Vedanga

TheVedanga(Sanskrit:वेदाङ्गvedāṅga,"limb of the Veda-s";^[1]plural form:वेदाङ्गानिvedāṅgāni) are six auxiliary disciplines ofHinduismthat developed in ancient times and have been connected with the study of theVedas:^[2]

List of the Vedanga[edit]

Shiksha(Sanskrit:शिक्षाśikṣā,"instruction, teaching" ):phonetics,phonology,pronunciation.^[2]This auxiliary discipline has focused on the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, accent, quantity, stress, melody and rules of euphonic combination of words during a Vedic recitation.^[3]^[4]
Chandas(Sanskrit:छन्दस्chandas,"metre" ):prosody.^[5]This auxiliary discipline has focused on the poetic meters, including those based on fixed number of syllables per verse, and those based on fixed number ofmoraeper verse.^[6]^[7]
Vyakarana(Sanskrit:व्याकरणvyākaraṇa,"grammar" ):grammarand linguistic analysis.^[8]^[9]^[10]This auxiliary discipline has focused on the rules of grammar and linguistic analysis to establish the exact form of words and sentences to properly express ideas.^[11]^[12]
Nirukta(Sanskrit:निरुक्तnirukta,"etymology" ):etymology,explanation of words, particularly those that are archaic and have ancient uses with unclear meaning.^[13]This auxiliary discipline has focused on linguistic analysis to help establish the proper meaning of the words, given the context they are used in.^[11]
Kalpa(Sanskrit:कल्पkalpa,"proper. fit" ):ritualinstructions.^[2]This field focused on standardizing procedures for Vedic rituals,rites of passagerituals associated with major life events such as birth, wedding and death in family, as well as discussing the personal conduct and proper duties of an individual in different stages of his life.^[14]
Jyotisha(Sanskrit:ज्योतिषjyotiṣa,"astrology" ): Right time for rituals with the help of position of nakshatras and asterisms^[2]and astronomy.^[15]^[16]This auxiliary Vedic discipline focused on time keeping.^[17]^[18]

History and background[edit]

The character of Vedangas has roots in ancient times, and theBrihadaranyaka Upanishadmentions it as an integral part of theBrahmanaslayer of the Vedic texts.^[19] These auxiliary disciplines of study arise with the codification of the Vedas inIron Age India. It is unclear when the list of six Vedangas were first conceptualized.^[20] The Vedangas likely developed towards the end of the Vedic period, around or after the middle of the 1st millennium BCE. An early text of the genre is theNighantubyYaska,dated to roughly the 5th century BCE.^{[citation needed]} These auxiliary fields of Vedic studies emerged because the language of the Vedic texts composed centuries earlier grew too archaic to the people of that time.^[21]

Vedangas developed as ancillary studies for the Vedas, but its insights into meters, structure of sound and language, grammar, linguistic analysis and other subjects influenced post-Vedic studies, arts, culture and various schools ofHindu philosophy.^[22]^[23]^[24]The Kalpa Vedanga studies, for example, gave rise to the Dharma-sutras, which later expanded into Dharma-shastras.^[21]^[25]

References[edit]

^Morgan, Kenneth W. (1953).The Religion of the Hindus.Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 269.ISBN 9788120803879.
^^a ^b ^c ^dJames Lochtefeld (2002), "Vedanga" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,pages 744-745
^Sures Chandra Banerji (1989).A Companion to Sanskrit Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 323–324.ISBN 978-81-208-0063-2.
^Annette Wilke & Oliver Moebus 2011,pp. 477–495.
^James Lochtefeld (2002), "Chandas" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,page 140
^Annette Wilke & Oliver Moebus 2011,pp. 391-394 with footnotes.
^Peter Scharf (2013). Keith Allan (ed.).The Oxford Handbook of the History of Linguistics.Oxford University Press. pp. 228–234.ISBN 978-0-19-164344-6.
^W. J. Johnson (2009), A Dictionary of Hinduism, Oxford University Press,ISBN 978-0198610250,Article onVyakarana
^Harold G. Coward 1990,p. 105.
^James Lochtefeld (2002), "Vyakarana" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,page 769
^^a ^bHarold G. Coward 1990,pp. 105–110.
^Annette Wilke & Oliver Moebus 2011,pp. 416–419.
^James Lochtefeld (2002), "Nirukta" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,page 476
^Wendy Doniger (1999).Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions.Merriam-Webster. pp.629.ISBN 978-0-87779-044-0.
^Yukio Ohashi (Editor: H Selin) (1997).Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine.Springer. pp. 83–86.ISBN 978-0792340669.{{cite book}}:|last1=has generic name (help)
^Kireet Joshi (1991).The Veda and Indian Culture: An Introductory Essay.Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN 978-81-208-0889-8.
^James Lochtefeld (2002), "Jyotisha" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,pages 326-327
^Yukio Ohashi (1999). Johannes Andersen (ed.).Highlights of Astronomy, Volume 11B.Springer Science. pp. 719–721.ISBN 978-0-7923-5556-4.Archivedfrom the original on 11 January 2023.Retrieved9 October2016.
^Friedrich Max Müller (1860).A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature So Far as it Illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans.Williams and Norgate. p.110.
^Friedrich Max Müller (1860).A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature So Far as it Illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans.Williams and Norgate. pp.108–113.
^^a ^bPatrick Olivelle 1999,pp. xxiii.
^Eggeling, Hans Julius (1911)."Hinduism".InChisholm, Hugh(ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 501–513, see page 505.
^Annette Wilke & Oliver Moebus 2011,pp. 472–532.
^Harold G. Coward 1990,p. 18.
^Rajendra Prasad (2009).A Historical-developmental Study of Classical Indian Philosophy of Morals.Concept. p. 147.ISBN 978-81-8069-595-7.

