Changes

Thus, as seen above, different classification systems are seen for every शाखा ॥ shakha.  

Thus, as seen above, different classification systems are seen for every शाखा ॥ shakha.  

=== शाखाः ॥ Shakhas ===

=== शाखाः ॥ Shakhas ===

The number of Yajurveda shakas is given variously by different rishis and scholars as 101 shakas (recensions)<ref name=":223222" />, 101 shakas of which 86 were Krishna Yajurveda and 15 belonged to Shukla Yajurveda<ref name=":122" />, 107 according to Sutasamhita, Skanda and Brahmanda Puranas, 109 according to Muktikopanishad, 100 according to Pathanjali in his Mahabhasyam, 86 according to Charanavyuha and Shaunaka. According to Vayu Purana, there were 86 student lineages and thus 86 shakas of Maharshi Vaisampayana are mentioned.<ref name=":13222" /> Vishnupurana and Agnipurana give a number of 27 shakas of Yajurveda.<ref name=":0223222" /> Thus quite some variation is seen in the number of shakas that existed for Yajurveda.  

The number of यजुर्वेदशाखाः ॥ Yajurveda shakhas is given variously by different ऋषि-s || rishis and scholars as

* 101 shakhas (recensions)<ref name=":223222" />  

* 101 out of which 86 were कृष्णयजुर्वेदः ॥ Krishna Yajurveda and 15 belonged to शुक्लयजुर्वेदः ॥ Shukla Yajurveda<ref name=":122" />  

* 107 according to सूतसंहिता ॥ Sutasamhita, स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skanda Purana and ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम् ॥ Brahmanda Puranas

* 109 according to मुक्तिकोपनिषद् ॥ Muktikopanishad

* 100 according to पतञ्जलिः ॥ Pathanjali in his महाभाष्यम् ॥ Mahabhasya 

* 86 according to चरणव्यूहम् ॥ Charanavyuha and शौनकः ॥ Shaunaka.

* According to वायु-पुराणम् ॥ Vayu Purana, there were 86 student lineages and thus, 86 शाखाः ॥ shakhas of महर्षिः वैशम्पायनः ॥ Maharshi Vaisampayana are mentioned.<ref name=":13222" />

* विष्णुपुराणम् ॥ Vishnupurana and अग्निपुराणम् ॥ Agnipurana give a number of 27 शाखाः ॥ shakhas of यजुर्वेदः || Yajurveda.<ref name=":0223222" />

Thus, quite some variation is seen in the number of shakhas that existed for Yajurveda.  

In the present day five Shakas of Yajurveda are seen namely Taittriya, Katha or Kapisthala, Maitrayani, Vajasaneyi  and Kanva according to some scholars.<ref name=":13222" />

In the present day, five Shakas of Yajurveda are seen namely तैत्तिरीय ॥ Taittriya, कठ ॥ Katha or कपिष्ठल ॥ Kapisthala, मैत्रायणी ॥ Maitrayani, वाजसनेयी ॥ Vajasaneyi  and काण्व ॥ Kanva according to some scholars.<ref name=":13222" />

Many scholars view the classification into two major groups or शाखा || Shakhas<ref name=":0223222" /><ref name=":1">Yajurveda Introduction as given in [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/yajurveda/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref> :   

Many scholars view the classification into two major groups or शाखा-s || Shakhas<ref name=":0223222" /><ref name=":1">Yajurveda Introduction as given in [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/yajurveda/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref> :   

* '''Krishna Yajurveda'''   

* '''कृष्ण-यजुर्वेदः ॥ Krishna Yajurveda'''   

* '''Shukla Yajurveda'''  

* '''शुक्ल-यजुर्वेदः ॥ Shukla Yajurveda'''  

Today a vast majority of people follow the Yajurveda. Krishna Yajurveda is common in the South of India and Shukla Yajurveda in the North.

Today, a vast majority of people follow the Yajurveda. Krishna Yajurveda is common in the South of India and Shukla Yajurveda in the North.

Shukla Yajurveda Shakas (15)<ref name=":122" /> : Charanavyuha's book mentions the 15 Shukla Yajurveda shakas as follows

'''Shukla Yajurveda Shakhas (15)'''<ref name=":122" /> : Charanavyuha book mentions the 15 Shukla Yajurveda shakas as follows :

Kanva, Madhyandhina, Shopeyaha, Tapayaneeyaha, Kapalaha, Poundravastasha, Avatikaha, Paramavatikaha, Parasharyaha, Vaidheyaha, Vaineyaha, Audheyaha, Galavaha, Vaijavaha, Katyayaneyaha. Of these presently only Kanva and Madhyandina samhitas are available

Kanva, Madhyandhina, Shopeyaha, Tapayaneeyaha, Kapalaha, Poundravastasha, Avatikaha, Paramavatikaha, Parasharyaha, Vaidheyaha, Vaineyaha, Audheyaha, Galavaha, Vaijavaha, Katyayaneyaha. Of these, presently, only काण्व ॥ Kanva and माध्यन्दिन-संहिता ॥ Madhyandina samhitas are available

Krishna Yajurveda Shakas<ref name=":122" /> : Of the 86 shakas only four are available : Taittiriya, Katha, Kapisthala, and Maitrayani

'''Krishna Yajurveda Shakhas'''<ref name=":122" /> : Of the 86 shakas only four are available : तैत्तिरीय ॥ Taittiriya, कठ ॥ Katha, कपिष्ठल ॥ Kapisthala, and मैत्रायणी ॥ Maitrayani

==== कृष्णयजुर्वेद-संहिता || Krishna Yajurveda ====

==== कृष्णयजुर्वेद-संहिता || Krishna Yajurveda ====

The term कृष्ण ||  krishna of the shakha is so given due to following reasons  

The term कृष्ण ||  krishna of the shakha is so given due to following reasons  

# It contains both the छन्दोबद्ध Chandas (metrical) and गद्यात्मकम् Gadya (prose) forms of mantras<ref name=":223222" />   

# It contains both the छन्दोबद्ध ॥ Chandas (metrical) and गद्यात्मक ॥ Gadya (prose) forms of mantras<ref name=":223222" />   

# Mantras are interspersed with Brahmanas which explain the usage of the mantras<ref name=":0223222" />   

# Mantras are interspersed with ब्राह्मण-s || Brahmanas which explain the usage of the mantras<ref name=":0223222" />   

This samhita is said to have contained 85 Shakhas but only four of them are available now, out of which the Taittiriya Samhita is widely studied and followed especially in South India  and other three Shakhas are not so well known.<ref name=":223222" />

This samhita is said to have contained 85 Shakhas but only four of them are available now, out of which the Taittiriya Samhita is widely studied and followed especially in South India  and other three Shakhas are not so well known.<ref name=":223222" />

Texts of the four major shakas that have survived are<ref name=":122" />

Texts of the four major shakhas that have survived are<ref name=":122" />

# '''तैत्तिरीय || Taittiriya'''   

# '''तैत्तिरीय || Taittiriya'''   

# '''कठ/काठक || Katha or Kathaka'''  

# '''कठ/काठक || Katha or Kathaka'''  

# '''कपिष्ठलकठ || Kapisthala-Katha'''  

# '''कपिष्ठल-कठ || Kapisthala-Katha'''  

# '''मैत्रायणी || Maitrayani'''  

# '''मैत्रायणी || Maitrayani'''  

===== ब्राह्मणानि आरण्यकानि उपनिषदः च ॥ Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads =====

===== ब्राह्मणानि आरण्यकानि उपनिषदः च ॥ Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads =====