A 'gurukul' (Sanskrit guru "teacher" or "master"; kul domain, from kula, "extended family") is a type of school in India, residential in nature, with pupils shishya living near the guru, often within the same house.^[1] In a gurukul, shishyas live together as equals^{[citation needed]}, irrespective of their social standing^{[citation needed]}, learn from the guru and help the guru in his day-to-day life, including the carrying out of mundane chores such as washing clothes, cooking, etc. The guru-shishya tradition (parampara) is a hallowed one in Hinduism and appears in other religious groups in India, such as Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Typically, a guru does not receive any fees from the shishyas studying with him. At the end of his studies, a shishya offers the gurudakshina before leaving the "gurukul" or ashram. The gurudakshina is a traditional gesture of acknowledgment, respect and thanks to the guru, which may be monetary, but may also be a special task the teacher wants the student to accomplish. While living in a gurukul the students had to be away from his house and family completely. The gurus didn't take any fees and so they had to serve the guru.