Later Vedic Literature

1
Later Vedic Literature

• Dr.Shashi Tiwari
• Department of Sanskrit, Maitreyi College,
• University of Delhi,
• New Delhi-110021, India
• Shashit_98_at_yahoo.com

2
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

3
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

4
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.

5
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.

6
Classification of Vedic Texts

• VEDA gtSAMHITA gt BRAHMANA gt ARANYAKA
  gt UPANISHAD
• 1.Rigveda- RigvedaSamhita gt Aitareya-Brahmanagt
  Aitareya Aranyaka gtAitareya Upanishad
• 2.Samaveda -Sama Samhitagt Pancavisha- Brahmanagt
• TalavakaraAranyaka gtChandogya-Upanishad
• 3.Yajurveda 1.Shukla-YajurvedagtShatapatha-Braham
  angtBrihdanyaka
• gt Ishavasya-Upanishad
• 2.Krishna-YajurvedagtTaittir
  iya-Brahaman gt Taittiriya Aranyaka-
• Taittiriya Upanishad
• 4. Atharvaveda Atharvaveda Samhita gt Gopatha-
  Brahmana gt X
• gtMundaka Upanishad
  
  

7
I. The Brahmanas (1)
'Veda' made up of Mantra and
Brahmana
8
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'.

9
Brahmanas- Ritual books (3)
A Yajna being performed on Vedic Alter
10
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

11
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

12
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

13
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)

14
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

15
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

16
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

17
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

18
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)

19
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

20
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

21
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.

22
Upanishads - Importance (6)
Unique place in Indian philosophy Foundation of
Vedanta philosophy
Adi Shankara, Commentator of
Upanishads
23
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

24
Upanishads - Great sayings (8)

• Mahavakyas
• Establish the non-duality of Atman and
  Brahman
• Prajnanam Brahma -Rigveda
• Aham Brahmasm -Yajurveda
• Tattvamasi  - Samveda
• Ayamatma Brahma  -Aharvaveda

25
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)

26
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

27
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

28
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

29
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

30
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

31
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

32
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

33
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.

34
OM

• Thank You