The article below is my review of the book The Vedas which is analysis of framework of the Vedas by Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

This book was translated to English from the original discourses in Tamil by Sri NSS Rajan.

The distinguishing feature of the book is that of the 14 “Vidyas”, the Parmacharya deal more elaborately with the six Vedangas and the four Upangas than the four Vedas themselves.

There are few books which give succinctly and in such depth all about Vedangas – Siksha, Vyaakarana, Chhandas, Niruktam, Jyotisha and Kalpa.

There are many parts to the Vedas:

• Vedas consisting of Rig, Sama and Yajur Vedas.  The Atharva Veda is a later addition.
• The Upanishads
• The Brahma Sutra
• Vedanga consisting of:
  • Shiksha : The nose and lungs of the Vedas – the life breath of the Vedas
  • Vyakarana : Grammar or the mouth of the Vedas
  • Chandas : The feet of the Vedas
  • Nirukta : The ears of the Vedas
  • Jyotisha : The eyes of the Vedas
  • Kalpa : The arms of the Vedas
• Upaangas consisting of:
  • Meemaamsa consisting of Poorva Meemaamsa which emphasizes rituals or Karma Kanda and Uttara Meemaamsa or Vedanta which emphasizes self realistation or Jnana Kanda 
  • Nyaaya – the science of Logic and expediency
  • Puranas
  • Dharma Shastras

TO BE CONTINUED