Wikipedia
Gurukula ( Sanskrit: गुरुकुल) is a type of residential school in India with pupils ( shishya) living near the guru, often in the same house. Before British rule, they served as South Asia's primary educational institution. 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. The word gurukula is a contraction of the Sanskrit guru (teacher or master) and kula (extended family).
In a gurukula, shishya live together as equals, irrespective of their social standing, 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. Typically, a guru does not receive any fees from the shishya studying with him. At the end of his studies, a shishya offers the guru dakshina before leaving the gurukula 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 gurukula the students had to be away from home and family completely. The guru did not take any fees and so they had to serve the guru.