Aṅga — The Six Limbs of the Veda
The Vedāṅgas ('limbs of the Veda') are six auxiliary sciences (śāstras) that together provide the tools necessary for correctly preserving, reciting, and applying the Vedas. As the 'limbs' (aṅgas) of the Vedic body, they serve the Vedas rather than existing independently — their purpose is entirely instrumental, pointing back to the core Vedic texts they support.
The six Vedāṅgas are:
- Śikṣā (Phonetics): The science of correct pronunciation, pitch (svara), quantity, and articulation of Vedic sounds. Incorrect pronunciation is considered a serious error because even slight mispronunciation can alter meaning — the famous warning is that the word indraśatru ('enemy of Indra') could be pronounced to mean either 'Indra's enemy' or 'he who has Indra as enemy,' with completely opposite results.
- Chandas (Metre): The science of Vedic metrical patterns — the specific rhythms (Gāyatrī, Triṣṭubh, Anuṣṭubh, etc.) governing different Vedic mantras.
- Vyākaraṇa (Grammar): The science of Sanskrit grammar; Pāṇini's Aṣṭādhyāyī is the canonical Vedic grammar text.
- Nirukta (Etymology): The science of word-meaning, especially for obscure Vedic terms — Yāska's Nirukta is the classical text.
- Jyotiṣa (Astronomy/Calendar): The science of astronomical reckoning, enabling the precise timing of Vedic rituals — the correct muhūrta (auspicious time) for each rite.
- Kalpa (Ritual procedure): The science of correct ritual performance — the Śrauta Sūtras (Vedic sacrifice), Gṛhya Sūtras (household rites), Dharma Sūtras (conduct), and Śulba Sūtras (altar geometry).
In the Śrī Vaiṣṇava educational tradition, the Vedāṅgas form part of the foundational curriculum — a Vedic scholar (śrautī) must be conversant in at least several of these. The tradition views the aṅgas as the 'body' serving the 'soul' of the Vedas: just as limbs serve the body's purpose, the aṅgas serve the Vedas' purpose of revealing truth and guiding dharmic life.