14 Vidya (Techniques) and 64 Kala (Art forms)
14 Vidya(techniques): These 14 types of Vidyas are inclusive of 4 Ved, 4 Upnishad and 6 Vedanges
(I) Ved : Vedas are also called sruti ("what is heard") literature, distinguishing them from other religious texts, which are called smṛti ("what is remembered"), by ancient sages after intense meditation. According to tradition, Vyasa is the compiler of the Vedas, who arranged the four kinds of mantras into four Samhitas (collections) There are four Vedas: Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda. Each Veda has been subclassified into four major text types – the Samhitas (mantras and benedictions), the Aranyakas (text on rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices and symbolic-sacrifices), the Brahmanas (commentaries on rituals, ceremonies and sacrifices), and the Upanishads (texts discussing meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge).
1. Rigved : The Rigveda Samhita is the oldest extant Indic text. It is a collection of 1,028 Vedic Sanskrit hymns and 10,600 verses in all, organized into ten books (Sanskrit: mandalas). The hymns are dedicated to Rigvedic deities.
The books were composed by poets from different priestly groups over a period of several centuries from roughly the second half of the 2nd millennium BCE (the early Vedic period), starting with the Punjab (Sapta Sindhu) region of the northwest Indian subcontinent.
The Rigveda is structured based on clear principles – the Veda begins with a small book addressed to Agni, Indra, Soma and other gods, all arranged according to decreasing total number of hymns in each deity collection; for each deity series, the hymns progress from longer to shorter ones, but the number of hymns per book increases. Finally, the meter too is systematically arranged from jagati and tristubh to anustubh and gayatri as the text progresses.
In terms of substance, the nature of hymns shift from praise of deities in early books to Nasadiya Sukta with questions such as, "what is the origin of the universe?, do even gods know the answer?", the virtue of Dana (charity) in society, and other metaphysical issues in its hymns.
There are similarities between the mythology, rituals and linguistics in Rigveda and those found in ancient central Asia, Iranian and Hindukush (Afghanistan) regions.
2. Samved : The Samaveda Samhita consists of 1549 stanzas, taken almost entirely (except for 75 mantras) from the Rigveda.The Samaveda samhita has two major parts. The first part includes four melody collections (gana, songs) and the second part three verse “books” (arcika,). A melody in the song books corresponds to a verse in the arcika books. Just as in the Rigveda, the early sections of Samaveda typically begin with hymns to Agni and Indra but shift to the abstract. Their meters shift also in a descending order. The songs in the later sections of the Samaveda have the least deviation from the hymns derived from the Rigveda.
In the Samaveda, some of the Rigvedic verses are repeated. Including repetitions, there are a total of 1875 verses numbered in the Samaveda recension translated by Griffith. Two major recensions have survived, the Kauthuma/Ranayaniya and the Jaiminiya. Its purpose was liturgical, and they were the repertoire of the udgatṛ or "singer" priests.
3. Yajurved : The Yajurveda Samhita consists of prose mantras. It is a compilation of ritual offering formulas that were said by a priest while an individual performed ritual actions such as those before the yajna fire. The earliest and most ancient layer of Yajurveda samhita includes about 1,875 verses, that are distinct yet borrow and build upon the foundation of verses in Rigveda.
Unlike the Samaveda which is almost entirely based on Rigveda mantras and structured as songs, the Yajurveda samhitas are in prose and linguistically, they are different from earlier Vedic texts.
The Yajur Veda has been the primary source of information about sacrifices during Vedic times and associated rituals. There are two major groups of texts in this Veda: the "Black" (Krishna) and the "White" (Shukla). The term "black" implies "the un-arranged, motley collection" of verses in Yajurveda, in contrast to the "white" (well arranged) Yajurveda.
The White Yajurveda separates the Samhita from its Brahmana (the Shatapatha Brahmana), the Black Yajurveda intersperses the Samhita with Brahmana commentary. Of the Black Yajurveda, texts from four major schools have survived (Maitrayani, Katha, Kapisthala-Katha, Taittiriya), while of the White Yajurveda, two (Kanva and Madhyandina). The youngest layer of Yajurveda text is not related to rituals nor sacrifice, it includes the largest collection of primary Upanishads, influential to various schools of Hindu philosophy.
