Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.45

c12.s6.45

**Different Forms of Vedic Texts as Aids to Memory.** This vast literary matter was memorized by suitable mechanical methods invented for the purpose. The system of rote-learning has been well described in the Ṛik-Prātiśākhya we have already cited, but the description implies a variety of methods naturally evolved under the system. These methods aim at different arrangements of the words of the texts, and each such arrangement is given a distinct name. We take the following from the account of Sir R. G. Bhandarkar in the *Indian Antiquary* (1874): "In the *Saṁhitā text*, all words are joined according to the phonetic rules peculiar to Sanskrit. In the *Pada text*, the words are divided and compounds also are dissolved. In the *Krama* text, suppose we have a line of eleven words, they are arranged as follows, the rules of Sandhi being observed throughout for letters and accent: 1, 2; 2, 3; 3, 4; 4, 5; 5, 6; 6, 7; 7, 8; etc. The last word of each verse, and half-verse too is repeated with *iti* (*veshṭana*). In the *Jaṭā*, the words are arranged as follows: 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2; 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 3; 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4; etc. The last word of each verse and half-verse is repeated with *iti*. In the *Ghana*, the words are arranged as follows: 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3; 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 2, 3; 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4; 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 4, 5; etc. The last two words of each verse and half-verse are repeated with *iti*, as, e.g., 7, 8, 8, 7, 7, 8; 8 *iti* 8; and again, 10, 11, 11, 10, 10, 11; 11 *iti* 11. Compounds are dissolved (*avagraha*). The object of these different arrangements is simply the most accurate preservation of the sacred text. Nor is the recital merely mechanical, the attention being constantly required for the phonetic changes of final and initial letters, and for the constant modification of the accents. The different accents are distinctly shown by modulations of the voice."