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Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि) (view source)
Revision as of 10:26, 9 January 2018
, 10:26, 9 January 2018Added content. Made some formatting changes
Manu, the Law giver of ancient Bharatavarsha, laid down certain instructions as to how the teaching of Vedas should be conducted.
Manu, the Law giver of ancient Bharatavarsha, laid down certain instructions as to how the teaching of Vedas should be conducted.
== परिचय || Introduction ==
The '''Vedanga''' ({{lang-sa|वेदाङ्ग}} ''{{IAST|vedāṅga}}'', "limbs of the Veda") are six Angas or explanatory limbs, to the Vedas: the [[Shiksha|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.
== Detailed Discussion ==
The Six Angas are:
#'''[[Shiksha|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.<ref name=":0">All About HInduism, Swami Sivananda, Page 33-34</ref>
#[[Sanskrit prosody|Chhandas]] (''{{IAST|chandas}}''): [[Metre (poetry)|prosody]].<ref name="jameslochtefeldsca140">James Lochtefeld (2002), "Chandas" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing, ISBN 0-8239-2287-1, page 140</ref> This auxiliary discipline has focussed on the poetic meters, including those based on fixed number of syllables per verse, and those based on fixed number of [[morae]] per verse.{{Sfn|Annette Wilke|Oliver Moebus|2011|pp=391-394 with footnotes}}<ref name="Allan2013p228">{{cite book|author=Peter Scharf|editor=Keith Allan|title=The Oxford Handbook of the History of Linguistics|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=BQfDosHckzEC|year=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-164344-6|pages=228–234}}</ref>
#[[Vyakarana]] (''{{IAST|vyākaraṇa}}''): [[grammar]] and linguistic analysis.<ref>W. J. Johnson (2009), A Dictionary of Hinduism, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0198610250, Article on ''Vyakarana''</ref>{{Sfn|Harold G. Coward|1990|p=105}}<ref name="jameslochtefeldsca769">James Lochtefeld (2002), "Vyakarana" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, ISBN 0-8239-2287-1, page 769</ref> This auxiliary discipline has focussed on the rules of grammar and linguistic analysis to establish the exact form of words and sentences to properly express ideas.{{Sfn|Harold G. Coward|1990|pp=105-110}}{{Sfn|Annette Wilke|Oliver Moebus|2011|pp=416-419}}
#[[Nirukta]] (''{{IAST|nirukta}}''): [[etymology]], explanation of words, particularly those which are archaic and have ancient usage with unclear meaning.<ref name="jameslochtefeldsca476">James Lochtefeld (2002), "Nirukta" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, ISBN 0-8239-2287-1, page 476</ref> This auxiliary discipline has focussed on linguistic analysis to help establish the proper meaning of the words, given the context they are used in.{{Sfn|Harold G. Coward|1990|pp=105-110}}
#[[Jyotisha]] (''{{IAST|jyotiṣa}}''): Jyotisha is astronomy and astrology. It deals with the movements of the heavenly bodies, planets, etc., and their influence in human affairs.<ref name=":0" /> This auxiliary Vedic discipline focussed on time keeping.<ref>James Lochtefeld (2002), "Jyotisha" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing, ISBN 0-8239-2287-1, pages 326-327</ref><ref>{{cite book| author=Yukio Ohashi| editor=Johannes Andersen| title=Highlights of Astronomy, Volume 11B |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=gQYscrT0fgQC |year=1999 |publisher=Springer Science | page=719-721 | isbn=978-0-7923-5556-4}}</ref>
#[[Kalpa (Vedanga)|Kalpa]] (''{{IAST|kalpa}}''): [[Kalpa (Vedanga)|Kalpa]] is the method of ritual. This field focussed on standardizing procedures for Vedic rituals, rituals associated with major life events such as birth, wedding and death in family, as well as discussing the personal conduct and proper duties of an individual in different stages of his life.<ref>{{cite book|author=Wendy Doniger |title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ZP_f9icf2roC |year=1999 |publisher=Merriam-Webster |isbn=978-0-87779-044-0|pages=629 }}</ref>
== Detailed Discussion ==
वेदाङ्ग || [[Vaidika Vaangmayam|Vedaangas]] help us construct, chant and understand Veda mantras and श्लोक || slokas. These are called अङ्ग || Angas (appendices) of Vedas.<blockquote>"शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दसां चयः । ज्योतिषामयनं चैव वेदंगानि षडेव तु ॥"</blockquote>According to the above sloka Vedaangas are six in number namely शिक्षा ॥ Siksa, कल्प || Kalpa,व्याकरन || Vyakarana, निरुक्तम् || Niruktam, चण्ड || Chandas, and ज्योतिषं || Jyotisham.
