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Index Page
by Jayaram V
Introduction
Vedangas literally mean the limbs of the
Vedas. They are six
in number. Just like the limbs of the body, they perform various
supportive and augmenting functions in the study, preservation and
protection of the Vedas and the vedic traditions. The six Vedangas
are Siksha, Chhanda, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Jyotisha and Kalpa. These
subjects were an integral and essential part of ancient vedic education
system, aimed to promote an all round development of the students
with a better understanding of the Vedas and vedic practices.
Of these six subjects, Siksha deals with the study of sounds
and pronunciation associated with each syllable; Chhanda with the
mastery of rhyme and meter; Vyakarna with the study of word and
sentence structure; Nirukta with the meaning of complex words and
phrases; Jyotisha with the study of heavenly bodies to find an auspicious
time for the performance of the rituals;
and Kalpa with the ethical , moral and procedural percepts associated
with the performance of rituals as a way of life. In the following
paragraphs we will discuss each of these subjects in detail.
The importance of the Vedangas.
The Vedangas played an important role in maintaining the purity
and integrity of the Vedic tradition. Although they have lost of
much of their ancient significance, they continue to occupy an important
place in the academic study of the Vedas. For centuries they taught
and continue to teach vedic students how to recite the vedic hymns,
understand their meaning and perform the various
rituals and ceremonies strictly
according to the established procedures. Their study inculcates
among its students a sense of discipline and respect for tradition
and helps them conduct themselves in society as upholders of the
vedic dharma and traditional family values.
To a certain extent the Vedangas were responsible for the popularity
of Sanskrit as the main language of communication in ancient India
and for its emergence as the language of the elite through such
works as those of Kalidasa and Kalhana. They also played an influential
role in the development of native languages, education system and
vernacular literature of the Indian subcontinent by providing the
basic framework on which they could grow.
Many principles and practices of the Vedangas were taken up by
other religious traditions such as
Buddhism and
Jainism which relied upon
Sanskrit as their medium
of communication and included in their education systems and religious
practices. Through them they also extended their sway to other parts
of the world such as China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand,
Malaysia, Tibet and Ceylon where they were used in the study of
Buddhism and
Buddhist literature and preservation of its traditions.
While the combined knowledge of the Vedas and the Vedangas is
still a desirable prospect, with the decline of Sanskrit as the
language of the elite and the emergence of new methods of
devotional worship and agamic temple traditions
which took precedence over the vedic traditions in many parts of
India, the Vedangas have lost of much of their priestly relevance.
However they continue to attract the attention of Indological scholars
and serious students of the Vedas, because of their literary
and historical value in our understanding of the development of
human languages and linguistic and literary sophistication among
the diverse socio religious and linguistic groups of the Indian
subcontinent.
Siksha
Siksha deals with the study of pronunciation of words and
syllables through the correct intonation, conjunction (sandhi) and
disjunction (vichheda) of syllables, recognized primarily as vowels
and consonants. It intends to train the students in the art and
science of articulation of words and syllables so that they can
chant the vedic hymns perfectly, producing the desired sound vibrations
and maintain the ritual purity and efficacy of the ceremonies they
perform.
A lot of importance was attached in ancient India to correct
pronunciation of the Vedic hymns because of the belief that the
Vedas were inviolable and divine in origin. The scriptures proclaimed
that a Sanskrit syllable was God in the
form of a syllable (askhara Brahman), an imperishable entity (a
+ kshara), revealed to the mortals for the sake of dharma and welfare
of the world, just as the thunder that rumbled from the heavens
or the subtle sounds that could be heard in meditation. Its medium
was ether (space), the medium of gods.
So no liberties could be taken or transgressions be made by mere
mortals while chanting them, without attracting unhappy consequences
for themselves and those for whom the were sung. As a result
of these beliefs, Sikhsa developed into a separate branch of study
to preserve the integrity and purity of the divine words and save
the dharma from human fallibility.
The teachings of the Siksha are contained in the ancient texts
known as Pratisakhyas, each attached to a particular Samhita, providing
instructions for the recitation of the hymns contained in it. The
Pratisakhyas were probably composed by many grammarians like Saunaka
before Panini and revised from time to time.
