Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)

Vaidika Vangmaya (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. अनुक्रमणिकाः || Anukramanikas
3. वेद-उपाङ्गानि || Veda-Upangas (4)
4. उपवेदाः || Upa-Vedas (4)
5. पुराणानि || Puranas (18)
6. 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 वाचस्पत्यम् ॥ Vachaspatya, नन्दिपुराणम् ॥ Nandi Purana gives the 14 विद्यास्थान-s || vidyasthanas as follows

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

vedādiṣu caturdaśasu vidyāsu। tāśca "vidyāścaturdaśa proktāḥ krameṇa tu yathāsthiti। ṣaḍaṅgamiśritāvedā dharmmaśāstraṃ purāṇakam। mīmāṃmātarkamapi ca etā vidyāścaturdaśa"| nandi pu।

Meaning : Fourteen विद्या-s || vidyas are given as - vedas with their 6 अङ्ग-s || angas, धर्मशास्त्रम् || dharmashastra, पुराणम् ॥ purana, मीमांसा ॥ mimamsa with तर्कः ॥ tarka. According to वाचस्पत्यम् ॥ Vachaspatyam,

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

purāṇanyāyamīmāṃsādharmmaśāstrāṅgamiśritāḥ। vedāḥ sthānāni vidyānāṃ dharmmasya ca caturdaśa" yā. smṛtau vidyāsthānatvoktestāsāṃ tathātvam। (Yagn. Smri. 1.3)

Summary: पुराणम् ॥ Purana, न्यायः ॥ Nyaya, मीमांसा ॥ Mimamsa, धर्मशास्त्राणि ॥ Dharmashastras combined with वेदाङ्गानि ॥ vedangas, and वेदाः ॥ vedas form the 14 विद्यास्थानानि ॥ vidyastanas as given in याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृतिः ॥ Yagnavalkya Smriti. Manusmriti also refers to these abodes of knowledge as 14 vidyas.

अङ्गानि वेदाश्चत्वारो मीमांसा न्यायविस्तरः । पुराणं धमर्शास्त्रं च विद्या ह्येताश्चतुदर्श ॥

aṅgāni vedāścatvāro mīmāṃsā nyāyavistaraḥ । purāṇaṃ dhamarśāstraṃ ca vidyā hyetāścatudarśa ॥

अष्टादशविद्याः ॥ Ashtadasha vidyas

However, विष्णुपुराणम् ॥ Vishnupurana enumerates the existence of 18 विद्यास्थानानि ॥ vidyasthanas by adding आयुर्वेदः ॥ Ayurveda, धनुर्वेदः ॥ Dhanurveda, गान्धर्ववेदः ॥ Gandharvaveda and अर्थशास्त्रम् ॥ Arthashastra (four उपवेदाः ॥ Upavedas) to the previously explained 14 विद्यास्थान-s || vidyasthanas as given in the following slokas.

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

aṅgāni vedāścatvāro mīmāṃsā nyāyavistaraḥ। purāṇaṃ dharmaśāstraṃ ca vidyā hyetāścaturdaśa ॥ 28 ॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.6.28)

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

āyurvedo dhanurvedo gāndharvaścetyanukramāt । arthaśāstraṃ paraṃ tasmāt vidyā hyaṣṭādaśa smṛtāḥ ।। 29 ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.6.29)

शिवमहापुराणम् ॥ Shivamahapuranam also describes the 14 विद्याः ॥ Vidyas and 18 विद्याः ॥ 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 मुण्ड्कोपनिषद् ॥ 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 - "छन्दस् ॥ Chandas forms the feet of the वेदपुरुषः ॥ Vedapurusha, while कल्पाः ॥ Kalpas are the hands, ज्योतिष् ॥ Jyotish is the eye, निरुक्तम् ॥ Nirukta forms the ears, शिक्षा ॥ Shiksha is the nose, while the face (speech) is formed by व्याकरणम् ॥ Vyakarana. Only by studying वेदाः ॥ vedas (वेदपुरुषः ॥ Vedapurusha) along with वेदाङ्गानि ॥ vedangas (different parts) will one attain the ब्रह्मलोकः ॥ brahmaloka".

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

अनुक्रमणिकाः || Anukramanikas

For the protection of Veda mantras अनुक्रमणिका-ग्रन्थाः ॥ Anukramanika granthas have been compiled. These Anukramanikas are lists that contain concise information about the Veda mantra's ऋषिः ॥ rishi, छन्दस् ॥ chandas and देवताः ॥ devatas. The most important rishis who contributed to creation of these lists include - शौनकः ॥ Shaunaka, कात्यायनः ॥ Katyayana. Though these अनुक्रमणिकाः ॥ Anukramanikas are not included वेदाङ्गानि ।\ Vedangas, these play an important role in the protection of vedas.

In ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, the ऋषिः ॥ rishi, छन्दस् ॥ chandas, देवता ॥ devata, अनुवाकः ॥ anuvaka, सूक्त ॥ sukta number, the name and important features are compiled in structured manner, in अनुष्टुप् छन्दस् ॥ Anustup chandas. The फलसिद्धिः ॥ phalasiddhi (benefits) of chanting particular mantras is also explained in detail. Such texts are available for other vedas also (Page 94 and 95 of Reference ).

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	Rigveda
गान्धर्ववेदः || Gandharvaveda	Science of all forms of fine arts like music and dance.	Samaveda.
अर्थशास्त्रम् || Arthashastra	Science of finance, economics, politics, statesmanship, public administration	Atharvaveda
धनुर्वेदः || Dhanurveda	Science of archery and warfare	Yajurveda.

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

पुराणानि ॥ Puranas

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 महापुराणानि ॥ Mahapuranas (Great Puranas) and 18 उपपुराणानि ॥ Upapuranas (Minor Puranas), containing over 400,000 verses. The list of Puranas is given in पद्मपुराणम् ॥ Padmapurana (2.3.5), विष्णुपुराणम् ॥ Vishnupurana (3.6), स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skanda purana (4.7.1), अग्निपुराणम् ॥ Agni Purana (10.8.3)

The 18 महापुराणानि ।। Mahapuranas listed in विष्णुपुराणम् ॥ 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 ब्रह्मपुराणम् ॥ Brahma Purana, पद्मपुराणम् ॥ Padma purana, विष्णुपुराणम् ॥ Vishnu Purana, शिवपुराणम् ॥ Shiva Purana, भागवतपुराणम् ॥ Bhagavata Purana. And the others are नारदपुराणम् ॥ Narada Purana, मार्कण्डेयपुराणम् ॥ Markandeya Purana is the seventh, अग्निपुराणम् ॥ Agni Purana is the eighth, भविष्यपुराणम् ॥ Bhavishya purana being the ninth. the tenth is ब्रह्मवैवर्तपुराणम् ॥ Brahma vaivarta Purana, the eleventh is termed लिङ्गपुराणम् ॥ Linga Purana. वराहपुराणम् ॥ Varaha Purana is the twelfth and स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skanda Purana the thirteenth, fourteenth is वामनपुराणम् ॥ Vamana Purana, कूर्मपुराणम् ॥ Kurma Purana is termed the fifteenth. मत्स्यपुराणम् ॥ Matsya Purana, गरुडपुराणम् ॥ Garuda Purana and ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम् ॥ Brahmanda Purana come after these. And (eighteen) उपपुराणानि ॥ Upapuranas have been given by ऋषि-s || rishis along with these महापुराण-s || 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

उपपुराणानि ॥ Upapuranas

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

In स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skanda purana (4.7.1) : सनत्कुमारपुराणम् ॥ Sanatkumara Purana , नरसिंहपुराणम् ॥ Narsimha Purana, स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skanda Purana, शिवधर्मपुराणम् ॥ Shiva Dharma Purana, दुर्वासपुराणाम् ॥ Durvasa Purana, नारदपुराणम् ॥ Narada Purana, कपिलपुराणम् ॥ Kapila Purana, मनुपुराणम् ॥ Manu Purana, Ushana Purana, ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम् ॥ Brahmanda Purana, वरुणपुराणम् ॥ Varuna Purana, कालिकापुराणम् ॥ Kalika Purana, महेश्वरपुराणम् ॥ Maheshwara Purana, साम्बपुराणम् ॥ Samba Purana, सौरपुराणम् ॥ Saura Purana, पराशरपुराणम् ॥ Parashara Purana, मरीचपुराणम् ॥ Maricha Purana and भार्गवपुराणम् ॥ Bhargava Purana.

In गरुडपुराणम् ॥ Garuda Purana : सनत्कुमारपुराणम् ॥ Sanathkumara Purana, स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skanda Purana, शिवधर्मपुराणम् ॥ Shivadharma Purana, आश्चर्यपुराणम् ॥ Ashcharya Purana, नारदपुराणम् ॥ Narada Purana, कपिलपुराणम् ॥ Kapila Purana, वामनपुराणम् ॥ Vamana Purana, औषनसपुराणम् ॥ Aushasana Purana, ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम् ॥ Brahmanda Purana, वरुणपुराणम् ॥ Varuna Purana, कालिकापुराणम् ॥ Kalika Purana, महेश्वरपुराणम् ॥ Maheswara Purana, साम्बपुराणम् ॥ Samba Purana, सौरपुराणम् ॥ Saura Purana, पराशरपुराणम् ॥ Parashara Purana, मरीचपुराणम् ॥ Maricha Purana and भार्गवपुरानम् ॥ Bhargava Purana.