Bibliography[edit]

George Cardona (1997).Pāṇini: A Survey of Research.Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN 978-81-208-1494-3.
Harold G. Coward (1990).The Philosophy of the Grammarians, in Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies Volume 5 (Editor: Karl Potter).Princeton University Press.ISBN 978-81-208-0426-5.
Guy L. Beck (1995).Sonic Theology: Hinduism and Sacred Sound.Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN 978-81-208-1261-1.
Tibor Kiss (2015).Syntax - Theory and Analysis.Walter de Gruyter.ISBN 978-3-11-037740-8.
Patrick Olivelle (1999).Dharmasutras: The Law Codes of Ancient India.Oxford University Press.ISBN 978-0-19-283882-7.
Sheldon Pollock (2006).The Language of the Gods in the World of Men: Sanskrit, Culture, and Power in Premodern India.University of California Press.ISBN 978-0-520-93202-9.
Arnold, Edward Vernon (1905).Vedic Metre in its historical development.Cambridge University Press (Reprint 2009).ISBN 978-1113224446.
Moritz Winternitz:Geschichte der Indischen Literatur,Leipzig, 1905 - 1922, Vol. I - III. English translation:History of Indian Literature,Motilal Barnarsidass, Delhi, 1985, Vol I - III
Annette Wilke; Oliver Moebus (2011).Sound and Communication: An Aesthetic Cultural History of Sanskrit Hinduism.Walter de Gruyter.ISBN 978-3-11-018159-3.
Horace Hayman Wilson (1841).An introduction to the grammar of the Sanskrit language.Madden.
Maurice Winternitz(1963).History of Indian Literature.Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN 978-81-208-0056-4.

External links[edit]

Media related toVedangasat Wikimedia Commons
"Vedanga"in theHindu Encyclopedia

[1] Morgan, Kenneth W. (1953).The Religion of the Hindus.Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 269.ISBN 9788120803879.

[jameslochtefeldvedanga-2] James Lochtefeld (2002), "Vedanga" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,pages 744-745

[Banerji1989p323-3] Sures Chandra Banerji (1989).A Companion to Sanskrit Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 323–324.ISBN 978-81-208-0063-2.

[FOOTNOTEAnnette_WilkeOliver_Moebus2011477–495-4] Annette Wilke & Oliver Moebus 2011,pp. 477–495.

[jameslochtefeldsca140-5] James Lochtefeld (2002), "Chandas" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,page 140

[FOOTNOTEAnnette_WilkeOliver_Moebus2011391-394_with_footnotes-6] Annette Wilke & Oliver Moebus 2011,pp. 391-394 with footnotes.

[Allan2013p228-7] Peter Scharf (2013). Keith Allan (ed.).The Oxford Handbook of the History of Linguistics.Oxford University Press. pp. 228–234.ISBN 978-0-19-164344-6.

[8] W. J. Johnson (2009), A Dictionary of Hinduism, Oxford University Press,ISBN 978-0198610250,Article onVyakarana

[FOOTNOTEHarold_G._Coward1990105-9] Harold G. Coward 1990,p. 105.

[jameslochtefeldsca769-10] James Lochtefeld (2002), "Vyakarana" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,page 769

[FOOTNOTEHarold_G._Coward1990105–110-11] Harold G. Coward 1990,pp. 105–110.

[FOOTNOTEAnnette_WilkeOliver_Moebus2011416–419-12] Annette Wilke & Oliver Moebus 2011,pp. 416–419.

[jameslochtefeldsca476-13] James Lochtefeld (2002), "Nirukta" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N-Z, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,page 476

[14] Wendy Doniger (1999).Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions.Merriam-Webster. pp.629.ISBN 978-0-87779-044-0.

[ohashi1-15] Yukio Ohashi (Editor: H Selin) (1997).Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine.Springer. pp. 83–86.ISBN 978-0792340669.{{cite book}}:|last1=has generic name (help)

[16] Kireet Joshi (1991).The Veda and Indian Culture: An Introductory Essay.Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN 978-81-208-0889-8.

[17] James Lochtefeld (2002), "Jyotisha" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing,ISBN 0-8239-2287-1,pages 326-327

[18] Yukio Ohashi (1999). Johannes Andersen (ed.).Highlights of Astronomy, Volume 11B.Springer Science. pp. 719–721.ISBN 978-0-7923-5556-4.Archivedfrom the original on 11 January 2023.Retrieved9 October2016.

[19] Friedrich Max Müller (1860).A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature So Far as it Illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans.Williams and Norgate. p.110.

[20] Friedrich Max Müller (1860).A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature So Far as it Illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans.Williams and Norgate. pp.108–113.

[FOOTNOTEPatrick_Olivelle1999xxiii-21] Patrick Olivelle 1999,pp. xxiii.

[22] Eggeling, Hans Julius (1911)."Hinduism".InChisholm, Hugh(ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 501–513, see page 505.

[FOOTNOTEAnnette_WilkeOliver_Moebus2011472–532-23] Annette Wilke & Oliver Moebus 2011,pp. 472–532.

[FOOTNOTEHarold_G._Coward199018-24] Harold G. Coward 1990,p. 18.

[25] Rajendra Prasad (2009).A Historical-developmental Study of Classical Indian Philosophy of Morals.Concept. p. 147.ISBN 978-81-8069-595-7.

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List of the Vedanga[edit]

History and background[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]