Literature of Vedic Tradition (Smriti
i.e. remembrance literature)
comprises of 6 literary works:
1.
Vedangas/ Sutras
2. Smritis Dharmashastras
3. Mahakavyas (Epics)
4. Puranas
5. Upvedas
6. Shad- Dharshanas .
There are six Vedangas :
(i)
Shiksha (phonetics) : ‘pratishakhya’ _ the oldest text on phonetics.
(ii)
Kalpa Suyras (Rituals)
: a. Sharauta Sutras/ Sutras-
deal with the sacrifices, b. Grithya Sutras_ deal with family
ceremonies,c. Dharma Sutras_ deal with Varnes, Ashramas etc.
(iii)
Vyakarana (Grammer ) : ‘Ashtayayi’ ( Panini) the oldest grammar of the word.
(iv)
Nirukta (Etymology ) : ‘Nirukta’ (Yask) based on ‘ Nighantu’ (
Kashyha)- a collection of difficult vedic words _ (Nighantu’ the oldest word –
collection of the world; ‘Nirukta _ the oldest dictionary of the world).
(v)
Chhanda ( Metrics) :
‘Chhandasutras’ (Panin ) – famous text.
(vi)
Jyotisha (Astronomy): ‘Vedanga
Jyotisah ‘ ( Lagadh Muni)- the oldest jyotisha
text.
There are six famous Smritis : (i) Manu Smriti
(Pre-Gupta Period)_ the oldest Smriti
text; Commentators: Vishwarupa, Meghatithi, Gobindraj, Kulluk Bhatt.
(ii) Yajnvalkya Smriti (pre- Gupta Period)_ Commentators: Vishwaaarupa,
Vijnyaneshwaar, Apararka (a king of
Shilahar Dynasty ) (iii) Narad
Smriti ( Gupta period ) (iv) Parashara
Smriti ( Gupta period) (v) Brihaspati
Smriti (Gupta period ) (iv)
Katyayana Smriti (Gupta period).
There are mainly two
Mahakavyas ( Epics):
(i)
The Ramayana (Valmiki) : It is known as ‘Adi Kavya’ (the oldest epic of the world ). At present ,
it consists of 24,000 shlokas i.e. verses
(Originall7y 6,000, Later- 12,000, Finally – 24,000) in 7 Kandas i.e.
sections. 1st and 7th
Kandas were the latest additions to the Ramayana.
(ii)
The Manabbharata (Ved Vyasa ) :
The longest epic of the world . At
present , it consists of 1,00,000
shlokas i.e. verses (Originally -8,800-
Jay Samhita . Later – 24.000 – Chaturvivshati
Sahastri Samhita/ Bharata,
Finally- 1,00,000 – Shatasahastri
Samhita / Maha Bharata ) in 18
Parfvans i.e. chapters, plus the Hari
vamsa supplement. Bhagavad Gita is extracted from
Bihshma Parvan of Mahabaratra.
The word Aranya means ‘the forest’. The ‘
Forest texts’ were called
Aranyaka,because they were written maintly for the hermits and the students livings in jungles. The Aranyaka are the concluding portions of
the Brahamanas.
The
Upanishadas are philosphical texts.
They are generally called Vedanta, as they came towards the end of the
Veda. There are 108 Upanishadas. Vrihadaranyak a is the oldest Upanishada.