Siksha played an important role in vedic India at a time when
there was no written script and the knowledge of the Vedas had to
be transmitted from one person to another orally. By establishing
the ground rules of proper pronunciation, it minimized the chances
of distortion that would usually accompany verbal communication.
Vedic students were required to spend years reciting the mantras
using the principles enunciated in the Pratisakhyas under the careful
watch of their teachers before they were allowed to return to their
homes and become ordained priests. As young apprentices they could
ill afford to risk their careers by deviating from established traditions
or show any sign of incompetence or imperfection due to lack of
mastery.
Chhanda
Chhanda deals with the analysis of the types of meter used in
the construction of various Vedic hymns. Chhandashastra of Pingalanaga
is considered to be the oldest text available on the subject. It
was probably composed between 6th and 5th Century BC. In Sanskrit,
the metrical unit is known as pada (foot). Depending upon the number
of syllables used, a pada may be of the length of eight, eleven
or twelve syllables, known as gayatri, tristubh and jagati respectively.
There are other metrical schemes and further variations in the
classification of the padas (meters) depending upon different criteria,
the discussion of which is outside the scope of this article. The
knowledge of the Chhanda proved useful in the composition of the
smriti literature. It also played an important role in the emergence
of classical Indian music and Sanskrit poetry besides providing
a frame work of reference for compositions in other languages.
Vyakarna
Vyakarna deals with Sanskrit grammar or the analysis and decomposition
of words, word formation, root words and complex sentence structures,
providing useful insights into the usage of words and sentences
leading to the mastery of the language. The most authoritative work
on the subject is considered to be the Ashtadhyayi of Panini, who
lived probably between the 5th and 6th Century BC. Considered to
be a milestone in the historical development of Sanskrit language,
the Ashtadhyayi is probably a representative work summarizing the
prevailing traditions and preserving them for posterity. It assumed
so much importance over a period of time that most of the works
on Sanskrit grammar preceding it lost their significance and were
considered not worth preserving. The Ashtadhyayi contains about
4000 sutras or aphorisms divided into four parts.
- Siva Sutras deal with phonetics or the accent and
intonation of distinctive units of sound that form part of the
word and letter sounds.
- Ashtadhyayi deal with the structure of words and
sentences and their construction.
- Dhatupata deals with list of root words (words that
give rise to other words)
- Ganapatha deals with groups of nominal words (nouns
or noun phrases)
Nirukta
Nirutka deals with the etymological interpretations or explanations
of obscure words especially those found in the Vedas. Technically
it deals with the difficult and obscure words of a dictionary, whose
analysis and interpretation is vital to the study and understanding
of the Vedas which are replete with mysterious symbolism not usually
understood by all. The most authoritative exponent of this branch
of study is Yaksha, a Sanskrit grammarian and master of Sanskrit
etymology, who lived before Panini. He is remembered for his monumental
work called Nirukta, which is an excellent commentary of the obscure
words found in the
Nighantu
(dictionary) of his time. Nirukta deals with the interpretation
and analysis of difficult words and provides insight into the hidden
content of the Vedas. Since many Sanskrit words can be split into
more than one way and the Vedas contain many obscure and unknown
words, an in-depth study of Nirkuta will help students discover
the latent or hidden meaning of the Vedas and understand their linguistic
and philosophic significance.
Jyotisha
Jyotisha deals with the astronomical and astrological aspects
of fixing auspicious date and time to perform various vedic rites
and rituals including the sacraments or rites of passage. The auspicious
time is usually determined based on the position of the luminous
bodies (jyotis) namely the sun, the moon, the stars and other heavenly
bodies. According to tradition, sage Bhrigu is said to be the first
person who perfected the knowledge of Jyotisha and built a record
of the natal charts of every human being who was to be born on earth.
Some of the earliest works on the subject are considered to
be Jyotishyavedanga (400 BC) and the Siddhanta. The treatise of
Aryabhata, known as Aryabhatiya, (600 AD) and the Panchasiddhantika
of Varahamihira are other important works.
