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| It is said that Bhagavan Vishnu incarnated as Maharshi Veda [[Vyasa]] in Dvapara yuga and organized the [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Vedas]] in their present form. Maharshi Vyasa's efforts brought about uniformity in the religious observances thereby performance of rites and rituals, religious ceremonies, yajnas (sacrifices) and [[Vrata (व्रतम्)|vratas]] (vows) continued without any flaw. As Vedas have different aspects of understanding to them, various types of expositions on Vedas came into existence and each became a subject to be learnt for a comprehensive understanding of the Vedas to be achieved. Maharshi Yaska, who gave Nirukta to the world, also expounded [[Vedic Terminology|vedic terminology]] on the basis of legends and ancient lore. [[Manu (मनुः)|Manu]], the Law giver of ancient Bharatavarsha, laid down certain instructions as to how the teaching of Vedas should be conducted. | | It is said that Bhagavan Vishnu incarnated as Maharshi Veda [[Vyasa]] in Dvapara yuga and organized the [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Vedas]] in their present form. Maharshi Vyasa's efforts brought about uniformity in the religious observances thereby performance of rites and rituals, religious ceremonies, yajnas (sacrifices) and [[Vrata (व्रतम्)|vratas]] (vows) continued without any flaw. As Vedas have different aspects of understanding to them, various types of expositions on Vedas came into existence and each became a subject to be learnt for a comprehensive understanding of the Vedas to be achieved. Maharshi Yaska, who gave Nirukta to the world, also expounded [[Vedic Terminology|vedic terminology]] on the basis of legends and ancient lore. [[Manu (मनुः)|Manu]], the Law giver of ancient Bharatavarsha, laid down certain instructions as to how the teaching of Vedas should be conducted. |
− | == सविस्तरविवरणम् ॥ Detailed Discussion == | + | == Etymology == |
− | Vedangas (वेदाङ्गानि) help us construct, chant and understand Veda mantras. These are called Angas (अङ्गानि | ancillaries) to Vedas.<blockquote>शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दसां चयः । ज्योतिषामयनं चैव वेदाङ्गानि षडेव तु ॥</blockquote><blockquote>śikṣā kalpo vyākaraṇaṃ niruktaṃ chandasāṃ cayaḥ । jyotiṣāmayanaṃ caiva vedāṅgāni ṣaḍeva tu ॥</blockquote>According to the above shloka, Vedangas are six in number namely Shiksa (शिक्षा), Kalpa (कल्पः), Vyakarana (व्याकरणम्), Nirukta (निरुक्तम्), Chandas (छन्दस्) and Jyotish (ज्योतिष्). | + | Vedangas (वेदाङ्गानि) help us construct, chant and understand Veda mantras. These are called Angas (अङ्गानि | ancillaries) to Vedas. The word 'अङ्गम्' is used in the sense of "उपकारक' - 'अंग्यन्ते ज्ञायन्ते अमीभिरिति अङ्गानि' meaning Angas are those by using which one understands the nature of an object/subject (here Vedas). Vedas are by themselves profound both in language and concept. <blockquote>शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दसां चयः । ज्योतिषामयनं चैव वेदाङ्गानि षडेव तु ॥</blockquote><blockquote>śikṣā kalpo vyākaraṇaṃ niruktaṃ chandasāṃ cayaḥ । jyotiṣāmayanaṃ caiva vedāṅgāni ṣaḍeva tu ॥</blockquote>According to the above shloka, Vedangas are six in number namely Shiksa (शिक्षा), Kalpa (कल्पः), Vyakarana (व्याकरणम्), Nirukta (निरुक्तम्), Chandas (छन्दस्) and Jyotish (ज्योतिष्). |
| + | |
| + | == Objective == |
| + | By learning these Vedangas one becomes proficient in six aspects |
| + | * Pronunciation of the veda mantras |
| + | * Practice of the yajnas and yagas |
| + | * Construction of words and knowing the primary meaning |
| + | * Meanings of words according to the context |
| + | * Metrical composition and patha-paddhati of mantras |
| + | * Knowledge of appropriate time and place to perform yajnas and yagas. |
| === शिक्षा ॥ Shiksha === | | === शिक्षा ॥ Shiksha === |
| Shiksha deals mainly with svarajnana (स्वरज्ञानम् | phonetics) and it is the science disciplining the efforts of ear, nose and vocal cords to utter the accurate sound as defined by Vedic mantras. | | Shiksha deals mainly with svarajnana (स्वरज्ञानम् | phonetics) and it is the science disciplining the efforts of ear, nose and vocal cords to utter the accurate sound as defined by Vedic mantras. |