The essentials
Ancient Indians studied language closely because the Vedas had to be preserved and understood exactly. Six auxiliary disciplines, the Vedangas, developed: shiksha (phonetics), vyakarana (grammar), nirukta (etymology), chandas (metre), jyotisha (astronomy and calendar) and kalpa (ritual). Four of these concern language directly.
Texts called Pratishakhyas describe the sounds and sound changes of particular Vedic branches. Yaska's Nirukta explains difficult Vedic words by tracing their origins. Panini's Ashtadhyayi (usually dated to around the 5th–4th century BCE) is a grammar of Sanskrit in about 4000 short rules (sutras) arranged in eight chapters. Katyayana wrote vartikas (comments) on Panini, and Patanjali wrote the Mahabhashya (great commentary). These three are honoured as the "three sages" (munitraya) of Sanskrit grammar. Pingala's Chandahsutra is the classic text on metre. Bhartrihari (around the 5th century CE) wrote the Vakyapadiya on the philosophy of language.
Other traditions also studied language: the Tolkappiyam is the oldest surviving Tamil grammar, and Pali and Prakrit grammars were written as well. Lexicons such as the Amarakosha listed synonyms in verse.
Key points
- Vedangas: shiksha, vyakarana, nirukta, chandas, jyotisha, kalpa.
- Munitraya: Panini, Katyayana, Patanjali.
- Ashtadhyayi: about 4000 sutras, eight chapters.
- Tolkappiyam: earliest Tamil grammar.
Exam tips
- Match each Vedanga with its subject; match text with author.
Common mistakes
- Thinking nirukta means grammar; it means etymology.
- Thinking Patanjali the grammarian's Mahabhashya is about yoga.