वेदाङ्ग || [[Vaidika Vaangmayam|Vedaangas]] help us construct, chant and understand Veda mantras and श्लोक || slokas. These are called अङ्ग || Angas (appendices) of Vedas.<blockquote>"शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दसां चयः । ज्योतिषामयनं चैव वेदंगानि षडेव तु ॥"</blockquote>According to the above sloka Vedaangas are six in number namely शिक्षा ॥ Siksa, कल्प || Kalpa,व्याकरन || Vyakarana, निरुक्तम् || Niruktam, चण्ड || Chandas, and ज्योतिषं || Jyotisham.
== शिक्षा ॥ Siksha ==
=== शिक्षा ॥ Siksha ===
शिक्षा ॥ Siksha deals mainly with स्वरज्ञानम् ॥ swaragnanam (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. Siksha deals with the origin of sound and teaches one about the production of शुध्दोच्चारणम् ॥ shuddhoccharanam (accurate sound) with ease. In Vedic literature accurate pronunciation of sound (vowels and consonants) is of great importance else the meaning is completely altered, hence Vedas have '''स्वरप्राधान्यम् ॥ swarapraadhanyam'''.
शिक्षा ॥ Siksha deals mainly with स्वरज्ञानम् ॥ swaragnanam (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. Siksha deals with the origin of sound and teaches one about the production of शुध्दोच्चारणम् ॥ shuddhoccharanam (accurate sound) with ease. In Vedic literature accurate pronunciation of sound (vowels and consonants) is of great importance else the meaning is completely altered, hence Vedas have '''स्वरप्राधान्यम् ॥ swarapraadhanyam'''.
An example of such wrong utterance is typically explained by the legend of Vritrasura's birth: <blockquote>"मन्त्रो हीनः स्वरतो वर्णतो वा मिथ्या प्रयुक्तो न तमर्थमाह ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"स वाग्वज्रो यजमानं हिनस्ति यथेन्द्रशत्रुः स्वरतोपराधात् ॥"</blockquote>If a mantra is devoid of a वर्ण || varna or letter, or has wrongly utterances or स्वर || swaras, then it does not the give the meaning it is intended to and produces a false meaning. This incorrectly and improperly uttered mantra becomes a वाक्वज्र || vakvajra (word weapon) and is capable of destroying the यजमणि || yajamani (performer of the yagna). Example is the famous story of Indra's enemy, Vrittrasura whose origin was due to स्वरापराध ॥ swarapradha (wrong swara utterance) of a mantra. <blockquote>"'''वृत्रासुर जननम् || Vrittrasura Jananam''' : त्वष्टा॥ Tvastha angered by Indra's killing of his son विश्वरूप || Vishwaroopa, initiates an आभिचारिकं यागं || aabhaicharikam yagam (a yagam performed to cause harm to an intended person) to procure a son to kill Indra. The ऋत्विज || ritvijas were to utter the mantra "इन्द्रशत्रुर्वर्धस्व" with अन्त उदात्तः ॥ Anta Udaatta or Udaatta swara in the end of the mantra (to mean Prosper Oh ! Enemy of Indra) instead they used the आद्य उदात्तः ॥ Aadya Udaatta swara in the beginning of the mantra (meaning Oh! Indra, one who has enemies, Prosper). So instead of asking for the rise and prosperity of a son to take revenge on Indra, the ऋत्विज || ritvijas asked for the prosperity and glory of Indra who destroyed असुर || Asuras. Thus वृत्रासुर '''||''' Vrittrasura the son of त्वष्टा ॥ Tvastha was born, an enemy of Indra, but eventually Indra was rewarded with glory in killing वृत्रासुर '''||''' Vrittrasura."</blockquote>Siksha literature is very widely available based on the different शाखा || shaka (divisions) of different vedas. They are पाणिनीयशिक्षा || Panineeya Siksha व्यासशिक्षा || Vyasasiksha, भारद्वाजशिक्षा || Bharadwaaja siksha, याज्ञवलक्यशिक्षा || Yaagnvalkya Siksha, पराशरशिक्षा || Paarasharee siksha, वासिष्टीशिक्षा || Vaasishtee siksha, कात्यायनीशिक्षा || Kaatyayanee siksha, माध्यन्दिनीशिक्षा || Maadhyandinee siksha, केशवीशिक्षा || Keshavee siksha, अमोघानन्दिनीशिक्षा || Amoghaanandinee siksha, माण्डव्यशिक्षा || Maandavya siksha, मल्लशर्मशिक्षा || Mallasharma siksha, स्वराकुशशिक्षा || Svaraakusha siksha, षोडशशिक्षा || Shodasha slokee siksha, नारदीयशिक्षा || Naaradeeya siksha, माण्डुकीयशिक्षा || Mandukeeya siksha, स्वरभक्तिलक्षणशिक्षा || Svarabhaktilaskhana siksha, अवसाननिर्णयशिक्षा || Avasaananirnaya siksha, वर्णरत्न प्रदीपिका शिक्षा || Varnaratna pradeepikaa siksha among many others.
An example of such wrong utterance is typically explained by the legend of Vritrasura's birth: <blockquote>"मन्त्रो हीनः स्वरतो वर्णतो वा मिथ्या प्रयुक्तो न तमर्थमाह ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"स वाग्वज्रो यजमानं हिनस्ति यथेन्द्रशत्रुः स्वरतोपराधात् ॥"</blockquote>If a mantra is devoid of a वर्ण || varna or letter, or has wrongly utterances or स्वर || swaras, then it does not the give the meaning it is intended to and produces a false meaning. This incorrectly and improperly uttered mantra becomes a वाक्वज्र || vakvajra (word weapon) and is capable of destroying the यजमणि || yajamani (performer of the yagna). Example is the famous story of Indra's enemy, Vrittrasura whose origin was due to स्वरापराध ॥ swarapradha (wrong swara utterance) of a mantra. <blockquote>"'''वृत्रासुर जननम् || Vrittrasura Jananam''' : त्वष्टा॥ Tvastha angered by Indra's killing of his son विश्वरूप || Vishwaroopa, initiates an आभिचारिकं यागं || aabhaicharikam yagam (a yagam performed to cause harm to an intended person) to procure a son to kill Indra. The ऋत्विज || ritvijas were to utter the mantra "इन्द्रशत्रुर्वर्धस्व" with अन्त उदात्तः ॥ Anta Udaatta or Udaatta swara in the end of the mantra (to mean Prosper Oh ! Enemy of Indra) instead they used the आद्य उदात्तः ॥ Aadya Udaatta swara in the beginning of the mantra (meaning Oh! Indra, one who has enemies, Prosper). So instead of asking for the rise and prosperity of a son to take revenge on Indra, the ऋत्विज || ritvijas asked for the prosperity and glory of Indra who destroyed असुर || Asuras. Thus वृत्रासुर '''||''' Vrittrasura the son of त्वष्टा ॥ Tvastha was born, an enemy of Indra, but eventually Indra was rewarded with glory in killing वृत्रासुर '''||''' Vrittrasura."</blockquote>Siksha literature is very widely available based on the different शाखा || shaka (divisions) of different vedas. They are पाणिनीयशिक्षा || Panineeya Siksha व्यासशिक्षा || Vyasasiksha, भारद्वाजशिक्षा || Bharadwaaja siksha, याज्ञवलक्यशिक्षा || Yaagnvalkya Siksha, पराशरशिक्षा || Paarasharee siksha, वासिष्टीशिक्षा || Vaasishtee siksha, कात्यायनीशिक्षा || Kaatyayanee siksha, माध्यन्दिनीशिक्षा || Maadhyandinee siksha, केशवीशिक्षा || Keshavee siksha, अमोघानन्दिनीशिक्षा || Amoghaanandinee siksha, माण्डव्यशिक्षा || Maandavya siksha, मल्लशर्मशिक्षा || Mallasharma siksha, स्वराकुशशिक्षा || Svaraakusha siksha, षोडशशिक्षा || Shodasha slokee siksha, नारदीयशिक्षा || Naaradeeya siksha, माण्डुकीयशिक्षा || Mandukeeya siksha, स्वरभक्तिलक्षणशिक्षा || Svarabhaktilaskhana siksha, अवसाननिर्णयशिक्षा || Avasaananirnaya siksha, वर्णरत्न प्रदीपिका शिक्षा || Varnaratna pradeepikaa siksha among many others.
== कल्पः ॥ Kalpa ==
=== कल्पः ॥ Kalpa ===
The origin of कल्पः ॥ Kalpa was for the organization of all the extensive rituals described in Vedas (वैदिक कर्मकाण्ड || Vaidika Karmakaanda).
The origin of कल्पः ॥ Kalpa was for the organization of all the extensive rituals described in Vedas (वैदिक कर्मकाण्ड || Vaidika Karmakaanda).
'''सुल्ब सूत्र ||''' '''Sulba Sutras''' explain the different systems of measurements. Aspects of measurements of various वेदेनिर्मान विधि || vedenirmanavidhi (altars and the procedure to construct them) Example, होम शाला || homa shala, यज्ञ शाला || yagashala are discussed. Thus, वैदिक कर्मकाण्ड || Vaidika Karmakaanda is the topic for सुल्ब सूत्र || Sulbasutras, wherein geometry or the रेखागनितं || Rekhaganitam is applied. Only those Sulbasutras associated with यजुरवेद || Yajurveda are available extensively indicating that यजुरवेद || Yajurveda is the main base for कर्मकाण्ड || karmakaanda. कात्यायन || Kaatyayana, मानव || Maanava , बौधायन || Boudhayana, आपस्तम्भ || Aapasthamba, मैत्रेयी || Maitreyi, वारह || Vaaraha, वाधुला सुलब सूत्र || Vaadhula sulba sutras are the important ones in this category.
'''सुल्ब सूत्र ||''' '''Sulba Sutras''' explain the different systems of measurements. Aspects of measurements of various वेदेनिर्मान विधि || vedenirmanavidhi (altars and the procedure to construct them) Example, होम शाला || homa shala, यज्ञ शाला || yagashala are discussed. Thus, वैदिक कर्मकाण्ड || Vaidika Karmakaanda is the topic for सुल्ब सूत्र || Sulbasutras, wherein geometry or the रेखागनितं || Rekhaganitam is applied. Only those Sulbasutras associated with यजुरवेद || Yajurveda are available extensively indicating that यजुरवेद || Yajurveda is the main base for कर्मकाण्ड || karmakaanda. कात्यायन || Kaatyayana, मानव || Maanava , बौधायन || Boudhayana, आपस्तम्भ || Aapasthamba, मैत्रेयी || Maitreyi, वारह || Vaaraha, वाधुला सुलब सूत्र || Vaadhula sulba sutras are the important ones in this category.
== व्याकरणम् ॥ Vyakarana ==
=== व्याकरणम् ॥ Vyakarana ===
Vyakaranam is described as the वेद पुरुष || Veda purusha's face.
