Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)

Vaidika Vangmayam (Samskrit : वैदिकवाङ्मयम्) means that literature which is "associated with the Vedas". Vaidika literature includes the ancillary and subsidiary texts associated with the Vedas which have come into existence to clarify and understand the Vedas. Thus, over a period of time, different explanatory shastras evolved to explain the subtle concepts presented in Vedas and they are included in such literature.

1. वेदाङ्गानि || Vedangas (6)
2. वेद-उपाङ्गानि || Veda-Upangas (4)
3. उपवेदाः || Upa-Vedas (4)
4. पुराणानि || Puranas (18)
5. उपपुराणानि || Upa-Puranas (18)

Vedas are a storehouse of knowledge needed for mankind, not merely spiritual but also secular or temporal. They are not compositions made in any one particular period. They are spread over a period of time; one group separated from the other probably by centuries and handed down from one generation to the other through word of mouth. Understanding vaidika literature itself developed into many branches covering different aspects of the subject. While some have developed independently (such as Jyotisha - to explain muhurtas in vaidika kriyas), others summarize (such as Kalpa which is a manual of procedures from different vedas) and a few others are simplified (like the Puranas in story format) for easy understanding (including the Mahabharata).

 विद्यास्थानानि ॥ Vidyasthanas

चतुर्दशविद्याः ॥ Chaturdasha vidyas are called the विद्यास्थानानि ॥ Vidyasthanas as they give comprehensive knowledge of dharma. These include the Chaturvedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvanaveda), Shad(ved)angas (Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chandas and Jyotish), and 4 Upangas (Puranas, Nyaya shastra, Mimamsa and Dharmashastra) of Vedas.

चतुर्दशविद्याः ॥ Chaturdasha vidyas

According to Vachaspatyam, Nandi Purana gives the 14 vidyasthanas as follows

वेदादिषु चतुर्दशसु विद्यासु। ताश्च “विद्याश्चतुर्दश प्रोक्ताः क्रमेण तु यथास्थिति। षडङ्गमिश्रितावेदा धर्म्मशास्त्रं पुराणकम्। मीमांमातर्कमपि च एता विद्याश्चतुर्दश” नन्दि पु०।

Meaning : Fourteen vidyas are given as is - vedas with their 6 angas, dharmashastram, puranam, mimamsa with tarka. According to Vachaspatyam,

पुराणन्यायमीमांसाधर्म्मशास्त्राङ्गमिश्रिताः। वेदाः स्थानानि विद्यानां धर्म्मस्य च चतुर्दश” या० स्मृतौ विद्यास्थानत्वोक्तेस्तासां तथात्वम्। (Yagn. Smri. 1.3)

Summary: Purana, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Dharmashastras combined with vedangas, and vedas form the 14 vidyastanas as given in Yagnavalkya Smriti. Manusmriti also refers to these abodes of knowledge as 14 vidyas.

अङ्गानि वेदाश्चत्वारो मीमांसा न्यायविस्तरः । पुराणं धमर्शास्त्रं च विद्या ह्येताश्चतुदर्श ॥

अष्टादशविद्याः ॥ Ashtadasha vidyas

However, Vishnupurana enumerates the existence of 18 vidyasthanas by adding Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharvaveda and Arthasashtra (four Upavedas) to the previously explained 14 vidyasthanas as given in the following slokas.

अङ्गानि वेदाश्चत्वारो मीमांसा न्यायविस्तरः। पुराणं धर्मशास्त्रं च विद्या ह्येताश्चतुर्दश ॥ २८ ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.6.28)

आयुर्वेदो धनुर्वेदो गान्धर्वश्चेत्यनुक्रमात् । अर्थशास्त्रं परं तस्मात् विद्या ह्यष्टादश स्मृताः ।। २९ ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.29)

Shivamahapuranam also describes the 14 Vidyas and 18 vidyas as given above. (5.7)

वेदाङ्गानि || Vedangas

The word अङ्ग ॥ Anga is used in the sense of उपकारक ॥ Upakaraka (useful tool). And with reference to understanding vedajnana or the knowledge of vedas, these six shastras are extremely useful, hence they are called Vedangas. The oldest reference to what constitute the Vedangas is given in Mundakopanishad

तत्रापरा ऋग्वेदो यजुर्वेदः सामवेदोऽथर्ववेदः शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दो ज्योतिषमिति । (Mund. Upan. 1.1.5)

tatrāparā r̥gvēdō yajurvēdaḥ sāmavēdō'tharvavēdaḥ śikṣā kalpō vyākaraṇaṁ niruktaṁ chandō jyōtiṣamiti । (Mund. Upan. 1.1.5)

Meaning : Aparavidya include the rigveda, yajurveda, samaveda, atharvaveda (four vedas), siksha, kalpa, vyakaranam, niruktam, chandas, jyothisha (6 angas of vedas).

शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दसां चयः । ज्योतिषामयनं चैव वेदाङ्गानि षडेव तु ॥

śikṣā kalpo vyākaraṇaṃ niruktaṃ chandasāṃ cayaḥ । jyotiṣāmayanaṃ caiva vedāṅgāni ṣaḍeva tu ॥

According to the above shloka, Vedangas are six in number namely Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chandas, Jyotish.

Title	Subject Dealt With
1.शिक्षा || Shiksha	Science of phonetics or pronunciation and intonation.
2.व्याकरणम् || Vyakarana	Science of the grammar of language
3.निरुक्तम् || Nirukta	Etymology or the science of origin, meaning and explanation of the Vedic words.
4.छन्दस् || Chandas	Prosody or science of composition of the hymns like meter, rhyme, पाद (quarter) etc. of the mantras
5.ज्योतिष् || Jyotish	Astronomy and astrology mainly directed towards fixing up of auspicious moments for the performance of the Vedic sacrifices
6.कल्पः || Kalpa	Science or manual of yagna kriyas or rituals, both Vedic and domestic

छन्दः पादौ तु वेदस्य हस्तौ कल्पोऽथ उच्यते । ज्योतिषामयनं चक्षुर्निरुक्तं श्रोत्रमुच्यते ॥ (Pani. Siks. 41)

शिक्षा घ्राणं तु वेदस्य मुखं व्याकरणं स्मृतम् । तस्मात् साङ्गमधीत्यैव ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ॥ (Pani. Siks. 42)

chandaḥ pādau tu vedasya hastau kalpo'tha ucyate । jyotiṣāmayanaṃ cakṣurniruktaṃ śrotramucyate ॥

śikṣā ghrāṇaṃ tu vedasya mukhaṃ vyākaraṇaṃ smṛtam । tasmāt sāṅgamadhītyaiva brahmaloke mahīyate ॥

In पाणिनीयशिक्षा, these six vedangas are described in the above shloka which means - "Chandas forms the feet of the Vedapurusha, while Kalpas are the hands, Jyotish is the eye, Nirukta forms the ears, Shiksha is the nose, while the face (speech) is formed by Vyakarana. Only by studying vedas (Vedapurusha) along with vedangas (different parts) will one attain the brahmaloka".

Vedangas are thus special shastras to understand the vedic language, meaning and their usage and the karmakanda expounded in Vedas. To discourage digressing distorted interpretations these shastras have been given by the great rishis to streamline the understanding of correct intent of the Vedas.

वेद-उपाङ्गानि || Veda-Upangas

Upangas of Vedas include the following four bodies of knowledge namely.

1. Puranas
2. Mimamsa
3. Nyaya shastra
4. Dharmashastra

According to some scholars, the Shad-darshanas may be classified as Upangas of Vedas.

उपवेदाः || Upavedas

They are called the subsidiary Vedas. They are four in number one attached to each Veda viz.

Title	Subject Dealt with	Associated with
आयुर्वेदः || Ayurveda	Science of healthy living including the prevention and cure of diseases	Rig Veda
गान्धर्ववेदः || Gandharvaveda	Science of all forms of fine arts like music and dance.	Sama Veda.
अर्थशास्त्रम् || Arthashastra	Science of finance, economics, politics, statesmanship, public administration	Atharva Veda
धनुर्वेदः || Dhanurveda	Science of archery and warfare	Yajurveda.

Some schools hold Sthapatyaveda (architecture) as the fourth Upaveda instead of Arthashastra. Sthapatyaveda relates with engineering and architecture.

