Later Vedic Literature

Dr.Shashi Tiwari

Department of Sanskrit, Maitreyi College,

University of Delhi,

New Delhi-110021, India

Shashit_98@yahoo.com

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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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