Literature of Vedic Tradition
(600 BC-600 AD)
Literature of Vedic Tradition (600 BC-600 AD)
Literature of Vedic Tradition (Smriti i.e. rememberance literature) comprises of 6 literary works :
» Vedangas/Sutras
» Smritis Dharmashastras
» Mahakavyas (Epics)
» Puranas
» Upvedas
» Shad-Dharshanas
There are six Vedangas
1- Shiksha (Phonetics) : 'Pratishakhya'-the oldest text on phonetics.
2- Kalpa Sutras(Rituals) :
i. ShrauteSutras/Shulava Sutras-deal with the sacrifices.
ii. Grihya Sutra-deal with family ceremonies
iii. Dharma Sutras-deal withVarnas, Ashramas etc.
3- Vyakarana (Grammar) : ‘Ashtadyayi'(Panini)- the oldest grammar oftheword.
4- Nirukta (Etymology) : 'Nirukta' (Yask) based on 'Nighantu' (Kashyap)-a collection of difficult vedic words—('Nighantu'—the oldest word-collection of the world; 'Nirukta'—the oldest dictionary of the world).
5- Chhanda (Metrics) : 'Chhandasutras' (Pingal)-famous text.
6- Jyotisha (Astronomy) : 'Vedanga Jyotisha' (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 : Vishwarupa, Jimutvahan ('Daybhag’),Vijnyaneshwar, ('Mitakshara') Apararka (a king of Shilahar Dynasty)
(iii) Narad Smriti (Gupta period)
(iv) Parashara Smriti (Gupta period)
(v) Brihaspati Smriti (Gupta period)
(vi) Katyayana Smriti (Gupta period)
There are mainly two Mahakavyas (Epics)
1. 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 (Originally 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.
2. The Mahabharata (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-Chaturvinshati Sahastri Samhita/Bharata, Finally-1,00,000- Shatasahastri Samhita/Maha Bharata) in 18 Parvans i.e. chapters, plus the Harivamsa supplement. Bhagavad Gita is extracted from Bihshma Parvan of Mahabharata. Shanti Parvan is the largest parvan (chapter) of the Mahabarata.
» The Purana means 'the old'. There are 18 famous 'Puranas'. The Matsya Purana is the oldest Puranic text. The other important Puranas are the Bhagavata, The Vishnu, The Vayu and The Brahamnda. They describe genealogies of various royal dynasties.