Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c9.s1.12

c9.s1.12

**The Vedāṅgas.** Orthodox learned opinion describes the Veda as *Shaḍaṅga-Veda*, the Veda of six limbs, and holds that the study of the Rigveda simultaneously gave rise to the six subsidiary studies known as Śikshā, Kalpa, Vyākaraṇa, Nirukta, Chhanda, and Jyotisha. Although these subjects are now extant in the forms of Sūtras belonging to a much later age, their origins must be found in the age of the Rigveda, because the Rigveda could not be properly studied without the aid of these Vedāṅgas. As the Veda was learnt by recitation and proper pronunciation, it was first necessary to learn the science of Śikshā. The word *śikshā* is from the root *śiksh*, to give. The guru was giving the Veda to his pupil by uttering it. Therefore, a knowledge of Śikshā was preliminary to study of Veda, the mastery of which depended upon its proper pronunciation and recitation. This point is made clear in a verse in Hymn vii, 103, in the expression “*yadeshām anyo anyasya vāchaṁ śāktasyeva vadati śikshamāṇaḥ*”. Here the word *śāktasya* = *śaktimataḥ śikshakasya* refers to the teacher who was possessed of the ability to teach by his knowledge of the science of *Śikshā*, according to which he was uttering and pronouncing the Vedic texts which his pupils were reciting from his lips (*anuvadati*).