Vedanga Literature (Auxiliary to the Vedas)

Código del Artículo: NAC051

por Prof. B.B. Chaubey

Paperback (Edición: 2004)

Katyayan Vaidik Sahitya Prakashan, Hoshiarpur

Tamaño: 8.5 inch X 5.5 inch
Páginas: 70
Weight of the Book: 85 gms

Precio: Euro 7.62

Descripción

Preface

Veda is the most ancient literature of the world. It has come to us under two forms, viz, Mantra and Brãhmana. The Mantras were revealed to the seers in their intition in their state of penance and which were later collected and compiled in the form of four Sãmhitãs, viz, Rgveda (RV), Yajurveda (YV), Samaveda (SV) and Atharvaveda (AV). Again these four Samhitãs were handed down in several recensions (Sakhas) with growth of time. By the time of Patanjali there were, at least, 21 recensions of the RV, 101 recensions of the YV, one thousand recensions of the SV and 9 recensions of the AV. The entire Mantra-literature, preserved in the four Samhitas or in their different recensions, thus, formed the first corpus of the Vedic literature. The second form of Vedic literature, called Brahmana, was of the commentatorial nature, as it has come into existence with a view to explaining the secret purports of Mantras by the Brahmavadins, who had received the knowledge of Vedic Mantras through Upadesa (proclamation) of the ancient seers in their oral tradition. With the development of time there came a stage when the secret purports of the Mantras could not be understood by the later generations of the Brahmavadins by mere Upadesa. Therefore, a third particular type of literature, called Vedanga, was composed by the particular type of literature, called Vedanga, was composed by the Acaryas based on the lines of their predecessor Brahmavadins, by which both types of literature, viz, Mantra and Brahmana could be understood by the persons of common intelligence.!

The world Vedanga connotes a particular type or class of literature which rendered a great help to the understanding of the Vedas, comprising both Mantra and Brahmana. As such Vedanga is an auxiliary type of literature. There are six things which are most essentially required for understanding the Vedas. The first and foremost thing for studying the Veda is phonetics. Without having knowledge of Vedic phonetics no body can utter the Mantras. Therefore, the class of literature which deals with Vedic phonetics is called Siksã. Another class of literature which helps to understand the nature of Vedic language by dealing with its various elements, such as Nãma, Akhyãta, Upasarga and Nipãta and prescribing rules for their correct uses, is called Vyãkaraza. The entire Mantra-literature is found in either verse, or prose or song form which are technically known as Rk, Yajus and Sãman, respectively. To impart correct knowledge of these metrical compositions a special class of literature, called Chandas, was composed by the Acaryas. This class of literature deals with the metrical rules of the Vedic compositions. Without having proper knowledge of the metrical rules, Vedic Mantras could not be recited correctly. After a considerable interval of time from the time of their compositions, it had become most difficult to know the correct form of the Vedic vocables, particularly, when the old Vedic Vocables had lost their meanings in the later period. How the Vedic Mantras could be interpreted by tracing the roots of the Vedic words, for this a new type of literature, called Nirukta, was composed. All possible principles of Vedic interpretation were formulised by the authors of the Niruktas. This Vedanga was directly connected with the problems of Vedic interpretation.

