Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s8.4

c12.s8.4

The Buddhist literature also knows the names of the various Vedas and the number of their śākhās. Thus in the Pāli texts (Digha I, 237) there is mention of the Addhariya, the Tittiriya, the Chandokā and the Bavharija (Bahvṛca). The Sanskrit Buddhist texts know more of the Vedic lore. In the Śārdūlakarṇāvadāna (Divyāva. xxxiii) there is a detailed description of the Vedic literature. Besides, it mentions the 21 śākhās of the Ṛgveda, 100 of the Yajurveda and 8000 (sic. 1000) of the Sāmaveda. The tradition is old as it is also recorded in the Mahābhāṣya of Patañjali (xv, 10, 11 : ekaśatam adhvaryuśākhāḥ sahasravartmā sāmavedaḥ ekaviṃśatidhāḥ bahvṛcam). The principal Vedic śākhās are also mentioned by names in the same text.