Vedangas

There are Six Vedangas :

1.     Shiksha (Phonetics) : ‘Pratishakhya’- the oldest text on phonetics.

2.     Kalpa Sutras (Rituals) :

A.   Shrauta Sutras / Shulva Sutras – deal with the sacrifices

B.   Grihya Sutras – deal with family ceremonies

C.   Dharma Sutras – deal with Varnas, Ashramas etc.

3.     Vyakarana (Grammar) : ‘Ashtadyayi’ (Panini) – the oldest grammar of the word

4.     Nirukta (Etymology) : ‘Nirukta’ (Yask) based on ‘Nighantu’ (Kashyap) – a collection of difficult vedic words-(‘ Nighantu’ – the oldest word-collection of the word; ‘Nirukta’ – the oldest dictionary of the word)

5.     Chhanda (Metrics) : ‘Chhandasutras’ (Pingal) – famous text

6.     Jyotisha (Astronomy) : ‘Vedanga Jyotisha’ (Lagadh Muni) – the oldest jyotisha text.

Literature of Vedic Tradition

Literature of Vedic Tradition (600 BC – 600 AD) :

Ø Literature of Vedic tradition (Smriti i.e. rememberance literature) comprises of 6 literary works :

1.     Vedangas / Sutras

2.     Smritis Dharmashatras

3.     Mahakavyas (Epics)

4.     Puranas

5.     Upvedas

6.     Shad-Dharshanas.