In the time of the Brahmanas the science of scarifice had developed to a considerable extent, and the Vedic Mantras had begun to be employed in the performances of Vedic rituals. No doubt, the Brãhmanas had laid down certain principles of employing the Mantras in different rituals and had discussed in detail about each and every subtle thing related to the rituals highlighting their Adhyãtmika, Adhidaivika, ritualistic and symbolic significance, a particular class of work which could give a systematic account of Vedic rituals for the purpose of not only their performances, but for observing the code of conduct from birth to death for the people in their whole span of life, was a most essential need. This need was fulfilled by the composition of the Kalpasutras. This class of literature helped very much to understand the observance of the code of conduct in the life of a person following the path of the Vedic Dharma. It is pertinent to note that the rituals, performed by a householder throughout his life, were not arbitrarily performed at any time. Each Srauta or domestic rite was performed on an auspicious occasion. The knowledge of auspicious and appropriate time is most essential for successful performance of a specific ritual. A class of literature, called Jyotisa, dealing with both astronomy and astrology, was composed by the Acaryas of the period. This class of literature helped in determining the proper positions of the stats or the Naksatras, the Ayanas, Rtus, months and Ahotratra, for the performance of the rituals whether Srauta or domestic. Thus, the six classes of works, viz., Siksa, Vyakarana, Chandas, Nirukta, Kalpa and Jyotisa are traditionally regarded as Vedangas. Their knowledge was essential for understanding the Vedas and the Vedic ways of life. These Vedangas have also been regarded as six limbs of the Veda-Purdusa. Chandas (Metre) is said to be the two feet, Kalpa as the two hands, Jyotisa as the eye, Nirukta as the ear, Siksa as the nose, and Vyakarana as the mouth. A person having learnt the Vedas with these Angas (limbs) is celebrated in the Brahmaloka.

The Vedangas have their ample source in the Brahmanas regarding their subject-matter. These topics have been dealt with throughout the Brahmana-literature, but without being referred to under these appellations. The Sadvimsa Brahmana refers to the six Vedangas but does not supply the list of their names. It is the Mandukyopanisad which, for the first time, supplies the list. Now we shall deal with individual Vedangas in some detail.

