Literature ::: Scripture & Literature Classification

Modified on 2013/07/23 20:39 by biswajitdash — Categorized as: Uncategorized

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Sanskrit Literature is so ancient and vast that it is not possible to read and understand all in a life-time. Over thousands of years, many scholars have contributed to Sanskrit literature and scriptures. Sometimes it is not even possible to associate any specific work with a specific scholar or person. However, in this vastness lies a logical classification of the entire literature and scripture. There are guidelines which govern the structure and writing style of a literary composition. Even the rules for composing each stanza are available. These have been explained in works like नाट्यशास्त्र (naaTyashaastra) or the "art of poetry composition". However, creativity of scholars was never constrained by such guidelines.

Similarly, there is no branch of knowledge that has been left uninvestigated in the scriptures like veda-s (वेद / veda) and upanishad-s (उपनिश्जद् / upaniShad). Each branch of knowledge has been thoroughly investigated, brought to its logical undeniable conclusion and systematically documented for the benefit of entire mankind.

In this section we will present our precious inheritance in its logical classification, along with brief introduction to each.

Sanskrit Scripture Classification

सृति - sRRiti

This includes the philosophical aspect of the scriptures. The vedic text used to be propagated from one generation to the next as oral teaching or recitation. Hence the word सृति (sRRiti) literally meaning "which has been heard". Each veda contains different sections and chapters. The classification represents the same.

वेद (ऋक्, यजुर्, साम, अथर्व)
veda (RRik, yajur, saama, atharva) #1

कर्मकाण्ड - karmakaaNDa
- संहिता - sa.nhitaa
- ब्राह्मण - braahmaNa

ज्ञानकाण्ड - dnyaanakaaNDa

आरण्यक - aaraNyaka

उपनिषत् - upaniShat #2

major upaniShat-s

minor upaniShat-s

ईशावास्योपनिषत्
iishaavaasyopaniShat
केनोपनिषत्
kenopaniShat
कठोपनिषत्
kaThopaniShat
प्रश्नोपनोषत्
prashnopaniShat
मुण्डकोपनिषत्
muNDakopaniShat
माण्डूक्योपनिषत्
maaNDuukyopaniShat
तैत्तिरीयोपनिषत्
taitiriiyopaniShat
ऐतरेयोपनिषत्
aitareyopaniShat
छान्दोग्योपनिषत्
chhaandogyopaniShat
कैव्यल्योपनिषत्
kaivalyopaniShat
बृहदारण्यकोपनिषत्
bRRihadaaraNyakopaniShat

ब्रह्मोपनिषत्
brahmopaniShat
शेताश्वतर
shvetaashvatara
हंसोपनिषत्
ha.nsopaniShat
नारायणोपनिषत्
naaraayaNopaniShat
मान्त्रिकोपनिषत्
maantrikopaniShat
कालाग्निरुद्रोपनिषत्
kaalaagnirudropaniShat
निर्वाणोपनिषत्
nirvaaNopaniShat
सूर्योपनिषत्
suuryopaniShat
All 108 Upanishat-s

Notes:

#1. Each veda contains two sections कर्मकाण्ड (karmakaaNDa) and ज्ञानकाण्ड (dnyaanakaaNDa) literally meaning the ritual section and knowledge section. कर्मकाण्ड (karmakaaNDa) is again devided as संहिता (sa.nhitaa) and ब्राह्मण (braahmaNa) containing prayers and ritualistic prescriptions respectively. ज्ञानकाण्ड (dnyaanakaaNDa) contains the philosophical teachings and guidelines for a spiritual life. It also contains उपनिषत् (upaniShat) which is the essence of the entire vedic text.

#2. Of the 108 Upanishats accepted as authentic, Shankaryacharya considered 11 as important and commented on 10 of those. These are known as major, and the rest are known as minor upaniShat-s.

स्मृति - smRRiti

This includes the practical aspect of the scriptures. स्मृति (smRRiti) literally meaning "which is to be remembered" includes teachings on different aspects like science, geometry, medicine etc.

