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The PratiShakhyas are some of the supplementary literature of the Vedas. PratiShakhyas are those texts, which discuss the pronunciation of syllables, the syntax and inflexions in different Vedas in detail. Different schools of thought came into existence which were founded by sages to come to a consensus in different tones of syllables and to perpetrate their thoughts and traditions. He who learns to recite the Vedas from one school of thought is said to belong to that respective tradition. It is at this time that the Gotra Pravar branch was incepted.
After a long time to protect the respective customs and to commemorate it PratiShakhya texts were written. The two things covered in these texts are education and Grammar.
Until sometime back all the PratiShakhyas of all the branches of Vedas were being followed and adhered to. But now, Rik PratiShakhya created by Shaunak of the Shakal branch of Yajurveda, Vajasaneya Pratishakya of Vajasenya branch, author by Katyayana. Sama Pratishakhya authored by Pushpamuni of Samaveda, Atharva Pratishakhya of Atharvaveda or Shaunikiya Chaturadhyayi are only available.
There are 3 chapters, 6 patals and 103 Kandikas in Shaunak's Rik Pratishakya. Another text which is a supplementary text named 'Upalekha Sutra' is also seen. Firstly it was Vishnu Putra who had written its commentary. Seeing this Uvratacharya wrote a comprehensive commentary on it.
One can see discussions of Atreya, Sthavir, Kaudinya, Bharadwaj, Valmiki, Agniveshya (Agni Veshyayan) in the Taitereya Praatishakhya. But one does not come across discussions related to Taitereya Aranyaka or Taitereya Brahmana in either of the chapters, the commentaries of Atreya, Marisheya and Vararuchi which are not available now. Seeing these old commentaries, Kartikeya wrote a comprehensive commentary named 'Tribhashya'.
There are 8 chapters in Katyayana's Vajasenaya Pratishakhya. The first chapter discusses the NOUN, the second 'TONES OF SYLLABLES' and from the third to the fifth, 'Sanskaras' are discussed. The different pronunciations of the verb are discussed in the sixth and seventh chapter while in the eighth chapter 'rules related to recitation of Vedas' are discussed. One can come across different opinions and discussions of Shakyayan, Shakarya, Gargya, Kashyap, Dalamya, Jatukarna, Shaunak, Upashivi, Kanva and Madhyadin in this text. In the first chapter one can also see the explanations related to Vedas and commentaries.
The Sama PratiShakhyas comprises of 10 chapters. In the first two chapters there is a brief discussion related to the Sama Samuhu (compilation of mantras) i.e. Dashratra, Samvatsar, Ekaha, Aheena, Satra, Prayashchitta, Kshudra, Parvanusara and Stotruja.
In the third and the fourth chapter of the Pratishakhya procedural advises/sermons are given related to Shrut Arha Bhava and Prakriti Bhava in the Sama.
The fifth chapter discusses the Vriddha and Avriddha Bhava. The sixth chapter discusses where the Sama Bhakti Samuha (incantations) should be sung and where they should not be sung. The eighth chapter throws light on the extinct Vedic texts and changes taken place in syllables at different places.
The Bhavakathan (meanings) is discussed in the 9th chapter while the 10th chapter enumerates the decisions (Krishtakrishta) and the salient features.
There are 2 Atharva PratiShakhyas which have come into light. One of them is Shaunakiya Chaturadhyayika in which following 6 points have been discussed.
1) The objective of this text, introduction and features.
2) Vowels and consonants, Uddatradi Laxan, Pragridya, Alphabets, structure/syntax, compound syllables, Yama, Abhinidhana, Nasikya, Swar Bhakti Sfotan, Karshana and index of syllables.
3) Samhita Prakarana.
4) Krama Nirnaya.
5) Pada Nirnaya.
6) Self-study and its necessity.
Some of the Sutras from the PratiShakhyas is very old and ancient while some of them are composed after Panini's Sutras. Pandit Satyavrat is of the view that 'Sama PratiShakhya created by Pushpa is much older than Panini Sutras. In fact it is older than the oldest known philosophy of Mimansa because:
TATHA CHA SAMAGAA ABDHUHU VRIDDHAM TANAVYMAAHA BHAVATI
This quotation from the Sama Pratishakhya is quoted and interspersed in the 'locative case' Mala (chain) of the Mimansa philosphy.
Some scholars opine that the author of Vajasaneya Pratishakya, Katyayana and the author of Panini Sutra, Vartikkar Katyayana both are one. In the same way as he has criticized Panini in the Vartik, as well as in the Pratishakhya.
This confirms that Panini Sutra is older than Vajasaneya Pratishakhya.
Pratishakhya mostly comprises of pedagogical contents and the quantity of Grammar is very less in comparison. In fact there is hardly any detailed metaphors of Grammar in the PratiShakhyas although one can see scientific analysis of all this in the Shaunikiya Shiksha at length.
Teaching has been an important part of the Vedas which comprehensively discuss the pronunciation of syllables, tones and vowel marks etc. a lot of emphasis has been laid on the pronunciation by the Vedic sages. Pronunciation is of utmost importance in the Shrutis but the significance of the recitation of the mantras is something different altogether.
DUSHTAHA SHABDAHA SWARTO VARNATO VA MITHYA PRAYUKTO NA TVAM ARTHA MAHA |
SA VAGA VAJRO YAJMANAM HINASTI YATHENDRA SHATRUHU SWARTO APARAA DHAATA ||
which means that when the syllables or the vowels/consonants develop defects or are polluted due to inappropriate pronunciation and diction and do not convey the anticipated meaning then it assumes the form of a sentence composed by the most 'incompatible and misleading' words that destroy the person. Alike the defect in the tone of the word 'Indrashastra' accrued in the murder of Vritra.
When Indra killed Vishwarupa then Sad Trashta began a ritual. In this ritual one had to recite the mantra "INDRASHASTRO VIVARDHASVA" whose anticipated meaning was 'Want a child who shall be the enemy of Indra.' Here there is a difference between the compound formations Bahubrihi and Tatpurusha.
When this incantation was used to destroy Indra then the last words is recited in a high pitch but out of ignorance Twashta recited the first word in the high pitch, through which the meaning construed or comprehended was "We want a child towards whom, Indra is hostile."
Accordingly the child born to Twashta was killed by Devraj Indra. In the ancient times, the Shaunakiya Shiksha was treated with equal respect on par with the Vedas.
Panini has quoted the view point of the author of Shabdendu Shekhar who has praised Shaunakiya Shiksha and has opined that it is equally beautiful as the Vedas as
"SHAUNAKADIBHYA SHA CHANDISI" |
The Shabdendu Shekhar comments on the Panini Sutra 'Chandasi Kim?' Shaunakiya Shiksha is the last chapter in the Vedas.
Hence one can construe that the basic aim of Shiksha is the perfect and impeccable pronunciation of the Vedas.
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