Contents

	Preface	1-3
I	Siksa Vedanga	4-16
1.	Importance of Siksa Vedanga	4
2.	Pratisakhyas under Siksa Vedanga	5
3.	Number of Pratisakhyas	6
	A. Pratisakhyas related to the Rgveda	6
	(i) Rgveda Pratisakhya	6
	B. Pratisakhyas related to the Yajurveda	7
	(i) Vajasaneyi Pratisakhya	7
	(ii) Bhasika-Sutra	7
	(iii) Taittiriya Pratisakhya	7
	C. Pratisakhyas related to the Samaveda	8
	(i) Rktantra	8
	(ii) Samatantra	8
	(iii) Aksaratantra	8
	(iv) Puspasutra	8
	(v) Stobhanusamhara	8
	D. Pratisakhyas related to the Atharvaveda	10
	(i) Atharvaveda Pratisakhya	10
	(ii) Caturadhyayika	10
4.	Number of Siksas	11
	A. Siksas related to the RV	11
	B. Siksas related to the SV	12
	C. Siksas related to the Sukla YV	13
	D. Siksa related to the Krsnayajurveda	15
	E. Siksa related to the AV	16
II	Vyakarana - Vedanga	17-21
1.	Ingredients of Vyakarana	17
2.	Purpose of Studying Vyakarana	18
3.	Works on Vyakarana	21
III.	Nirukta-Vedanga	22-29
1.	Nomenclature	22
2.	Nirukta as a science of etymology	23
3.	Principles of Etymology	24
4.	Classification of Yaska’s etymologies	26
5.	Importance of Nirukta	26
6.	Contents of Nirukta	28
IV.	Chandas - Vedanga	30-34
1.	Importance of Chandas	30
2.	Texts dealing with chandas	31
	(i) Rgveda-Pratisakhya (Chandas Patalas)	31
	(ii) Chandahsutra	34
	(iii) Chandovicitih	34
V.	Kalpa - Vedanga	35-56
1.	Importance of Kalpa	35
2.	Fourfold division of Kalpa	35
	A. Srautasutra	3-44
	1. Scope and contents of the Srautasutras	36
	2. Number of the Srautasutras	38
	(i) Srautasutras related to the Rgveda	39
	1. Sankhayana Srautasutra	39
	2. Asvalayana Srautasutra	39
	(ii) Srautasutras related to the Krsna Yajurveda	39
	1. Vadhula Srautasutra	39
	2. Baudhayana Srautasutra	40
	3. Bharadvaja Srautasutra	40
	4. Apastamba Srautasutra	40
	5. Manava Srautasutra	40
	6. Varaha Srautasutra	41
	7. Satyasadha-Hiranyakesi Srautasutra	41
	8. Vaikhanasa Srautasutra	41
	9. Kathaka Srautasutra Sankalanam	41
	(iii) Srautasutra belonging to the Sukla Yajurveda	42
	1. Katyayana Srautasutra	42
	(iv) Srautasutras belonging to the Samaveda	42
	1. Arseya Kalpa	42
	2. Ksudra Kalpasutra	42
	3. Latyayana Srautasutra	43
	4. Drahyayana Srautasutra	43
	5. Jaiminiya Srautasutra	43
	6. Nidana-Sutra	44
	(v) Srautasutra related to the Atharvaveda	44
	1. Vaitana Sutra	44
B.	Grhyasutra	44-50
	1. Scope and contents of Grhyasutras	44
	2. Number of Grhyasutras	45
	(i) Grhyasutras related to the RV	46
	1. Sankhayana Grhyasutra	46
	2. Kausitaki Grhyasutra	46
	3. Asvalayana Grhyasutra	46
	(ii) Grhyasutras belonging to the Krisna YV	46
	1. Baudhayana Grhyasutra	46
	2. Bharadvaja Grhyasutra	47
	3. Apastamba Grhyasutra	47
	4. Satyasadha Hiranyakesi Grhyasutra	47
	5. Manava Grhyasutra	47
	6. Vaikhanasa Grhyasutra	47
	7. Agnivesya Grhyasutra	48
	8. Kathaka Grhyasutra	48
	9. Varaha Grhyasutra	48
	10. Vadhula Grhyasutra	48
	(iii) Grhyasutras belonging to the Sukla Yajurveda	48
	1. Paraskara Grhyasutra	48
	2. Katyayana Grhyasutra	49
	3. Vaijavapa Grhyasutra	49
	(iv) Grhyasutras belonging to the Samaveda	49
	1. Gobhila Grhyasutra	49
	2. Khadira Grhyasutra	50
	3. Drahyayana Grhyasutra	50
	4. Jaiminiya Grhyasutra	50
	5. Kauthuma Grhyasutra	50
	(v) Grhyasutra belonging to the Atharvaveda	50
	1. Kausikasutra	50
C.	Dharmasutra	50-53
	1. Scope and contents of the Dharmasutras	50
	2. Number of Dharmasutras	52
	(i) Dharmasutra belonging to the Rgveda	52
	(1) Baudhayana Dharmasutra	52
	(ii) Dharmasutras related to the Krsna YV	52
	1. Baudhayana Dharmasutra	52
	2. Apastamba Dharmasutra	52
	3. Hiranyakesi Dharmasutra	52
	4. Vaikhanasa Dharmasutra	53
	5. Harita Dharmasutra	53
	(iii) Dharmasutras related to the Samaveda	53
	1. Gautama Dharmasutra	53
	2. Visnu Dharmasutra	53
D.	Sulbasutra	53-56
	1. Scope and Contents of the Sulbasutras	53
	2. Number of Salbasutras	54
	1. Baudhayana Sulbasutra	54
	2. Apastamba-Sulbasutra	55
	3. Hiranyakesi Sulbasutra	55
	4. Maitrayani Sulbasutra	55
	5. Manava Sulbasutra	56
	6. Varaha Sulbasutra	56
	7. Vadhula Sulbasutra	56
	8. Katyayana Sulbasutra	56
VI.	Jyotisa-Vedanga	57-60
	1. Importance of Jyotisa	57
	2. Number of Texts on Jyotisa	58
	A. Vedanga Jyotisa	58
	(i) Rgveda Jyotisa	59
	(i) Yajurveda Jyotisah	60
	B. Atharvana Jyotisa	60