In देवीभागवतम् ॥ Devibhagavata : In place of स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skanda Purana, वामनपुराणम् ॥ Vamana Purana, ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम् ॥ Brahmanda Purana, मरीचपुराणम् ॥ Maricha Purana, and भार्गवपुराणम् ॥ Bhargava Purana, we see शिवपुराणम् ॥ Shiva Purana, मानवपुराणम् ॥ Manava Purana, आदित्यपुराणम् ॥ Aditya Purana, भागवतपुराणम् ॥ Bhagavata Purana, वसिष्ठपुराणम् ॥ Vasishta Purana are seen (rest as given in गरुडपुराणम् ॥ Garuda Purana).

In कूर्मपुराणम् ॥ Kurma Purana 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 उपपुराणानि ॥ Upapuranas are also available such as नन्दिपुराणम् ॥ Nandi Puranam, गाणपत्यम् / मुद्गलम् ॥ Ganapatya / Mudgala, वासिष्ठम् ॥ Vasishta, हंसम् ॥ Hamsa from other different sources and a total of upto 30 उपपुराणानि ॥ Upapuranas are mentioned, though their availability is not known. Thus, we see from the two lists that the names of a few Puranas are the same in both पुरानानि ॥ Puranas and उपपुराणानि ॥ Upapuranas (ex: स्कन्दपुराणम् ॥ Skanda purana, वामनपुराणम् ॥ Vamana purana)

According to a few scholars, "भागवतम् ॥ Bhagavata" in Puranas refers to देविभागवतम् ॥ Devibhagavata and not श्रीमद्भागवतम् ॥ Shrimad Bhagavata containing the stories of श्रीकृष्णः ॥ SriKrishna.(Page 174 of Sanskrita Sahitya Charitra).

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

संवादः || Discussion

Traditionally, the चतुर्दशविद्याः ॥ Chaturdasha vidyas consider पुराणानि ॥ Puranas, न्यायः ॥ Nyaya, मीमांसा ॥ Mimamsa and धर्मशास्त्राणि ॥ Dharmashastras as वेद-उपाङ्गानि ॥ Veda Upangas. However, due to similarity of names a few questions arise here

1. Nyaya and Mimamsa shastras are mentioned under the classification of Shad darsanas and as those among the Veda Upangas.
2. Dharmasutras 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 include Mahabharata and Ramayana."

"​In the Vedanga Kalpas, there are four kinds of Sutras - Shrauta- (dealing with vedic rites), Grhya- (dealing with 16 samskaras)-, Dharma- (dealing with secular matters) and Shulba-​ 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 न्यायः ॥ Nyaya and मीमांसा ॥ Mimamsa are उपाङ्ग-s || Upangas (चतुर्दशविद्याः ॥ Chaturdasha Vidyas) and दर्शनशास्त्र-s || Darshana shastras (षड्दर्श-s || Shad darsanas) and based on Vedas. The धर्मसूत्र-s || Dharmasutras of कल्पवेदाङ्गम् ॥ Kalpa Vedanga and the धर्मशास्त्र-s || Dharmashastras of उपाङ्ग-s || Upangas are the same texts.
• Dharmasutras given under Kalpa Vedanga, for example : आपस्तम्बसूत्र-s || Apasthamba sutras refer mainly to sutra works of dharmas associated with specific श्रौतयाज्ञिकक्रियाः ॥ srauta yajnika kriyas. These have been hugely expanded into धर्मशास्त्र-s || Dharma-shastras (Smritis works), for example : मनुस्मृतिः || 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 धर्मसिन्धुः ॥ Dharmasindhu and निर्णयसिन्धुः ॥ Nirnayasindhu.
• मीमांसा ॥ Mimamsa is divided into पूर्वमीमांसा ॥ Purvamimamsa and उत्तरमीमांसा ॥ Uttaramimamsa. पूर्वमीमांसा ॥ Purva Mimamsa highlights the discriminating and decision making qualities of the Vedas by analysis. Here, पूर्वमीमांसा ॥ Purva Mimamsa is generally what is considered for the term मीमांसा ॥ Mimamsa. उत्तरमीमांसा ॥ Uttara Mimamsa is also called as वेदान्तः ॥ Vedanta, which is classified under the ज्ञानकाण्डः ॥ Jnanakanda.