4. Artharvaved : The Artharvaveda Samhita is the text 'belonging to the Atharvan and Angirasa poets. It has about 760 hymns, and about 160 of the hymns are in common with the Rigveda. Most of the verses are metrical, but some sections are in prose. Two different versions of the text – the Paippalada and the Saunakiya – have survived into the modern times.
The Atharvaveda was not considered as a Veda in the Vedic era, and was accepted as a Veda in late 1st millennium BCE. It was compiled last, probably around 900 BCE, although some of its material may go back to the time of the Rigveda, or earlier.
The Atharvaveda is sometimes called the "Veda of magical formulas", an epithet declared to be incorrect by other scholars.[106] The Samhita layer of the text likely represents a developing 2nd millennium BCE tradition of magico-religious rites to address superstitious anxiety, spells to remove maladies believed to be caused by demons, and herbs- and nature-derived potions as medicine. The text, states Kenneth Zysk, is one of oldest surviving record of the evolutionary practices in religious medicine and reveals the "earliest forms of folk healing of Indo-European antiquity". Many books of the Atharvaveda Samhita are dedicated to rituals without magic, such as to philosophical speculations and to theosophy.
Atharva veda has been a primary source for information about Vedic culture, the customs and beliefs, the aspirations and frustrations of everyday Vedic life, as well as those associated with kings and governance. The text also includes hymns dealing with the two major rituals of passage – marriage and cremation. The Atharva Veda also dedicates significant portion of the text asking the meaning of a ritual.
(II) Upnishad :
1. Arthashastra : An ancient Indian Hindu treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy which identifies its author by the names Kautilya and Vishnugupta.
2. Dharnurveda : The term derives from the words for bow (dhanushya) and knowledge (veda), literally the "science of archery".
3. Gandharvaveda : An ancient Indian treatise on the performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance and music.
4. Ayurveda : The word ayurveda consists of the words ayus, meaning "longevity", and veda, meaning "related to knowledge" or "science". Thus Ayurveda is the science of life.
(III) Vedange : there are six Vedanges as fillows:
1. Shiksha (phonetics) : Shiksha is one of the six Vedangas, treating the traditional Hindu science of phonetics and phonology of Sanskrit. Its aim is the teaching of the correct pronunciation of the Vedic hymns and mantras.
2. Kalpa ( rituals) : It is, one of the disciplines of Vedanges which teaches about the different rituals.
3. Vyakran (geammar): The Sanskrit grammatical tradition of vyakarana is one of the six Vedanga disciplines. It has its roots in late Vedic India, and includes the famous work, Astadhyayi, of Panini.
4. Jyotisha (astrilogy) : Jyotisa (Sanskrit jyotisa, from jyotis- "light, heavenly body": also anglicized Jyotish and Jyotisha) is the Hindu system of astrology (also known as Indian astrology, Hindu astrology, and of late, Vedic astrology). Traditionally, it has three branches -
(i). Siddhanta : traditional Indian astronomy.
(ii) a. Samhita
(ii) b. Medini Jyotisha (mundane astrology) : Predicting important events based on analysis of astrological dynamics in a country's horoscope or general transit events such as war, earthquakes, political events, financial positions, electional astrology; house and construction related matters (Vastu Shastra), animals, portents, omens etc.
(iii). Hora : Predictive astrology based on analysis of natal horoscopes and the moment a query is made.
5. Nirukta (etymology) ksha : Nirukta ("explanation, etymological interpretation") is one of the six Vedanga disciplines of Hinduism, treating etymology, particularly of obscure words, especially those occurring in the Vedas. The discipline is traditionally attributed to Yaska, an ancient Sanskrit grammarian. In practical use, nirukta consists of brief rules (sutras) for deriving word meanings, supplemented with glossaries of difficult or rare Vedic words.
6. Chhandas (Metrics) These are mentioned in the Upanishads. In Sanskrit, it refers to the study of Vedic meter in Classical Sanskrit poetry.