Vyakaranam is described as the वेद पुरुष || Veda purusha's face.
इन्द्र || Indra, चन्द्र || Chandra, काश || Kaasha, कृत्स्नपिशली || kritsnapishali, शकटयन || shakatayana, पाणिनि || panini, अरजैनेन्द्र || arajainendra, जयन्त || jayanta are the eight preachers of शब्द || shabda (word) or grammar.
इन्द्र || Indra, चन्द्र || Chandra, काश || Kaasha, कृत्स्नपिशली || kritsnapishali, शकटयन || shakatayana, पाणिनि || panini, अरजैनेन्द्र || arajainendra, जयन्त || jayanta are the eight preachers of शब्द || shabda (word) or grammar.
== निरुक्तम् ॥ Nirukta ==
=== निरुक्तम् ॥ Nirukta ===
महर्षि यस्क || Maharshi Yaska's निरुक्तम् || Nirukta is another treasure that has been produced in भारतवर्ष || Bharatavarsha and given to the world. It is an excellent treatise that deals with etymology or the objective definition of words. निरुक्तम् || Nirukta is written in prose form while all other shastras are built in the सूत्र || sutra format. सायनाचार्य || [[Sayanacharya (सायनाचार्यः)|Saayanaacharya]] while giving the preface of ऋग्वेद भाष्यं || Rigveda Bhasyam speaks thus about निरुक्तम् || Niruktam :
महर्षि यस्क || Maharshi Yaska's निरुक्तम् || Nirukta is another treasure that has been produced in भारतवर्ष || Bharatavarsha and given to the world. It is an excellent treatise that deals with etymology or the objective definition of words. निरुक्तम् || Nirukta is written in prose form while all other shastras are built in the सूत्र || sutra format. सायनाचार्य || [[Sayanacharya (सायनाचार्यः)|Saayanaacharya]] while giving the preface of ऋग्वेद भाष्यं || Rigveda Bhasyam speaks thus about निरुक्तम् || Niruktam :
'''Difference between Nighantu and Nirukta''' : A Dictionary or निघन्टुः || Nighantu is a compilation of usages of Vedic literature whereas निरुक्तम् || Nirukta extensively discusses the different Vedic words and their applications. Derivation of meaning of vedic terms is achieved in Nirukta. A dictionary consists of पञ्चद्याय || Panchadhyayas (5 components) whereas Nirukta deals with द्वदशाद्याय || Dvadashaadhyayas (12 components).
'''Difference between Nighantu and Nirukta''' : A Dictionary or निघन्टुः || Nighantu is a compilation of usages of Vedic literature whereas निरुक्तम् || Nirukta extensively discusses the different Vedic words and their applications. Derivation of meaning of vedic terms is achieved in Nirukta. A dictionary consists of पञ्चद्याय || Panchadhyayas (5 components) whereas Nirukta deals with द्वदशाद्याय || Dvadashaadhyayas (12 components).
== छन्दः ॥ Chandas ==
=== छन्दः ॥ Chandas ===
Vedas are bound in छन्दः || chandas or in a metre. Since vedas are highly dependent on the sound or the way they are uttered, chandas very important for their accurate utterance. It is the science for determination of metrical forms and qualities of mantras.
Vedas are bound in छन्दः || chandas or in a metre. Since vedas are highly dependent on the sound or the way they are uttered, chandas very important for their accurate utterance. It is the science for determination of metrical forms and qualities of mantras.
are among a few as examples.
are among a few as examples.
== ज्योतिषम् ॥ Jyotisham ==
=== ज्योतिषम् ॥ Jyotisham ===
It is study of the Universe,i.e.,astrology or astronomy to determine the configuration and position of stars and planets etc., in order to fix favorable or propitious times for performing यज्ञ || Yagas or Hindu rituals.
It is study of the Universe,i.e.,astrology or astronomy to determine the configuration and position of stars and planets etc., in order to fix favorable or propitious times for performing यज्ञ || Yagas or Hindu rituals.