Aricles - Vedas and Vedangas

Development of Vedas and Vedangas

by Dr. V.C. Govindarajan

Presentation of Vedas: The Vedas are presented in different styles.  The prime are Four and they are Samhita, Brahmanas, Aranyaka and Upanishads.

Samhita: This section contains only mantras that are used for rituals and other occations. All four Vedas have samhita form.

Brahmanas: This section describes the use and fruits of Mantras presented in Samhita form. 

Aranyakas: Usually considered to be recited in the forests.

Upanishads:  They are suggesting the ways of realizing spiritual truths.  They represent the final knowledge of Vedas and they are called Vedanta.  There are 108 Upanishads and the prime are only 10.  They are:

            ISA, KENA, KATHA, PRASNA, MANDA, MAANDOOKYA, ITHAREYA THAITHARIYA, BRHADARANYAKA AND CHAANDOGYA.

To remember the Vedic Mantras and for mistake free recitation a system is followed in learning.  They are eight fold.  They are:

            Jata, Mala, Sikha, Rekha, Dhvaja, Danda, Ratha and Ghana.

Procedure of Jata:  The procedure of reciting a passage in Jata type formula as follow:

                                          1 2 2 1 1 2  -  2 3 3 2 2 3 – 3 4 4 3 3 4.

Procedure of Ganam:  1 2 2 1 1 2 3 3 2 1 1 2 3  -  2 3 3 2 2 3 4 4 3 2 2 3 4.

The Vedangas

The Vedic supplements :  Siksha (phonetics), Vyakaranam (Grammar), Chandas (metre), Niruktam (etymology), Jothisham (astronomy), Kalpa (religious practice)  are the 6 classes known as Vedangas.

            Patanjali (not yoga master) the author of MahaBhashyam a great grammatical work, says that These six Vedic supplements are to be learnt by a Brahmin without any reason.

The Secondary Vedas are:  They are Gaandharva Veda (Music),  Aayurveda (Indian Medicine), Dhanur Veda (Science of Archery and warfare), Artha Sastram (Economy and Politics), Sthaapathya Veda or Vaasthu vidya (Architecture)

                                                next  6 philosophies (Shat Darsanam) dated: 10-11-03