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Introduction

• Vedic literature has texts of four types

• All are designated as 'Vedic'

• First are Samhita texts

• Each Samhita has corresponding: 1.Brahmanas,

2.Aranyakas, and

3. Upanishads

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Four Vedic Priests

Vedic Priest is called Ritvij in a ritual• The Rigveda - Hota Ritvij - invokes

deities• Yajurveda – Adhvaryu Ritvij– offers oblations in ritual fire• Samaveda- Udgata Ritvij- sings Samans• Atharvaveda- Brahma Ritvij – overall in charge of ritual

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Two Categories- Later Literature

1. Vedic Texts-

Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads

2. Vedangas (six subjects)-

Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta ,Chanda, Jyotisha

= Phonetics, Rituals, Grammar, Etymology, Metrics and Astronomy.

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Purpose of Later Vedic Literature

• “After the sacred and revealed Vedic Mantra texts,

• there is another class of Vedic texts,

• which are closely connected with the Vedic mantras,

• and are helpful for reading and understanding them”.

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Classification of Vedic Texts VEDA >SAMHITA > BRAHMANA > ARANYAKA > UPANISHAD

1.Rigveda- RigvedaSamhita > Aitareya-Brahmana> Aitareya Aranyaka >Aitareya Upanishad

2.Samaveda -Sama Samhita> Pancavisha- Brahmana> TalavakaraAranyaka >Chandogya-Upanishad

3.Yajurveda 1.Shukla-Yajurveda>Shatapatha-Brahaman>Brihdanyaka > Ishavasya-Upanishad 2.Krishna-Yajurveda>Taittiriya-Brahaman > Taittiriya Aranyaka- Taittiriya Upanishad

4. Atharvaveda – Atharvaveda Samhita > Gopatha- Brahmana > X >Mundaka Upanishad

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I. The Brahmanas (1)

'Veda' made up of Mantra and Brahmana

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Brahmanas - Meaning (2)

• The word in neuter gender means Brahmana texts.

• "Which in tradition is not a hymn or a Mantra is a Brahmana and which is not Brahmana is a Mantra".- Sayana

• "Brahma Vai Mantrah"

-'that which relates to Brahman or the Veda'.

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Brahmanas- Ritual books (3)

A Yajna being performed on Vedic Alter

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Brahmanas -Contents (4)

Used for the performance of sacrificial rites

Six topics given by Apastamba :• 1. Vidhi - injunctions for the performance of rites• 2. Arthavada- explanatory remarks• 3. Ninda - criticism, refutation of views• 4. Prashansha- eulogy, praise• 5. Purakalpa - performance of former times • 6. Parakriti- achievements of others

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Brahmanas -Contents (5)

• 1. Hetu - reasons• 2. Nirvacana - etymology• 3. Ninda - censure• 4. Prashansha - eulogy• 5. Sanshaya - doubt• 6. Vidhi - injunction• 7. Parakriya - deeds/feats of others• 8. Purakalpa - legendary background• 9. Vyavadharana-Kalpana - managerial application• 10. Upamana - illustration. = 10 topics By Shabara

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Brahmanas - Classification(6)

Sixteen Brahmanas available today

• Rigveda : Aitareya/Kaushitaki. = 2

• Shukla-yajurveda : Shatapatha =1 • Krishna-Yajurveda : Taittiriya =1 • Samaveda: (5) Tandya etc. =11

• Atharvaveda : Gopatha = 1

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II. Aranyakas- Nature (1)

• The concluding portions of the several Brahmanas,

• But distinct category of literature,

• Due to distinct character, contents and language

• Aranyaka literature is rather small

• Deal with philosophical speculations

( Jnana-Kanda)

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Aranyakas - Meaning (2)

Derived from the word 'Aranya' (forest)

• The texts to be read in forest Aranyadhyayanad-etad –aranyakam-itiryate - Sayana

• Brahmanas advocate sacrifices for Grihastha

• Aranyakas describe rituals for Vanprasthas

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Aranyakas-Contents (3)

Main subjects :• Theosophy (Brahmavidya)/ Meditation

(Upasana) /Knowledge of breath (Pranavidya)• Secret meaning of the sacrifices • Stories & dialogues - Maitreyi &Yajnavalkya • Bridge between Karma-kanda (Br.)

& Jnana-kanda(Up.)• Give geographical, historical, cultural points

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Aranyakas- Classification(4)

Seven Aranyakas available.

• Rigveda : Aitareya/Kaushitaki -2

• Samaveda : Talavakara/ Chandogya -2

• Shukla Yajurveda : Brihadaranyaka -1

• Krishna Yajurveda : Taittiriya -2

• No Aranyaka of Atharvaveda

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III. Upanishads - Nature (1)

• Concluding part of the Veda

• Called 'Vedanta'. - Vedasya antah,

- the conclusion (Anta), or

- the goal (Anta) of Vedas

• Upanishads are the ripe fruits of Vedas

• Jnana-Kanda dealing with knowledge

• Most popular Vedic texts in world

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Upanishads -Meaning (2)

• Word derived from Upa+ Ni+ Sad (to sit)• means 'sitting very near to a teacher devotedly'. • secret teaching/ doctrine (Rahasya/ Guhya )• Constant association of Guru with Antevasin• High moral character of student

