Gurukul is a type of ancient Hindu school in India. The school is residential in nature where the shisyas or students and the guru or teacher living together. The students were treated equally irrespective of their social status. The students receive knowledge from the guru and also helps him in his day to day life.

The guru shishya tradition is one of the most sacred traditions in India. Other than Hinduism this practice has been adopted by other religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism with certain modifications. After the shishya`s study gets over, the student gives `guru dakshina` since the gurus do not take any fees.

With the beginning of colonial era in India, the Gurukul system had become almost obsolete except in a few places. It was in Kerala where the warrior Nair clan had their own military Gurukuls called Kalaris.

In the present day, the Government of India is providing financial and other help to teachers who establish such Vedic gurukuls for imparting Vedic education.