Changes

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.     

ऋषि-s || Rishis (Vedic seers) devised means of protecting and preserving the text of वेदाः ॥ Vedas letter by letter, with all their accessories and accents. Vedic mantras have स्वरः || Svara (accents) which preserve its original form of word- construction. Thus, वेदाः ॥ Vedas are not just textual, written matter but comprise of intonations, pitch, accents, pronunciation, time duration and 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 || Prakrti Patha ===

=== 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 |      

ऋग्वेदसंहिता ॥ Rigveda samhita was of two divisions. The following forms of recitation are explained using ऋग्वेदमन्त्रः ॥ Rigveda mantra (1.1.1) अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् ॥ agnimīḻe purohitam ॥      

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

* निर्भुजसंहिता || Nirbhuja Samhita : मन्त्राः ॥ Mantras are in true form as in अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् ॥ agnimīḻe purohitam ॥ This form is also called as आर्षीसंहिता ॥ Arshi Samhita     

* प्रतृण संहिता || Pratruna Samhita : This is of two types.  

* प्रतृणसंहिता || Pratrna Samhita : This is of two types.  

*#          पदसंहिता || Pada Samhita :  Each word of a Mantra is uttered separately with a pause after each word as in अग्निम् ईडे, पुरःऽहितम् |

*#          पदसंहिता || Pada Samhita :  Each word of a मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra is uttered separately with a pause after each word as in अग्निम् ईडे, पुरःऽहितम् || agnim īḍe, puraḥ'hitam ||

*#          क्रमसंहिता || Krama Samhita : Each word of a Mantra is uttered along with the next word in a sequence as in अग्निम् ईडे; ईडे पुरोहितम् ; पुरोहितमिति पुरःऽहितम् |<ref name=":0" />

*#          क्रमसंहिता || Krama Samhita : Each word of a मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra is uttered along with the next word in a sequence as in अग्निम् ईडे; ईडे पुरोहितम् ; पुरोहितमिति पुरःऽहितम् ॥<ref name=":0" />agnim īḍe; īḍe purohitam ; purohitamiti puraḥ'hitam ॥

The above forms of recitation are also called as प्रकृतिपाठः || Prakriti Pathas<ref name=":1" />

The above forms of recitation are also called as प्रकृतिपाठः || Prakriti Patha<ref name=":1" />

# संहितापाठः || Samhita-Patha –   in which Mantra remains in its true form.

# संहितापाठः || Samhita Patha –   in which मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra remains in its true form.

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

# पदपाठः || Pada Patha-   in which each word of a मन्त्रः ॥ 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 मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra are spoken jointly as  Ka-kha, kha-ga.

=== विकृतिपाठः || Vikrti Patha ===

=== 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 Rishi in व्याडिविकृतिवल्ली ॥ Vyadi Vikrtavalli<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>जटा माला शिखा लेखा ध्वजो दण्डो रथो घनः | अष्टौ विकृतयः प्रोक्ता क्रमपूर्वा मनीषिभिः | (विकृतिवल्ली 1.5)</blockquote><blockquote>jaṭā mālā śikhā lekhā dhvajo daṇḍo ratho ghanaḥ | aṣṭau vikṛtayaḥ proktā kramapūrvā manīṣibhiḥ | (vikṛti vallī 1.5)</blockquote>There were eight ways of memorizing Vedas. These are<ref name=":1" />

# जटापाठः || Jatapatha  

# जटापाठः || Jatapatha  

# मालापाठः || Malapatha

# मालापाठः || Malapatha

# शिखापाठः || Shikhapatha  

# शिखापाठः || Shikhapatha  

# रेखापाठः || Rekhapatha (लेखापाठः)  

# रेखापाठः || Rekhapatha (लेखापाठः || Lekhapatha)  

# ध्वजपाठः || Dhvajapatha

# ध्वजपाठः || Dhvajapatha

# दण्डपाठः || Dandapatha

# दण्डपाठः || Dandapatha

# रथपाठः || Rathapatha,  and

# रथपाठः || Rathapatha

# घनापाठः || Ghanapatha

# घनापाठः || Ghanapatha

An example of a few of these pathas are given below

An example of a few of these pathas are given below

* Mantra : <blockquote>ओषधयः सं वदन्ते सोमेन सह राज्ञा । यस्मै कृणोति ब्राह्मणस्तं राजन्पारयामसि ॥२२॥ (Rig Veda 10.97.22)<ref>Rig Veda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%AD Mandala 10 Sukta 97])</ref></blockquote>

* मन्त्रः ॥ Mantra : <blockquote>ओषधयः सं वदन्ते सोमेन सह राज्ञा । यस्मै कृणोति ब्राह्मणस्तं राजन्पारयामसि ॥२२॥ (Rigveda 10.97.22)<ref>Rig Veda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%AD Mandala 10 Sukta 97])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>oṣadhayaḥ saṃ vadante somena saha rājñā । yasmai kṛṇoti brāhmaṇastaṃ rājanpārayāmasi ॥22॥ (Rig Veda 10.97.22)</blockquote>

* पदपाठः || Pada Patha : <blockquote>ओषधयः । सं । वदन्ते । सोमेन । सह । राज्ञा । यस्मै । कृणोति । ब्राह्मणः । तं । राजन् । पारयामसि ॥२२॥ </blockquote>