उपवेद - upaveda #3
- आयुर्वेद
  aayurveda
- धनुर्वेद
  dhanurveda
- गान्धर्ववेद
  gaandarvaveda
- स्तापथ्य-शास्त्र
  staapathya-shaastra

वेदाङ्ग - vedaaN^ga #4
- शिक्षा
  shikshaa
- कल्प
  kalpa
- व्याकरण
  vyaakaraNa
- निरुक्त
  nirukta
- छन्द
  chhanda
- ज्योतिश
  jyotisha

वेद-उपाङ्ग - veda-upaaN^ga #5
- न्याय
  nyaaya
- वैसेशिक
  vaiseshika
- सांख्य
  saa.nkhya
- योग
  yoga
- मिमांसा
  mimaa.nsa
- वेदान्त
  vedaanta

स्मृति - smRRiti #6
- manu-smRRiti
  मनु-स्मृति
- 18 smRRiti-s
  १८ स्मृति
इतिहास - itihaasa #7
- रामायण
  raamaayaNa
- महाभारत
  mahaabhaarata

पुराण - puraaNa #8

महा-पुराण - mahaa-puraaNa - Main Purana-s

ब्रह्म - brahma	वैष्णव - vaiShNava	शैव - shaiva
ब्रह्मपुराणम् brahmapuraaNam ब्रह्माण्डपुराणम् brahmaaNDapuraaNam ब्रह्मवैवर्तपुराणम् brahmavaivartapuraaNam मार्कण्डेयपुराणम् maarkaNDeyapuraaNam भविष्यपुराणम् bhaviShyapuraaNam वामनपुराणम् vaamanapuraaNam	विष्णुपुराणम् viShNupuraaNam नारदीयपुराणम् naaradiiyapuraaNam भागवतपुराणम् bhaagavatapuraaNam गरुडपुराणम् garuDapuraaNam पद्मपुराणम् padmapuraaNam वराहपुराणम् varaahapuraaNam	मत्स्यपुराणम् matsyapuraaNam कूर्मपुराणम् kuurmapuraaNam लिङ्गपुराणम् liN^gapuraaNam वायुपुराणम् vaayupuraaNam स्कान्दपुराणम् skaandapuraaNam अग्निपुराणम् agnipuraaNam

उप-पुराण - upa-puraaNa - Other Purana-s

सन्नत्कुमार
sanatkumaara
नरसिंहम्
narasimha
naaradiya
शिव
shiva
दुर्वाशा
durvaasha
कपिल
kapila

वामन
vaamana
औसासन
ousaasana
वरुण
varuna
कालिका
kalika
भार्गव
bhaargava
नन्दि
nandi

सौर
soura
शाम्ब
saamba
महेश्वर
maheshvara
परासर
paraasara
गणेश
gaNesha
वसिष्ठ
vasiShTha

Notes:

#3. Each veda has one उपवेद (upaveda) attached to it and covers practical aspects relevant to the specific veda. आयुर्वेद (aayurveda) or health science, धनुर्वेद (dhanurveda) or military science, गान्धर्ववेद (gaandarvaveda) or art and science of music, and स्तापथ्य-शास्त्र (staapathya-shaastra) or science of mechanics and construction are associated to ऋक्वेद, यजुर्वेद, सामवेद, अथर्ववेद (RRikveda, yajurveda, saamaveda, atharvaveda) respectively.

#4. वेदाङ्ग (vedaaN^ga) are six branches of knowledge essential for the understanding of the teachings of the veda-s. As vedic teachings essentially followed an oral tradition, these studies ensured the original intent and meaning of the veda-s remained same and any error in the oral teachings easily identified and corrected. शिक्षा (shikshaa), कल्प (kalpa), व्याकरण (vyaakaraNa), निरुक्त (nirukta), छन्द (chhanda) and ज्योतिश (jyotisha) cover phonetics, ritual, grammar, etymology, prosody, and astronomy respectively.

#5. वेद-उपाङ्ग (veda-upaaN^ga) are six branches of philosophy which are part of vedic teaching.

#6. स्मृति (smRRiti) or धर्म-शास्त्र (dharma-shaastra) are the rules of conduct prescribed for a righteous life. These rules cater to the need of every one starting from the intellectuals to the masses, the basic intent being to lead a spiritual path. Of these मनु-स्मृति (manu-smRRiti) is the foundation of Hindu Law.

#7. इतिहास (itihaasa) is based on historical events, centering around role-model who lives a rightous life and inspires all to follow such path. रामायण (raamaayaNa) and महाभारत (mahaabhaarata) are the two epics which teach the core of philosophy through the lives of श्रीराम (shriiraama) and श्रीकृष्ण (shriikRRIShNa).

#8. पुराण (puraaNa) teaches the phylosophical essence of the scriptures through stories catering to the emotional and spiritual needs of the mass, and shows the path of a righteous life. The stories are based on historical and mythological events. There are total 64 important puraNa-s, of which 18 are considered as main puraaNa-s classified under three groups viz., ब्रह्म (brahma), वैष्णव (vaiShNava) and शैव (shaiva).

