The Upa(subsidiary) Vedas and the Veda angas(limbs)

The Upa(subsidiary) Vedas  and the Veda angas(limbs)

By

P.R.Ramachander

Upa (Subsidiary)  Vedas

  There are  four  subsidiary Vedas viz  Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharva  Veda and Artha sastra .

  Ayurveda   deals  about clinical  aspect of Vedas ,

  The Dhanurveda  deals  about  the science of was ,

  Gandharwa  Veda  , the science of love   and 

   Artha Sastra  is economics.

Though  the initial information about these  aspects are meager ,  these  4 upa Vedas  were  further  developed   along with the Sasthra(science)  and Ithihasa(history)  branches  of study.

Vedanga (Limbs  of Vedas-ancilliary  sciences) 

   There are six angas(limbs)  to Vedas . They are 

Siksha(Teaching of phonetics ),

Vyakarana (grammar) ,

Chandhas( meter) ,

Niruktha(etymology) ,

Jyothisha(  astronomy  and astrology) and

Srautha Kalpas(the formula  of living)

1.Siksha –Since  Veda depended on oral teaching  , there needed  a  science for pronunciation    as well   as accent of every letter  and every word .The teacher  who taught this  , also needed  a feed back so that he can check   whether the student has understood    what he has taught. To make  the understanding thorough, the teacher  used to recite  his lessons  in words, two words joined together . Repeated  in reverse  way etc

2,Vyakarana-  Ot is in essence   the Grammar  of the language  .The  Vyakarana  (grammar) of   the Sanskrit language   as formulated  by  Panini   is most famous. The book by Panini has   eight   chapters and was   called  Ashta Adhyayi. But Panini’s grammar  is a later  day work than Vedas  .To some extent Rig Veda    tells us about   study of Grammar  and structure  of the language.

3.Chandas(meter)

Every poem  or prose  of Vedas   as well  as Sastras   are governed by Chandas .The most famous book on this  is written by  Pingaacharya .This is needed  because  the meter  in which a text is recited   would completely   change the meaning. One of the  most famous Chandas  is “Gayatri” in which the famous Gayatri  manthra is written.

4.Niruktha(Philology or Etymology) .

It  means” Uttered  ,and pronounced “ and  is the study  concerned with correct interpretation   of words in  Vedas 

5.Jyothisha  

    is astronomy  and astrology  and deals with movement of heavenly bodies.. This Vedanga was further expanded by Puranas  and put on firm footing  by people  like Arya Bhata. From India  it went to  middle eastern countries and from there to Greece  and is  the universal basis of the modern science .

6Kalpa  suthras(Formulae of life)

–This is the detailed account  of  the rituals  of the hindus

 Srautha Suthras  detail  the  sacrifices

Sulabha Suthras  tell about measurement  of the Sacrificial ground

Grihya suthras   tell us about  the rules and rituals  of  individuals  and families

Dharma  Sutras deal with law to be followed by  society

Aswalayana   , Sambhavya and SAnkhyayana   wrote the Suthras  of  Rig  Veda

Mashaka,Latyayana, Drahyayana, Ghobhu and Kadhira  wrote   the suthras  of Sama  Veda

Kathyayana and Parashara   wrote suthras of  Shukla Yajur Veda

Apasthambha , Hiranyakesi , Bodhayana, Bhadra dwaja and Manava  Wrote that of Krishna  Yajur Veda

Vaithana  and kaushika   wrote Suthras  of Atharvana  Veda