* पदपाठः || Pada Patha : <blockquote>ओषधयः । सं । वदन्ते । सोमेन । सह । राज्ञा । यस्मै । कृणोति । ब्राह्मणः । तं । राजन् । पारयामसि ॥२२॥ </blockquote><blockquote>oṣadhayaḥ । saṃ । vadante । somena । saha । rājñā । yasmai । kṛṇoti । brāhmaṇaḥ । taṃ । rājan । pārayāmasi ॥22॥</blockquote>

* क्रमपाठः || <blockquote>ओषधयः सं । सं वदन्ते । वदन्ते सोमेन । सोमेन सह । सह राज्ञा । राज्ञेति राज्ञा । यस्मै कृणोति । कृणोति ब्राह्मणः । ब्राह्मणस्तं । तं राजन् । राजन् पारयामसि । पारयामसीति पारयामसि ॥२२॥ </blockquote>

* क्रमपाठः || Kramapatha <blockquote>ओषधयः सं । सं वदन्ते । वदन्ते सोमेन । सोमेन सह । सह राज्ञा । राज्ञेति राज्ञा । यस्मै कृणोति । कृणोति ब्राह्मणः । ब्राह्मणस्तं । तं राजन् । राजन् पारयामसि । पारयामसीति पारयामसि ॥२२॥ </blockquote><blockquote>oṣadhayaḥ saṃ । saṃ vadante । vadante somena । somena saha । saha rājñā । rājñeti rājñā । yasmai kṛṇoti । kṛṇoti brāhmaṇaḥ । brāhmaṇastaṃ । taṃ rājan । rājan pārayāmasi । pārayāmasīti pārayāmasi ॥22॥</blockquote>

* जटापाठः || Jatapatha <blockquote>ओषधयः सं, समोषधयः, ओषधयः सम् । सं वदन्ते, वदन्ते सम्, सं वदन्ते । वदन्ते सोमेन, सोमेन वदन्ते, वदन्ते सोमेन । सोमेन सह, सह सोमेन  सोमेन सह। सह राज्ञा, राज्ञा सह, सह राज्ञा । राज्ञेति राज्ञा ।</blockquote><blockquote>यस्मै कृणोति, कृणोति यस्मै, यस्मै कृणोति। कृणोति ब्राह्मणो, ब्राह्मणः कृणोति, कृणोति ब्राह्मणः। ब्राह्मणस्तं, तं ब्राह्मणो, ब्राह्मणस्तम् । तं राजन्, राजंस्तं, तं राजन् । राजन् पारयामसि, पारयामसि राजन्, राजन् पारयामसि । पारयामसीति पारयामसि ॥२२॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Here two words of the mantra are chanted in forward and reverse orders till the end of the Mantra. In Shikhapatha three words of the mantra are chanted in such permutations and combinations.<ref name=":32222">Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, (2000) ''[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap5.htm Hindu Dharma (Collection of Swamiji's Speeches between 1907 to 1994)]''Mumbai : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan </ref> Recitations of the Rekha (line), Dhvaja (flag), Danda (staff), and Ratha (chariot) are further complex recitation methods involving even the padas of the mantra.<ref>Dr. S. Yegnasubramanian, The Vedic Chanting-a perfectly formulated Oral Tradition available at http://www.svbf.org/journal/vol1no2/chanting.pdf </ref>  Among them Ghanapatha  is most difficult and the longest.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":32222" />

* जटापाठः || Jatapatha <blockquote>ओषधयः सं, समोषधयः, ओषधयः सम् । सं वदन्ते, वदन्ते सम्, सं वदन्ते । वदन्ते सोमेन, सोमेन वदन्ते, वदन्ते सोमेन । सोमेन सह, सह सोमेन  सोमेन सह। सह राज्ञा, राज्ञा सह, सह राज्ञा । राज्ञेति राज्ञा ।</blockquote><blockquote>यस्मै कृणोति, कृणोति यस्मै, यस्मै कृणोति। कृणोति ब्राह्मणो, ब्राह्मणः कृणोति, कृणोति ब्राह्मणः। ब्राह्मणस्तं, तं ब्राह्मणो, ब्राह्मणस्तम् । तं राजन्, राजंस्तं, तं राजन् । राजन् पारयामसि, पारयामसि राजन्, राजन् पारयामसि । पारयामसीति पारयामसि ॥२२॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Here two words of the mantra are chanted in forward and reverse orders till the end of the Mantra. In Shikhapatha three words of the mantra are chanted in such permutations and combinations.<ref name=":32222">Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, (2000) ''[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap5.htm Hindu Dharma (Collection of Swamiji's Speeches between 1907 to 1994)]''Mumbai : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan </ref> Recitations of the Rekha (line), Dhvaja (flag), Danda (staff), and Ratha (chariot) are further complex recitation methods involving even the padas of the mantra.<ref>Dr. S. Yegnasubramanian, The Vedic Chanting-a perfectly formulated Oral Tradition available at http://www.svbf.org/journal/vol1no2/chanting.pdf </ref>  Among them Ghanapatha  is most difficult and the longest.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":32222" />

* घनापाठः || Ghanapatha

* घनापाठः || Ghanapatha