Sanskrit Literature Classification

श्रव्य-काव्य
shravya-kaavya

Any composition that can be heard or read only.

पद्य-काव्य - padya-kaavya #9
- महा-काव्य - mahaa-kaavya #10
- खण्ड-काव्य - khaNDa-kaavya #11
- मुक्तक - muktaka #12
गद्य-काव्य - gadya-kaavya #13
चम्पु-काव्य - champu-kaavya #14

Notes:

#9. पद्य-काव्य (padya-kaavya) or poetry is a composition in which each stanza is made up of four quarters and follows specific rules of meter.

#10. Of the different poetic compositions महा-काव्य (mahaa-kaavya) is the most advanced one. It is composed around a great personality and is of considerable length. Words used are free from any vulgarity and of profound thought. It contains different aspects like counseling, messengers, journey and war etc. It may contain different sceneries like city, ocean, hill, season, sunrise, sunset, separation and union of lovers and marriage etc.

#11. खण्ड-काव्य (khaNDa-kaavya) can have some characteristics of a महा-काव्य (mahaa-kaavya).

#12. मुक्तक (muktaka) is an independent verse dealing with one specific aspect of life. The innumerable number of सुभाषितम् (subhaaShitam) available in Sanskrit literature all fall under this category.

#13. गद्य-काव्य (gadya-kaavya) or story does not follow any specific rule for composition and is not constrained by syllable and quarter etc.

#14. चम्पु-काव्य (champu-kaavya) is a special type of composition where it is a combination of पद्य-काव्य (padya-kaavya) and गद्य-काव्य (gadya-kaavya).

दृश्य-काव्य
dRRishya-kaavya

Any composition that can be heard, read and seen as well. This includes any composition that can be performed on a stage.

रूपक - ruupaka #15
- नाटकम्
  naaTakam
- प्रकरणम्
  prakaraNam
- भाणः
  bhaaNaH
- प्रहसनम्
  prahasanam
- डिमः
  DimaH
- व्यायोगः
  vyaayogaH
- समवकारः
  samavakaaraH
- वीथी
  viithii
- अङ्क
  aN^ka
- ईहामृगः
  ihaamRRigaH

uparuupaka #16
- नाटिका
  naaTikaa
- त्रोटकम्
  troTakam
- गोष्ठी
  goShThii
- सट्टकम्
  saTTakam
- नाट्यरासकम्
  naaTyaraasakam
- संलापकम्
  sa.nlaapakam
- श्रीगदितम्
  shriigaditam
- शिल्पकम्
  shilpakam
- विलासिका
  vilaasikaa
- दुर्मल्लिका
  durmallikaa
- प्रकरणी
  prakaraNii
- हल्लीश
  halliisha
- भाणिक
  bhaaNika
- प्रस्थान
  prasthaana
- उल्लप्य
  ullapya
- काव्य
  kaavya
- प्रेङ्क्षणम्
  preN^kshaNam
- रासकम्
  raasakam

#15, #16. Any composition that can be performed on a stage is categorised either as रूपक (ruupaka) or उपरूपक (uparuupaka). Each is again sub-categorised into a specific type of composition based on the contents, plot, number of actors, type of actors, emotions expressed etc.