(IV) Kala (Activities in fine arts and crafts) : The students had to learn 64 types of Kala (Activities) which consist of the followings :-
1. Geet : Art of singing.
2. Vadya : Art of playing on musical instruments.
3. Nrutya : Art of dancing.
4. Natya : Art of theatricals.
5. Aalekh : Art of painting
6. Vishesh Kacchedya : Art of painting the face and body with colored unguents and cosmetics.
7. Tandul kusumavali vikar : Art of preparing offerings from rice and flowers.
8. Pushpastaran : Art of making a covering of flowers for a bed.
9. Dashanvasanang raag : Art of applying preparations for cleansing the teeth, cloths and painting the body.
10. Manibhumika karma : Art of making the groundwork of jewels.
11. Shayan rachana : Art of covering the bed.
12. Udak vadya : Art of playing on music in water.
13. Udakaghata : Art of splashing with water.
14. Chitrayog : Art of practically applying an admixture of colors.
15. Malya grantha vikalpa : Art of designing a preparation of wreaths.
16. Kesha-shekhara-pidyojana : Art of practically setting the coronet on the head.
17. Nepathyayog : Art of practically dressing in the tiring room.
18. Karnapatrabhang : Art of decorating the tragus of the ear.
19. Gandhayukti / Sugandhayukti : Art of practical application of aromatics.
20. Bhushanayojan : Art of applying or setting ornaments.
21. Indrajal : Art of jugglery.
22. Kouchumaryog : A kind of art.
23. Hastalaghav : Art of sleight of hand.
24. Chitra Shabdapup Bhakshya Vikar Kriya : Art of preparing varieties of salad, bread, cake and delicious food.
25. Panaka-rasa-ragasava-yojana : Art of practically preparing palatable drinks and tinging draughts with red color.
26. Suchikarma : Art of needleworks and weaving.
27. Sutrakarma : Art of playing with thread.
28. Vina-damuraka-vadya : Art of playing on flute and small x-shaped drum.
29. Prahelika : Art of making and solving riddles.
30. Pratimala : Art of caping or reciting verse for verse as a trial for memory or skill.
31. Durvachakayog : Art of practicing language difficult to be answered by others.
32. Pustakvachan : Art of reciting books.
33. Natakakhyayika darshan : Art of enacting short plays and anecdotes.
34. Kavyasamasyapurti : Art of solving enigmatic verses.
35. Pattika vetra-ban-vikalpa : Art of designing preparation of shield, cane and arrows.
36. Turkakarma : Art of spinning by spindle.
37. Takshan : Art of carpentry.
38. Vastuvidya : Art of engineering.
39. Roupya ratna pariksha : Art of testing silver and jewels.
40. Dhatuvad : Art of metallurgy.
41. Maniraagdnyan : Art of tinging jewels.
42. Aakardnyan : Art of mineralogy.
43. Vrukshayurvedyog : Art of practicing medicine or medical treatment, by herbs.
44. Mesh-kukkut-lavakyudhha vidhi : Art of knowing the mode of fighting of lambs, cocks and birds.
45. Shukasarika prapalana : Art of maintaining or knowing conversation between male and female cockatoos.
46. Utsadan : Art of healing or cleaning a person with perfumes.
47. Keshmarjan koushal : Art of combing hair.
48. Akshar mushtikakathan : Art of talking with letters and fingers.
49. Mlencchitkalavikalpa : Art of fabricating barbarous or foreign sophistry.
50. Deshbhashadnyan : Art of knowing provincial dialects.
51. Pushpa-shakatika-nimittadnyan : Art of knowing prediction by heavenly voice or knowing preparation of toy carts by flowers.
52. Yantramatruka : Art of mechanics.
53. Dharanmatruka : Art of the use of amulets.
54. Sanpathya/Samvachya : Art of conversation.
55. Manasikavya : Art of composing verse mentally.
56. Kriyavikalpa : Art of designing a literary work or a medical remedy.
57. Chlikyog / Chalitakayoga : Art of practicing as a builder of shrines called after him.
58. Abhidhankosh chhandodnyan : Art of the use of lexicography and meters.
59. Vastragopan : Art of concealment of cloths.
60. Dyut visesha : Art of knowing specific gambling.
61. Aakarshan krida : Art of playing with dice or magnet.
62. Balkridakarma : Art of using children's toys.
63. Vainayiki vidyadnyan : Art of enforcing discipline.
64. Vaijayiki vidyadnyan : Art of gaining victory.
65. Vyayamiki vidyadnyan : Art of awakening master with music at dawn.
Ref. : Book, Work to jobless
Author : vikas joshi
