Introduction to Vedic knowledge: volume 4: The secondary Vedas

The vedic texts calledVedanga ("limbs of the knowledge") e Upaveda ("secondary knowledge") or also Upanga ("secondary limbs") are also considered shastra ("sacred scriptures") and are sometimes called sutras ("aphorisms"). Many of the most ancient texts have been lost, and we presently have only quoted from the original contained in more recent books - of course "recent" in this case still means centuries old. The texts belonging to this category are the Siksha (rules for the pronunciation of mantras), Vyakarana (grammar), Chanda (intonation and metric), Nirukta (etimology and meanings of the words), Jyotisha (astrology), Kalpa (practical details for the rituals), Ayur Veda (medicine), Dhanur Veda (military science), Gandharva Veda (music, dance and figurative arts), Artha shastra (sociology, politics and economy), Sulba shastra (mathematics and geometry), Kama shastra (quality of life and social relationships), Artha shastra (economy and trade), Nyaya (science of logic), Yoga (mastering one's body and mind), Sankhya (analythical philosophy), Vaisesika (cosmology and physics), Purva mimamsa (commentaries to the Kalpa sutras), Uttara mimamsa (also known as Vedanta sutras). The scriptures known as Tantras and Agama present a symbolic and ritualistic aspect of Vedic knowledge that is more ancient than the present compilation of the Vedic hymns, and particularly apply to the personal relationship of the devotee with the various forms of the Godhead.