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#The [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyakas]] that are mystical texts which give philosophical interpretation of the rituals. These are intended for the Vanaprasthas or hermits, who prepare themselves for taking Sanyasa

#The [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyakas]] that are mystical texts which give philosophical interpretation of the rituals. These are intended for the Vanaprasthas or hermits, who prepare themselves for taking Sanyasa

#The [[Upanishads]] that discuss meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge.

#The [[Upanishads]] that discuss meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge.

The subject matter of the whole Veda is divided into Karma-Kanda (कर्म खण्ड), Upasana-Kanda (उपासना खण्ड) and Jnana-Kanda (ज्ञान खण्ड). The Karma-Kanda or ritualistic section deals with various sacrifices and rituals. The Upasana-Kanda or worship-section deals with various kinds of worship or meditation. The Jnana-Kanda or knowledge-section deals with the knowledge of Brahman. The [[Samhita (संहिता)|Samhitas]] and the [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmanas]] constitute Karma-Kanda; the [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyakas]] Upasana-Kanda; and the [[Upanishads]] Jnana-Kanda.<ref name=":022" />

The subject matter of the whole Veda is divided into Karma-Kanda (कर्म खण्ड), Upasana-Kanda (उपासना खण्ड) and Jnana-Kanda (ज्ञान खण्ड). The Karma-Kanda or ritualistic section deals with various yajnas and associated kriyas. The Upasana-Kanda or worship-section deals with various kinds of worship or meditation. The Jnana-Kanda or knowledge-section deals with the knowledge of Brahman. The [[Samhita (संहिता)|Samhitas]] and the [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmanas]] constitute Karma-Kanda; the [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyakas]] Upasana-Kanda; and the [[Upanishads]] Jnana-Kanda.<ref name=":42222" /><ref name=":022" />

'''Main Components of Shrutis'''

'''Main Components of Shrutis'''

*[[Chandogya Upanishad]]

*[[Chandogya Upanishad]]

*[[Brhadaranyaka Upanishad]] }}

*[[Brhadaranyaka Upanishad]] }}

Besides these Shvetashvatara, Kaushitaki and Maitrayaniya Upanishads are also listed as older ones. Shri Adi Shankaracharya has given bhashyam (commentary) for these ten principal Upanishads and has mentioned about Kaushitaki and Shvetasvatara Upanishads in his writings, though he did not write the bhasyam for these two Upanishads. These 13 Upanishads are based on the ancient vedic sources and advocate the tattava of Vedanta. The many other Upanishads that are currently available have arisen based on the particular sampradayas, thus we find mainly Shaiva, Vaishnava, Yoga and Shakteya Upanishads. The older Upanishads describe the places starting from Kuru, Panchala upto Videha indicating their place of origin. It is to be noted that in place of the many Vaidika devatas we find mention more of Brahman or Parabrahman (nirakara), showing the unity of divinity. Ancient (prachina) Upanishads mention Prkruti, Purusha and Brahma while the more recent (arvachina) Upanishads mention the deities Vishnu or Shiva and so forth. 

 

Besides Shvetashvatara, Kaushitaki and Maitrayaniya Upanishads are also listed as older ones. Shri Adi Shankaracharya has given bhashyam (commentary) for these ten principal Upanishads and has mentioned about Kaushitaki and Shvetasvatara Upanishads in his writings, though he did not write the bhasyam for these two Upanishads. These 13 Upanishads are based on the ancient vedic sources and advocate the tattava of Vedanta. The many other Upanishads that are currently available have arisen based on the particular sampradayas, thus we find mainly Shaiva, Vaishnava, Yoga and Shakteya Upanishads<ref name=":42222" />.

====The Upa-Vedas====

====The Upa-Vedas====

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====The Vedangas====

====The Vedangas====

{{Main|Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)}}There are six Angas or explanatory limbs, to the Vedas: the Siksha and [[Vyakarana|Vyakararna]] of [[Panini]], the [[Chhandas]] of [[Pingalacharya]], the [[Nirukta]] of [[Yaska]], the [[Jyotisha]] of [[Garga]], and the Kalpas (Srauta, Grihya, Dharma and Sulba) belonging to the authorship of various Rishis.