108 Upanishats - १०८ उपनिषत् (Listed in मुक्तिकोपनिषत् / muktikopaniShat)
उपनिषत् upaniShat	वेद veda	उपनिषत् upaniShat	वेद veda	उपनिषत् upaniShat	वेद veda
ईशावास्य iishaavaasya	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	केन kena	साम saama	कथा kathaa	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
प्रश्न prashna	अथर्व atharva	मुण्डक muNDaka	अथर्व atharva	माण्डुक्य maaNDukya	अथर्व atharva
तैत्तरीय taittariiya	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	ऐतरेय aitareya	ऋक् RRik	छान्दोग्य chhandogya	साम saama
बृहदारण्यक bRRihadaaraNyaka	यजुर् yajur	ब्रह्म brahma	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	कैवल्य kaivalya	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
जाविल jaavila	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	श्वेताश्वतर shvetashvatara	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	हंस ha.nsa	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)
आरुणेय aaruNeya	साम saama	गर्भ garbha	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	नारायण naaraayaNa	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
परमहंस paramaha.nsa	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	अमॄत-विन्दु amRRita-vindu	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	अमृत-नाद amRRita-naada	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
अथर्व-शिर atharva-shira	अथर्व atharva	अथर्व-शिख atharva-shikha	अथर्व atharva	बहृच bahRRicha	ऋक् RRik
मैत्रायणि maitraayaNi	साम saama	कौषीताकि kauShiitaaki	ऋक् RRik	बृहज्जावाल bRRihajjaavaala	अथर्व atharva
नृसिंहतापनी nRRisi.nhataapanii	अथर्व atharva	कालाग्निरुद्र kaalaagnirudra	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	मैत्रेयि maitreyi	साम saama
सुवाल suvaala	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	क्षुरिक kshurika	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	मान्त्रिक maantrika	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)
सर्व-सार sarva-saara	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	निरालम्ब niraalamba	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	शुक-रहस्य shuka-rahasya	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
वज्र-सूचि vajra-suuchi	साम saama	तेजो-विन्दु tejo-vindu	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	नाद-विन्दु naada-vindu	ऋक् RRik
ध्यान-विन्दु dhyaana-vindu	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	ब्रह्मविद्या brahmavidyaa	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	योगतत्त्व yogatattva	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
आत्मवोध aatmavodha	ऋक् RRik	परिव्रात parivraata	अथर्व atharva	त्रि-षिखि tri-Shikhi	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)
सीता siitaa	अथर्व atharva	योगचूडामणि yogachuuDaamaNi	साम saama	निर्वाण nirvaaNa	ऋक् RRik
मण्डलब्राह्मण maNDalabraahmaNa	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	दक्षिणमूर्ति dakshiNamuurti	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	शरभ sharabha	अथर्व atharva
स्कन्द skanda	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	महानारायण mahaanaaraayaNa	अथर्व atharva	अद्वयतारक advayataaraka	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)
रामरहस्य raamarahasya	अथर्व atharva	रामतापणी raamataapaNii	अथर्व atharva	वासुदेव vaasudeva	साम saama
मुद्गल mudgala	ऋक् RRik	शाण्डिल्य shaaNDilya	अथर्व atharva	पैंगल pai.ngala	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)
भिक्षुक bhikshuka	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	महत mahata	साम saama	शारीरक shaariiraka	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
योगशिखा yogashikhaa	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	तुरीयातीत turiiyaatiita	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	संन्यास sa.nnyaasa	साम saama
परमहंस-परिव्राजक paramaha.nsa-parivraajaka	अथर्व atharva	अक्षमालिक akshamaalika	ऋक् RRik	अव्यक्त avyakta	साम saama
एकाक्षर ekaakshara	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	अन्नपूर्ण annapuurNa	अथर्व atharva	सूर्य suurya	अथर्व atharva
अक्षि akshi	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	अध्यात्मा adhyaatmaa	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	कुण्डिक kuNDika	साम saama
सावित्रि saavitri	साम saama	आत्मा aatmaa	अथर्व atharva	पाशुपत paashupata	अथर्व atharva
परंब्रह्म para.nbrahma	अथर्व atharva	अवधूत avadhuuta	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	त्रिपुरातपनि tripuraatapani	अथर्व atharva
देवि devi	अथर्व atharva	त्रिपुर tripura	ऋक् RRik	कठरुद्र kaTharudra	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
भावन bhaavana	अथर्व atharva	रुद्र-हृदय rudra-hRRidaya	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	योग-कुण्डलिनि yoga-kuNDalini	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
भस्म bhasma	अथर्व atharva	रुद्राक्ष्य rudraakshya	साम saama	गणपति gaNapati	अथर्व atharva
दर्शन darshana	साम saama	तारसार taarasaara	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	महावाक्य mahaavaakya	अथर्व atharva
पञ्च-ब्रह्म paJNcha-brahma	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	प्राणाग्नि-होत्र praaNaagni-hotra	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	गोपाल-तपणि gopaala-tapaNi	अथर्व atharva
कृष्ण kRRiShNa	अथर्व atharva	याज्ञवल्क्य jaadnyavalkya	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	वराह varaaha	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)
शात्यायनि shaatyaayani	यजुर् (शुक्ल) yajur (shukla)	हयग्रीव hayagriiva	अथर्व atharva	दत्तात्रेय dattatreya	अथर्व atharva
गारुड gaaruDa	अथर्व atharva	कलि-सण्टारण kaali-saNTaaraNa	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	जाबाल jaabaala	साम saama
सौभाग्य saubhaagya	ऋक् RRik	सरस्वती-रहस्य sarasvatii-rahasya	यजुर् (कॄष्ण) yajur (kRRIShNa)	मुक्तिक muktika	यजुर् yajur