पुराणानि उपपुराणानि च ॥ Puranas and Upapuranas

The Puranas are a vast genre of encyclopedic Indian texts about a wide range of topics particularly legends and traditional lore. Several of these texts are named after major devatas such as Vishnu, Shiva and Devi. There are 18 Mahapuranas (Great Puranas) and 18 Upapuranas (Minor Puranas), containing over 400,000 verses. The list of Puranas is given in Padmapurana (2.3.5), Vishnupurana (3.6), Skanda purana (4.7.1), Agni Purana (10.8.3)

The 18 Mahapuranas listed in Vishnu puranam are as follows

अष्टादश पुराणानि पुराणज्ञाः प्रचक्षते। ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवञ्च शैवं भागवतं तथा। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.20)

aṣṭādaśa purāṇāni purāṇajñāḥ pracakṣatē। brāhmaṁ pādmaṁ vaiṣṇavañca śaivaṁ bhāgavataṁ tathā। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.20)

अथान्यन्नारदीयञ्च मार्कण्डेयञ्च सप्तमम् । आग्नेयमष्टमञ्चैव भविष्यं नवमं तथा ।(Vish. Pura. 3.6.21)

athānyannāradīyañca mārkaṇḍēyañca saptamam । āgnēyamaṣṭamañcaiva bhaviṣyaṁ navamaṁ tathā ।(Vish. Pura. 3.6.21) 

दशमं ब्रह्मवैवर्त्तं लैङ्गमेकादशं स्मृतम्। वाराहं द्वादशञ्चैव स्कान्दञ्चैव त्रयोदशम्। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.22)

daśamaṁ brahmavaivarttaṁ laiṅgamēkādaśaṁ smr̥tam। vārāhaṁ dvādaśañcaiva skāndañcaiva trayōdaśam। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.22) 

चतुर्दशं वामनञ्च कौर्मं पञ्चदशं स्मृतम्। मात्स्यञ्च गारुडञ्चैव ब्रह्माण्डञ्च ततःपरम्। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.23)

caturdaśaṁ vāmanañca kaurmaṁ pañcadaśaṁ smr̥tam। mātsyañca gāruḍañcaiva brahmāṇḍañca tataḥparam। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.23)

तथा चोपपुराणानि मुनिभिः कथितानि च । महापुराणान्येतानि ह्मष्टादश महामुने ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.24)

tathā cōpapurāṇāni munibhiḥ kathitāni ca । mahāpurāṇānyētāni hmaṣṭādaśa mahāmunē ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.24)

Meaning : 18 Puranas have been seen (given). They include Brahma Puranam, Padma puranam, Vishnu Puranam, Shiva Puranam, Bhagawata Puranam. And the others are Narada Puranam, Markandeya Puran is the seventh, Agni Puranam is the eighth, Bhavishya puranam being the ninth. the tenth is Brahma vaivarta Puranam, the eleventh is termed Linga Puranam. Varaha Puranam is the twelfth and Skanda Puranam the thirteenth, fourteenth is Vamana Puranam, Kurma Puranam is termed the fifteenth. Matsya Puranam, Garuda Puranam and Brahmanda Puranam come after these. And (eighteen) Upa Puranas have been given by rishis along with these Mahapuranas.

अष्टादश महापुराणानि

मत्स्यपुराणम् || Matsya Purana	मार्कण्डेयपुराणम् || Markandeya Purana	भविष्यपुराणम् || Bhavishya Purana
भागवतपुराणम् || Bhagavata Purana	ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम् || Brahmanda Purana	ब्रह्मवैवर्तपुराणम् || Brahmavaivarta Purana
ब्रह्मपुराणम् || Brahma Purana	वराहपुराणम् || Varaha Purana	वामनपुराणम् || Vamana Purana
वायुपुराणम् || Vayu Purana (Shiva Puranam)	विष्णुपुराणम् || Vishnu Purana	अग्निपुराणम् || Agni Purana
नारदपुराणम् || Narada Purana	पद्मपुराणम् || Padma Purana	लिङ्गपुराणम् || Linga Purana
गरुडपुराणम् || Garuda Purana	कूर्मपुराणम् || Kurma Purana	स्कन्दपुराणम् || Skanda Purana

The Upapuranas are variously given in different texts. However a few are common in all these versions.

In Skanda purana (4.7.1). : Sanatkumara, Narsimha, Skanda, Shiva Dharma, Durvasa, Narada, Kapila, Manu, Ushana, Brahmanda, Varuna, Kalika, Maheshwara, Samba, Saura, Parashara, Maricha and Bhargava puranam.

In Garuda Puranam : Sanathkumara, Skanda, Shivadharma, Ascharya, Narada, Kapila, Vamana, Aushasana, Brahmanda, Varuna, Kalika, Maheswara, Samba, Saura, Parashara, Maricha and Bhargava puranam.

