Changes

For generations, over thousands of years, वैदिकविद्या || Vedic education was imparted to students in a गुरुशिश्य || guru-shishya parampara, following the traditional system of oral recitation until Maharshi Veda Vyasa’s great contribution of organizing them into a written format.

For generations, over thousands of years, वैदिकविद्या || Vedic education was imparted to students in a गुरुशिष्य-परम्परा || guru-shishya parampara, following the traditional system of oral recitation until महर्षि-वेदव्यास ॥ Maharshi [[Vyasa|Veda Vyasa]]’s great contribution of organizing them into a written format.

World's ancient literature, Rig veda, has not undergone any change even in single syllable nor got intermixed with any later texts. Apart from Rigveda, it has yet to be seen if any other such text exists which is so well preserved. Even Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and other Samskrit texts are not free of syllable and content changes<ref name=":0">Shastri, Jwalanth Kumar. (2009) ''Ved aur vedarth'' Rajasthan: Sri Ghudhmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyasa</ref>. In the Rigvedic time apart from Rishis, commoners existed in the society. Notably, Vedas were not common knowledge. If we understand the connection of pure lineage or गोत्र || Gotras, the strict disciplinary life in [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|गुरुकुलम् || Gurukula]], the commitment and austerity of the Rishis’, the cyptic process and symbolism of Vedas mantras, strict adherence to committing them to memory, system of recitation of the mantras - these were all the root causes in protecting the one integral voice of Vedas.

World's ancient literature, ऋग्वेदः ॥ [[Rigveda]], has not undergone any change even in single syllable nor got intermixed with any later texts. Apart from ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, it has yet to be seen if any other such text exists which is so well preserved. Even रामायणम् ॥ [[Ramayana]], महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]], पुराणानि ॥ [[Puranas]] and other Samskrit texts are not free of syllable and content changes<ref name=":0">Shastri, Jwalanth Kumar. (2009) ''Ved aur vedarth'' Rajasthan: Sri Ghudhmal Prahladkumar Arya Dharmarth Nyasa</ref>. In the Rigvedic time apart from ऋषि-s || Rishis, commoners existed in the society. Notably, Vedas were not common knowledge. If we understand the connection of pure lineage or गोत्रम् || Gotra, the strict disciplinary life in [[Gurukula (गुरुकुलम्)|गुरुकुलम् || Gurukula]], the commitment and austerity of the ऋषि-s || Rishis, the cryptic process and symbolism of वेदमन्त्राः ॥ Veda mantras, strict adherence to committing them to memory, system of recitation of the मन्त्राः ॥ mantras - these were all the root causes in protecting the one integral voice of वेदाः ॥ Vedas.

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

== परिचयः|| Introduction ==

Transmission of texts in the Vedic period was by oral tradition, preserved with precision with the help of elaborate mnemonic techniques. Prodigious energy was expended in ensuring that these texts were transmitted from generation to generation with immaculate integrity, up until a few centuries back, when due to various reasons like foreign invasions and colonization that resulted in the loot and digestion of our knowledge systems and wealth, led to the decline in oral recitation of the Vedas.<ref name=":2">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​</ref>

Transmission of texts in the Vedic period was by oral tradition, preserved with precision with the help of elaborate mnemonic techniques. Prodigious energy was expended in ensuring that these texts were transmitted from generation to generation with immaculate integrity, up until a few centuries back, when due to various reasons like foreign invasions and colonization that resulted in the loot and digestion of our knowledge systems and wealth, led to the decline in oral recitation of the Vedas.<ref name=":2">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​</ref>

== वेदपाठपद्धतिः|| Vedapatha Paddhati ==

== वेदपाठपद्धतिः|| Vedapatha Paddhati ==

Rishis (Vedic seers) devised means of protecting and preserving the text of Vedas letter by letter, with all their accessories and accents. Vedic mantras have स्वर || Swara (accents) which preserve its original form of word- construction. Thus Vedas are not just textual written matter but comprise - of intonations, pitch, accents, pronounciation, time duration - of fine nuances of human element which cannot be captured on paper. Hence existence of volumes of printed material is of minimal use as the real authority is vested with those very few scholars, who are remaining, keeping the age old tradition of recitation alive.     

Rishis (Vedic seers) devised means of protecting and preserving the text of Vedas letter by letter, with all their accessories and accents. Vedic mantras have स्वर || Swara (accents) which preserve its original form of word- construction. Thus Vedas are not just textual written matter but comprise - of intonations, pitch, accents, pronounciation, time duration - of fine nuances of human element which cannot be captured on paper. Hence existence of volumes of printed material is of minimal use as the real authority is vested with those very few scholars, who are remaining, keeping the age old tradition of recitation alive.     

=== प्रकृतिपाठः || Prakriti Pathas ===

=== प्रकृतिपाठः || Prakrti Patha ===

Rig Veda samhita was of two divisions. The following forms of recitation are explained using Rig veda mantra (1.1.1) अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् |       

Rig Veda samhita was of two divisions. The following forms of recitation are explained using Rig veda mantra (1.1.1) अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् |       

* निर्भुज संहिता || Nirbhuja Samhita : Mantras are in true form as in अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् | This form is also called as आर्षी संहिता |       

* निर्भुज संहिता || Nirbhuja Samhita : Mantras are in true form as in अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् | This form is also called as आर्षी संहिता |       

# पदपाठः || Pada-Patha-   in which each word of a Mantra is separately spoken.

# पदपाठः || Pada-Patha-   in which each word of a Mantra is separately spoken.

# क्रमपाठः || Krama-Patha-  in which two words of a Mantra are spoken jointly as  Ka-kha, kha-ga.

# क्रमपाठः || Krama-Patha-  in which two words of a Mantra are spoken jointly as  Ka-kha, kha-ga.

=== विकृतिपाठः || Vikriti Pathas ===

=== विकृतिपाठः || Vikrti Patha ===

Memorization of the sacred Vedas included up to eleven forms of recitation of the same text. These texts were subsequently "proof-read" by comparing the different recited versions. This ensured their verbatim preservation through ages of time. Based on the क्रमसंहिता || Krama Samhita eight methods of recitation are given by व्याडि ऋषिः Vyadi विकृतिवल्ली<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>जटा माला शिखा लेखा ध्वजो दण्डो रथो घनः | अष्टौ विकृतयः प्रोक्ता क्रमपूर्वा मनीषिभिः | (विकृति वल्ली 1.5)</blockquote>There were eight ways of memorizing Vedas. These are<ref name=":1" />

Memorization of the sacred Vedas included up to eleven forms of recitation of the same text. These texts were subsequently "proof-read" by comparing the different recited versions. This ensured their verbatim preservation through ages of time. Based on the क्रमसंहिता || Krama Samhita eight methods of recitation are given by व्याडि ऋषिः Vyadi विकृतिवल्ली<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>जटा माला शिखा लेखा ध्वजो दण्डो रथो घनः | अष्टौ विकृतयः प्रोक्ता क्रमपूर्वा मनीषिभिः | (विकृति वल्ली 1.5)</blockquote>There were eight ways of memorizing Vedas. These are<ref name=":1" />

# जटापाठः || Jatapatha  

# जटापाठः || Jatapatha