The Jyotisha of the vedic world played an important role in the
development of vedic calendar, in the preparation astrological charts
for the purpose of performing various sacraments or rites of passage
and determining the date, time and place for the performance of
the sacrificial ceremonies and daily rituals. Study of the movement
of the sun, the moon, the star and planets helped determine the
time of the day and night, the day of the week and fortnight, the
period of the seasons, the month and the year, besides the
influence of each heavenly object on the events of the world and
the lives of the people.
According to some historians, much of our knowledge of Jyotisha
came from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia and Greece through traders,
sailors and travelers and subsequently from the Islamic world through
contact and conquest. The Jyotisha of today is wider in scope and
purpose than the original Jyotisha of Vedic period. It is now divided
into several branches and sub branches and cater to a wider audience
for purposes other than performing vedic ceremonies. Once considered
to be an ancillary subject, the astrology of today is a profession
by itself often practiced by people having little understanding
of the Vedas and the Vedangas.
Kalpa
Kalpa deals with the practical, ceremonial, sacrificial and ritual
aspect of the Vedas. Technically it is the applied science of the
Vedas. The method and the manner in which the sacrificial ceremonies
and daily household rituals have to be performed are established
in a compendium of sutras or aphorisms known as Kalpa Sutras, categorized
together as sruti literature. Kalpa literally means sacred rule
or law or ordinance and sutra means a thread. Sutras are threads
of knowledge or short statements used as memorial rules. In the
absence of written language, the sutras acted as mental hooks and
helped the students remember the intricacies of performing vedic
sacrifices and observing the daily rituals. They also facilitated
easy transmission of complex vedic wisdom from one person to another. Because
of their precise nature, they used to spark wild debates and philosophical
speculation as to their original meaning and purpose.
Kalpa Sutras are usually divided into Srautasutras and Smarthasutras.
Srautasutras prescribe rules for the performance of different types
of sacrifices and rituals, the amount of fees to be paid to the
priests and the type of penances to be practiced in case of violation.
The Srautasutras were probably composed around the 6th century BC,
the same time during which some of the Smarthasutras were composed.
The latter are divided into Grihyasutras and Dharmasutras. The Grihyasutras
prescribe domestic rites and rituals for the three upper
castes (brahmins, kshatriyas and vaisyas).,
in additions to the duties and responsibilities meant for them as
householders so that they can uphold the dharma and lead an ideal
life in harmony with truths expounded in the Vedas.
The Dharmasutras deal with the code of conduct and duties and
responsibilities of various castes within the framework of the four
purusharthas or aims of life and the four ashramas or divisions
of life. They also suggest the norms for appropriate social and
religious behavior for both men and women, norms of marriage, study
and sexual union and punishments in case of violation. Of the many
Dharmashastras that existed during the vedic period, only a few
have survived, such as the
Baudhayana,
the Apasthamba,
the
Gautama
and the
Vashistha.
Of these the first three are associated with different schools of
Yajurveda, while the Vashistha is associated with the
Rigveda. The
first three texts were composed probably around 6th century BC and
the last around the 1st Century AD. Other important law books of
ancient times were
Manusmriti,
Vishnusmrit, Yagnavalkyasmriti and Naradsmriti.
Importance of the Vedangas
The Vedangas played an important role in preserving and protecting
the vedic tradition over a long period of time. They formalized
the procedures and techniques of performing various vedic rites
and rituals and established authoritative sources of reference for
succeeding generations to practice the vedic ceremonies and rituals
with little ambiguity and fear of transgression. They ensured the
purity of language and expression, defined and enforced, through
moral fear, the social and religious conduct expected of men belonging
to different social strata, and established well defined ground
rules for moral, ritual and spiritual behavior of men involved in
the performance of rituals. They highlighted the importance of academic
excellence and physical, mental and moral discipline in upholding
the vedic dharma and most important of all, as the limbs of the
Vedas, they truly served the body of the vedic tradition by moving
it forward through succeeding generations of men of superior vision
and wisdom who could adapt themselves successfully to the changing
circumstances without sacrificing their faith in the core values
upheld by the Vedas. The Vedangas provide vitality to the Vedas
just as the limbs of the human body.
Suggested Further Reading
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