Vedanga

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Part of a series on Hindu scriptures

Vedas Rigveda · Yajurveda · Samaveda · Atharvaveda Divisions Samhita · Brahmana · Aranyaka · Upanishad
Upanishad Aitareya · Brihadaranyaka · Isha · Taittiriya · Chandogya · Kena · Mundaka · Mandukya · Katha · Prashna · Shvetashvatara
Vedanga Shiksha · Chandas · Vyakarana · Nirukta · Jyotisha · Kalpa
Mahakavya (epics) Mahabharata · Ramayana
Other scriptures Smriti · Śruti · Bhagavad Gita · Purana · Agama · Darshana · Pancharatra · Tantra · Sutra · Stotra · Dharmashastra · Divya Prabandha · Tevaram · Ramacharitamanas · Shikshapatri · Vachanamrut · Ananda Sutram
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The Vedanga ( vedāṅga, "member of the Veda") are six auxiliary disciplines for the understanding and tradition of the Vedas.

Shiksha (śikṣā): phonetics and phonology (sandhi)
Chandas (chandas): meter
Vyakarana (vyākaraṇa): grammar
Nirukta (nirukta): etymology
Jyotisha (jyotiṣa): astrology and astronomy, dealing particularly with the auspicious days for performing sacrifices.
Kalpa (kalpa): ritual

Traditionally, vyākaraṇa and nirukta are shared across all four Vedas, while each veda has its own śikṣā, chandas, kalpa and jyotiṣa. The Vedangas are first mentioned in the Mundaka Upanishad as topics to be observed by students of the Vedas. Later, they developed into independent disciplines, each with its own corpus of Sutras.

[edit] Literature

Moritz Winternitz: Geschichte der Indischen Literatur, Leipzig, 1905 - 1922, Vol. I - III. English translation: History of Indian Literatur, Motilal Barnarsidass, Delhi, 1985, Vol I - III