In Kurma Puranam the following list is available

अष्टादश उपपुराणानि

सनत्कुमारपुराणम् ॥ Sanatkumara Purana	नरसिंहम्पुराणम् ॥ Narasimha Purana	स्कन्दपुराणम् || Skanda Purana
शिवधर्मपुराणम् ॥ Shivadharma Purana	दूर्वासपुराणम् ॥ Durvasa Purana	नारदीयपुराणम् ॥ Naradeeya Purana
कपिलपुराणम् ॥ Kapila Purana	वामनपुराणम् ॥ Vamana Purana	औशासनपुराणम् ॥ Aushasana Purana
ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम् || Brahmanda Purana	वरुणपुराणम् ॥ Varuna Purana	कल्की / कालिकापुराणम्॥ Kalki / Kalika Purana
महेश्वरपुराणम् || Maheshwara Purana	साम्बपुराणम् ॥ Samba Purana	सौरपुराणम् ॥ Saura Purana
पराशरपुराणम् ॥ Parashara Purana	मारीचपुराणम् ॥ Maricha Purana	भार्गवपुराणम् ॥ Bhargava Purana

Many other Upapuranas are also available such as नन्दिपुराणम् ॥ Nandi Puranam, गाणपत्यम् / मुद्गलम् ॥ Ganapatya / Mudgala, देवीभागवतम् ॥ Devibhagavata, वासिष्ठम् ॥ Vasishta, हंसम् ॥ Hamsa from other different sources and a total of upto 30 Upapuranas are mentioned, though their availability is not known.

The Puranas have been influential in the development of Bharateeya samskriti. They are considered Vaidika (congruent with Vedic literature) or pertaining to vedas with easy understanding as mentioned by Shivamahapuranam .

सम्वाद || Discussion

Traditionally the Chaturdasha vidyas consider Puranas, Nyaya, Mimamsa and Dharmashastras as Veda Upangas. However, due to similarity of names a few questions arise here

1. Nyaya, Mimamsa shastras are mentioned under the classification of Shad darsanas shastras and as those among the Veda Upangas.
2. Dharma sutras are given in Kalpas (as Vedangas) and Dharmashastras are mentioned as one among the Veda Upangas. What are included in these texts?

Dr. N. Sivasenani of University of Hyderabad, presents a few thoughts about these questions

"Nyaya" should be taken to mean Nyaya-Vaiseshika-Sankhya and Yoga​; and Mimamsa covers both Purva- and Uttara-mimamsas. Why should it be so? Based on the context. Further Puranas includes Mahabharata and Ramayana."

"​In the Vedanga Kalpas, there are four kinds of Sutras - Srauta- (dealing with vedic rites), Grihya- (dealing with 16 samskaaras)-, Dharma- (dealing with secular matters) and Sulba-​ sutras. However, of these Dharmasutras got expanded tremendously. Firstly there are the eighteen Smritis - like Manusmriti, Yajnavalkyasmriti and so on. Note that this enumeration is a Srmiti-work and not a Sutra-work such as Apastambasutras of Kalpas. Then these have further been expanded by huge commentaries. Further, omnibus volumes of "Nibandhas" came into existence which are a compilation of views of various Smritis and other authorities. Then since Nibandhas grew in volume, condensed manuals combining Srauta-, Grihya- and Dharma- sutra elements like Nirnayasindhu and Dharmasindhu came about. So much so that today, Dharmasindhu is usually the first and last reference when a question of Dharma arises (example: when is Sivaratri this year or who are sapindas). Since this part alone grew in volume, it is listed separately under Dharmashastras."

To summarize

• It can be said that Nyaya and Mimamsa are Upangas (Chaturdasha Vidyas) and Darshana shastras (Shad darsanas) and based on Vedas. The Dharmasutras of Kalpa Vedanga are the Dharmashastras of Upangas are the same texts.
• Dharmasutras given under Kalpa Vedanga, for example : Apasthamba sutras refer mainly to sutra works of dharmas associated with specific srauta yagnika kriyas. These have been hugely expanded into Dharma-shastras (Smritis works), for example : Manu smriti. These refer to dharmas applicable to man in general society.
• While in Kalpas, Dharmasutras generally lay down the code of conduct to be followed by a person engaged in vaidika yagna kriyas, Dharmashastras (classified under Upangas) lay down the general moral code of conduct applicable to every human being. Also Dharmasastras include later day texts combining the different parts of Kalpas, codified into condensed versions as in Dharmasindhu and Nirnayasindhu.
• Mimamsa is divided into Purvamimamsa and Uttaramimamsa. Purva Mimamsa highlights the discriminating and decision making qualities of the Vedas by analysis. Here, Purva Mimamsa is generally what is considered for the term Mimamsa. Uttara Mimamsa is also called as Vedanta, which is classified under the Jnanakanda.