two eligibility criteria have been adopted for selection of CRAV Gurus:

1. Criteria for Individual Gurus.
2. teria for Institutional Gurus.

1. Criteria for Individual Gurus:

1. Ayurveda practitioners enrolled in any State Register of Indian Medicine under Section 17 of IMCC Act, 1970.
2. Age not below 50 years.
3. Having a minimum standing of 20 years of Ayurvedic general or specialized clinical practice in any clinical branch of Ayurveda.
4. Shall not be employed at any place and in any position on a regular basis. This condition is not barring the honorary positions other than employment.
5. Ayurveda practitioners aspirant to be an RAV Guru should have a minimum OPD of 40 patients per day.
6. In case of surgical practice besides OPD of 25 patients per day, the Vaidya must be performing at least 15 surgical/para-surgical/Ksharsutra/Agni Karma procedures daily.
7. In case of Ayurvedic Pharmacy, the Vaidya should have his own pharmacy with a minimum standing of 20 years.
8. Willingness to train the young Ayurvedic doctors through a hands-on training method and to share their clinical knowledge and skills without any reservation.
9. Gurus with or without IPD can be given up to 02 students and with occupancy of IPD of 20 beds and above can be given up to 04 students.

2. Criteria for Institutional Gurus (Institutional Training Centres):

1. Declared as Centre of Excellence by Ministry of Ayush.
2. Ayurvedic hospital with at least 50 IPD beds and 200 OPD patients per day.
3. The centre should have a minimum 10 years of standing.
4. The centre should be of good repute and should be well known for its Ayurvedic management of various specialized conditions.
5. In case of a pharmacy, it should have a GMP certification, facility for drug quality monitoring and an R&D department.
6. The institution authorities should be ready to give every access to CRAV students to all the places which are related to their clinical/pharmacy training.
7. Up to 08 students may be given to such institutions and the chief physician/doctor of the institution and/or other senior doctors will be in-charge of training of Shishya.

(C) Empanelment:

The selection of Guru of any course is done by a Search Committee comprising of experts nominated by the Governing Body or its President. The Committee scrutinizes bio-data of scholars and Vaidyas and selects the Guru after proper discussion on his/her competence and recommends to Governing Body for empanelment. After the approval of the Governing Body the letter of empanelment is sent to guru whenever vacancy arises after receiving his/her willingness for teacher-ship and adherence to rules of the Vidyapeeth and ascertaining that facilities for training are available with him/her. Selection of Guru is purely on temporary basis for the period of one term i.e. one year in CRAV course and two years in MRAV course. The Governing Body or a Committee chaired by President, Governing Body reviews the work of Guru and accords extension whenever necessary. The appointment stands completed when there is no student under the Guru or when all the students under him/her have completed their studies/duration of study.

SHISHYAS:

The advertisement for admission to CRAV course was given in newspapers on all India basis, inviting applications from eligible candidates.

As per the rules of RAV, candidates with Ayurvedacharya (BAMS) or an equivalent degree are selected in CRAV course. The maximum age limit for admission in this course is 30 years for U.G. degree holders and 32 years for P.G. degree holders. Relaxation up to 35 years is given to permanently employed doctors duly sponsored by Government. The qualifications of candidates must have been recognized by CCIM.

After the scrutiny of the applications received, the eligible candidates are called for a written test. Various aspects of syllabus of graduate course with special emphasis on clinical subjects are covered in the written test based on objective questions. In the selection of the Shishya, the merit of the student, distance of 250 km (between Gurus and Students) and the preference of subject/Guru are taken into the consideration. Preference is given to Medical Officers in CRAV course.

The selected candidates are required to submit a Bond to the effect that in the event of the student leaving the course in the middle or if the student is expelled for violation of rules of the Vidyapeeth, the whole amount of stipend received from the Vidyapeeth shall be refunded with 12% interest thereon. On having completed the formalities, the Shishyas are placed under the tutelage of concerned Gurus located in different parts of the country for training.

Honorarium and Stipend:

There is a provision of payment of honorarium to Gurus and stipend to Shishyas during the training period every month. Each guru is given 2-4 students for training. The honorarium to Guru is ` 15,820/- only plus DA 6th CPC at the rates applicable from time to time plus ` 5,000/- upto two students. If any Guru has more than two students, he/she shall be paid an extra honorarium at ` 2,000/- only per student. Similarly, the stipend for CRAV students is ` 15,820/- only plus DA 6th CPC at the rates applicable from time to time. For MRAV students the stipend is ` 15,820/- only plus DA 6th CPC at the applicable rates plus ` 2,500/- only.

Examination:

For the course of MRAV, the final examination is conducted at the end of 2 years in three parts:-

1. Evaluation of thesis prepared by the Shishya
2. Written examination of 03 hours duration
3. Viva - voce

The evaluation of thesis is done on approval/rejection basis. After the thesis is approved, the Shishya is examined by written examination and viva-voce. Having obtained satisfactory report in each of the three parts of examination the Shishya is declared to have completed his/her studies successfully for the award of Member of Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth i.e. MRAV.

For the course of CRAV, the Shishya at the end of the study shall prepare a monograph of not more than 25 pages on summary of salient features of his/her learning viz. treatment of special diseases, medicines and special cases etc. and submit it to the Vidyapeeth one-month prior to the examination. They are also asked to submit a Special Case Report/Drug on some interesting case they have seen during their training period. The examination comprises of two parts:-

1. Written examination of 03 hours duration
2. Viva-voce

The monograph, the case report and the monthly record sheets becomes the basis for written examination and viva-voce. An Internal Assessment of the student from his Guru for the period of his training is also asked. The candidate, who secures satisfactory report in Written and Viva-voce separately, is declared passed. Unsuccessful candidates are asked to report again to their guru for a period of three months. After this period, they are required to appear in the examination again. No stipend is paid for this additional stay with Guru.

Successful students are awarded the certificates in the Convocation.

Achievements:

So far, 71 students in MRAV and 1549 students in CRAV have completed their courses.