{{Main|Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)}}The Six Angas are as follows :

 

#[[Shiksha (शिक्षा)|Shiksha]] is a knowledge of phonetics. Shiksha deals with pronunciation and accent. The text of the Vedas are arranged in various forms or Pathas (पाठ-s). The Padapatha (पदपाठः) gives each word its separate form. The Kramapatha (क्रमपाठः) connects the word in pairs.<ref name=":0222">All About HInduism, Swami Sivananda, Page 33-34</ref>

'''Siksha''' is a knowledge of phonetics. Shiksha deals with pronunciation and accent. The text of the Vedas is arranged in various forms or Pathas. The Pada-patha gives each word its separate form. The Krama-patha connects the word in pairs.

 

#[[Vyakarana (व्याकरणम्)|Vyakarana]] is the knowledge of construction of words or grammar. This auxiliary discipline has focused on the rules of grammar and siddhiprakriya (सिद्धिप्रक्रिया | the process of deriving a word), so as to establish the exact form of words and sentences to properly express ideas.

[[Vyakarana]] is Sanskrit grammar. Panini's books are most famous. Without knowledge of Vyakarana, one cannot understand the Vedas. [[Chhanda]] is metre dealing with prosody. [[Nirukta]] is philology or etymology. Jyotisha is astronomy and astrology. It deals with the movements of the heavenly bodies, planets, etc., and their influence in human affairs.

#[[Nirukta]] gives the vyutpatti-artha (व्युत्पत्ति-अर्थ | etymology), explaining words, particularly those which are archaic and have a different ancient vedic usage with uncommon meaning. This auxiliary discipline has focused on developing a [[Nighantu]] which is a dictionary that has a collection of vedic usages. These words are analysed to establish the proper meaning of the words according to the context used in vedas.

 

#[[Jyotisha|Jyotish]] deals with astronomy and astrology. It deals with the movements of the heavenly bodies, planets, etc., and their influence in human affairs.<ref name=":0222" /> This auxiliary Vedic discipline focused on time keeping.

[[Kalpa (Vedanga)|Kalpa]] is the method of ritual. The [[Srauta Sutras]] which explain the ritual of sacrifices belong to Kalpa. The [[Sulba Sutras]], which deal with measurements which are necessary for laying out the sacrificial areas, also belong to Kalpa. The [[Grihya Sutras]] which concern domestic life, and the Dharma Sutras which deal with ethics, customs and laws, also belong to Kalpa. The Pratishakhyas, Padapathas, Kramapathas, Upalekhas, Anukramanis, Daivatsamhitas, Parishishtas, Prayogas, Paddhatis, Karikas, Khilas and Vyuhas are further elaborations in the rituals of the Kalpa Sutras.

#[[Kalpa (Vedanga)|Kalpas]] are the texts that deal with the methods of [[Yagya (यज्ञ)|yajna]] and other rituals. This field focused on standardizing procedures for Vedic Shrauta rituals, Smarta rituals associated with [[Samskaras (संस्काराः)|samskaras]] - major life events such as birth, wedding and death in family, as well as discussing [[Dharma|dharmas]] laid down for the personal conduct and proper duties of an individual in different stages of his life.  

 

Among the Kalpa Sutras, the Asvalayana, Sankhyana and the Sambhavya belong to the [[Rigveda|Rig-Veda]]. The Mashaka, Latyayana, Drahyayana, Gobhila and Khadira belong to the [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Sama-Veda]]. The Katyayana and Paraskara belong to the [[Yajurveda|Sukla Yajur-Veda]]. The Apastamba, Hiranyakesi, Bodhayana, Bharadvaja, Manava, Vaikhanasa and the Kathaka belong to the Krishna [[Yajurveda|Yajur-Veda]]. The Vaitana and the Kaushika belong to the [[Atharvaveda|Atharva-Veda]].

Among the Kalpa Sutras, the Asvalayana, Sankhyana and the Sambhavya belong to the [[Rigveda|Rig-Veda]]. The Mashaka, Latyayana, Drahyayana, Gobhila and Khadira belong to the [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Sama-Veda]]. The Katyayana and Paraskara belong to the [[Yajurveda|Sukla Yajur-Veda]]. The Apastamba, Hiranyakesi, Bodhayana, Bharadvaja, Manava, Vaikhanasa and the Kathaka belong to the Krishna [[Yajurveda|Yajur-Veda]]. The Vaitana and the Kaushika belong to the [[Atharvaveda|Atharva-Veda]].