(Tapas/Yama/Niyama)• High knowledge of Guru (Shrotriya &

Brahmanishtha)

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Upanishads - Number (3)

• Old Upanishads & Later Upanishads• Samhita Upanishad – Ishavasya- YU 40th • Later additions by religious sects for scriptural

authority• Allah Upanishad, 16th A.D., time of Akbar• Generally 108 Upanishads• Ten -Principal Upaniashads- 'Dashopanishad' :• Isha, Kena, Katha , Prashna , Munda ,

Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka - states Muktikopanishad

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Upanishads - Division (4)

Principal thirteen Upanishads:• Rigveda : Aitareya , Kaushitaki -2• Shukla-Yajur : Brihadaranyaka ,Isha -2• Krishna-Yajur : Taittiriya , Katha,

Shvetashvatara, Maitrayaniya -4• Samaveda: Chandogya, Kena - 2 • Aharvaveda: Mundaka, Mandukya,

Prashna -3

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Upanishads - Theme (5)

Brahma-Vidya /Jyana- kanda• Religious and philosophical treatises

• Represent knowledge of Brahman

• Ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti ' -RV

• Mark the culmination of Vedic wisdom

• Basically Anti-ritualistic.

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Upanishads - Importance (6)

Unique place in Indian philosophy Foundation of Vedanta philosophy

Adi Shankara, Commentator of Upanishads

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Upanishads - Importance (7)

Brahmavidya or the knowledge of Brahman • Give importance to 'Knowledge' alone • Any one with Jyana can be Guru or

Acarya, is GREAT• Raikva instructed king Janashruti -

Chando.Up• king Pravahana instructed to Gautama • Ashvapati Kaikeya instructed to five

Brahmanas

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Upanishads - Great sayings (8)

Mahavakyas :

Establish the non-duality of Atman and Brahman

• Prajnanam Brahma -Rigveda

• Aham Brahmasm -Yajurveda

• Tattvamasi  - Samveda

• Ayamatma Brahma  -Aharvaveda

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IV.Vedangas –Nature (1)

Vedangas: last treatises of Vedic Literature

Veda Purusha have six limbs as six Vedangas : • Chandas are His two feet,• Kalpas are His two arms, • Jyotisha are His eyes,• Nirukta is His ears,• Shiksha is His nose &• Vyakarana is His mouth. -Paniniya Shiksha (41-42)

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Vedangas –Purpose (2)

• (1) Shiksha or phonetics or pronunciation

• (2) Kalpa or ritual

• (3) Vyakarana or grammar

• (4) Nirukta or etymology

• (5) Chandas or meter

• (6) Jyotisha or astronomy

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Vedangas –Shiksha (3)

Shiksha -Nose of Veda Purusha• It means instruction: Instruction in reciting,

correct pronunciation, accents • Shiksha-Sutras - texts on phonetics• Phonetics is important for Vedic language• Some Pratishakhyas are :

Rigveda-Pratishakhya /Taittiriya-Pratishakhya / Aharvaveda-Pratishakhya

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Vedangas –Kalpa (4)

Kalpa (ritual) - Arms of Veda Purusha• Systematic treatment or rituals, rules for

sacrifices

Four types of the Kalpasutras:—• Shrauta-sutras, dealing with Shrauta sacrifices• Grihya-sutras, dealing with domestic

ceremonies• Dharma-sutras, dealing religious, social laws• Shulba-sutras, dealing measurement of altars

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Vedangas –Vyakarana (5)

Grammar- mouth of Veda Purusha• Discuss (Prakriti) and suffix (Pratyaya)• Old Vedanga-texts on Vyakarana are lost• Aranyakas give some technical terms• Ashtadhyayi of Panini( of later period), fourteen

Sutras called Maheswara Sutras, originated from Nataraja's damuru sound

• Vararuci – Vartika, Patanjali- Bhashya

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Vedangas –Nirukta (6)

Nirukta -ears of Veda Purusha

• 'Nirukta' means 'etymology'- helps to know meaning of words

• Only work survived is Nirukta of Yaska

• Commentary on Nighantu - list of Vedic words and name of Deities

• Yaska mentioned his predecessors Galava, Shakapuni, Katthakya

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Vedangas –Chandas (7)

Chandas - Feet of Veda Purusha

• Important to know Chandas of a Mantra, just as Devata

• Term Chandas is derived from the root Chad (to cover)• Chandas covers the sense of the Mantra • Some texts, dealing with Vedic meters: Rikpratishakhya / Shankhayana Shrauta-sutra / Nidana-

sutra of Samaveda/ Chandas-sutras of Pingala

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Vedangas –Jyotish (8)

Jyotisha - Eye, organ of sight of Veda Purusha• It is not to teach astronomy but to fix days and

time of sacrifices • It gives rules for calculating time for sacrifices• No work available of Vedic astronomy (Jyotisha) • Maharshi Lagadha is known as author Vedanga

Jyotisha• Later Bhaskaracharya, Varahamihira and

Aryabhatta are well known in Jyotish

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Conclusion

• The Anukramanis or systematic indices and Prishishtas or appendices are the last portion of Vedic Literature.

• Vedic Literature is compact in all sense.

• It presents varied and comprehensive wisdom of Vedic seers.

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OM

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