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Post-Vedic literature includes extensive volumes of literature which can be classified as the following Auxiliary and Subsidiary Texts of the Vedas.  To clarify the Vedas and in understanding them, over a period of time, different explanatory shastras have evolved to explain the different concepts presented in Vedas and they are grouped under Veda vaangmayam.    

Vedic literature includes extensive volumes of texts which can be classified as the Auxiliary and Subsidiary Texts of the Vedas.  To clarify the Vedas and in understanding them, over a period of time, different explanatory shastras have evolved to explain the subtle concepts presented in Vedas and they are grouped under Veda vaangmayam.

== परिचय || Introduction ==

== परिचय || Introduction ==

Understanding vedic literature itself developed into many branches covering different aspects of the subject.  While some have developed independently (such as Jyotisha to explain muhurtas in vedic rituals, Ayurveda the science of all round health) others summarize (such as Kalpa which is a manual of material from different vedas) and a few others are simplified (like the Puranas in story format) for easy understanding (including the Mahabharata). They are sub classified as       

Understanding vedic literature itself developed into many branches covering different aspects of the subject.  While some have developed independently (such as Jyotisha to explain muhurtas in vedic rituals, Ayurveda the science of all round health) others summarize (such as Kalpa which is a manual of material from different vedas) and a few others are simplified (like the Puranas in story format) for easy understanding (including the Mahabharata). They are sub classified as       

# वेदाङ्गम् || Vedaangas

# वेदाङ्गम् || Vedaangas

# वेदउपङ्गम् || Veda-Upangas  

# वेदउपङ्गम् || Veda-Upangas  

# उपवेदः || Upa-Vedas

# उपवेदः || Upa-Vedas

# पञ्चमवेदम् || Panchamavedam

# पञ्चमवेदम् || Panchamavedam

# पुराणम् || Puranas

# पुराणम् || Puranas

# उपपुराणम् || Upa-Puranas

# उपपुराणम् || Upa-Puranas

== वेदाङ्गम् || Vedaangas ==

== वेदाङ्गम् || Vedaangas ==

The word अङ्ग ॥ Anga is used in the sense of "उपकारकः ॥ Upakaraka (useful tool)", and with reference to understanding vedajnana or the knowledge of vedas, these six shastras are extremely useful, hence they are called Vedaangas. <blockquote>"

The word अङ्ग ॥ Anga is used in the sense of "उपकारकः ॥ Upakaraka (useful tool)", and with reference to understanding vedajnana or the knowledge of vedas, these six shastras are extremely useful, hence they are called Vedaangas. <blockquote>"शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दसां चयः । "ज्योतिषामयनं चैव वेदंगानि षडेव तु  ॥"</blockquote>According to the above sloka Vedaangas are six in number namely Siksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Niruktam, Chandas, Jyotisha.

शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दसां चयः ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"

ज्योतिषामयनं चैव वेदंगानि षडेव तु  ॥"</blockquote>According to the above sloka Vedaangas are six in number namely

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|+VEDAANGAS  

|+VEDAANGAS  

<blockquote>"

<blockquote>"

कणादेन तु संप्रक्तं शास्त्रं वैशेषिकं महत् ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"

कणादेन तु संप्रक्तं शास्त्रं वैशेषिकं महत् ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"

गौतमेन तथा न्यायं सांख्यं तु कपिलेन वै ॥"</blockquote>Meaning : The great Vaiseshika shastra has been given by Kanada, while the Nyaya shastra was elucidated by Goutama rushi, and Saankhya shastra was by Kapila rushi.

गौतमेन तथा न्यायं सांख्यं तु कपिलेन वै ॥"</blockquote>Meaning : The great Vaiseshika shastra has been given by Kanada, while the Nyaya shastra was elucidated by Goutama rushi, and Saankhya shastra was by Kapila rushi.

Above Sloka from from Padma puranam shows that these darsanas belong to ancient period and not in later time period.  

Above Sloka from from Padma puranam shows that these darsanas belong to ancient period and not in later time period.  

| Yajurveda.

| Yajurveda.

|}

|}

Vedas are thus 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.

Vedas are thus 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.

* कूर्म पुराणम् || Koorma puranam

* कूर्म पुराणम् || Koorma puranam

* स्कन्द पुराणम् || Skaanda puranam

* स्कन्द पुराणम् || Skaanda puranam

The following are the 18 Upa Puranas

The following are the 18 Upa Puranas

* Sanathkumareeyam

* Sanathkumareeyam

* Paraashara

* Paraashara

* Bhaargava

* Bhaargava

The Puranas have been influential in the Hindu culture. They are considered Vaidika (congruent with Vedic literature) or pertaining to vedas.

The Puranas have been influential in the Hindu culture. They are considered Vaidika (congruent with Vedic literature) or pertaining to vedas.