Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c4.143

c4.143

Reference has already been made to the *Sūtras*. These are the characteristic Indian text-books, and a great many were written on all sorts of subjects. According to the traditional Brāhman view there are six subjects, the study of which is necessary for the reading, understanding, or sacrificial employment of the Veda.² These are called the *Vedāngas*, or ‘members of the Veda’. They comprise the following subjects—*Śikshā* (or phonetics); *Chhandas* (or metre); *Vyākarana* (or grammar); *Nirukta* (etymology or explanation of words); *Jyotisha* (or astronomy); and *Kalpa* (or ceremonial and religious practice). From these, however, other subjects developed, as, for example, the study of law from Kalpa.