Shakha

A shakha (Sanskrit IAST "IAST|śākhā", literally "branch" or "limb"), is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school. [V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 913, left column.] [Monier-Williams, A Sanskit-English Dictionary, p. 1062, right column.] An individual follower of a particular school or recension is called a "IAST|śākhin". [V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 913, left column] - the term is also used in Hindu philosophy to refer to an adherent of a particular orthodox system. [E.g., Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli; and Moore, Charles A. "A Source Book in Indian Philosophy". Princeton University Press; 1957. Princeton paperback 12th edition, 1989. ISBN 0-691-01958-4. p. 560. The example is given here of a text which refers to a dispute involving "śākhins" [followers] who do not accept a particular position.]

A related term "IAST|caraṇa", ("conduct of life" or "behavior") is also used to refer to such a Vedic school [V. S. Apte. "A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary". p. 429, middle column] : "although the words "IAST|caraṇa" and "IAST|śākhā" are sometimes used synonymously, yet "IAST|caraṇa" properly applies to the sect or collection of persons united in one school, and "IAST|śākhā" to the traditional text followed, as in the phrase "IAST|śākhām adhite", ("he recites a particular version of the Veda")". [Monier-Williams, A Sanskit-English Dictionary, p. 1062, right column.] The schools have different points of view, described as "difference of (Vedic) school" ("IAST|śākhābhedaḥ"). Each school would learn a specific Vedic IAST|Saṃhita (one of the "four Vedas" properly so-called), as well as its associated Brahmana, Aranyakas, Shrautasutras, Grhyasutras and Upanishads. [V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 913, left column.] [Monier-Williams, A Sanskit-English Dictionary, p. 1062, right column.]

In traditional Hindu society affiliation with a specific school is an important aspect of class identity. By the end of the Rig Vedic period the term IAST|Brāhmaṇa had come to be applied to all members of the priestly class, but there were subdivisions within this order based both on caste and on the shakha (branch) with which they were affiliated. [Basham, A. L. "The Wonder That Was India: A Survey of the Culture of the Indian Sub-Continent Before The Coming Of The Muslims". (Grove Press, Inc.: New York, 1954) p. 139.] A IAST|Brāhmaṇa who changed school would be called "a traitor to his "śākhā" ("IAST|śākhāraṇḍaḥ"). [V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 913, left column.]

ummary of schools

The traditional source of information on the shakhas of each Veda is the "IAST|Caraṇa-vyūha", of which two, mostly similar, versions exist: the 49th "IAST|pariśiṣṭa" of the Atharvaveda, ascribed to Shaunaka, and the 5th "IAST|pariśiṣṭa" of the Śukla (White) Yajurveda, ascribed to Kātyāyana. These have lists of the numbers of recensions that were believed to have once existed as well as those still extant at the time the works were compiled. Only a small number of recensions have survived. [For a brief summary of the shakhas as given in Shaunaka's "IAST|Caraṇa-vyūha" see: Monier-Williams, "A Sanskit-English Dictionary", p. 1062, right column.]

The schools are enumerated below, categorised according to the Veda each expounds.

Rig Veda

IAST|Śaunaka's "IAST|Caraṇa-vyuha" lists five shakhas for the Rig Veda, the IAST|Śākala, IAST|Bāṣkala, IAST|Aśvalāyana, IAST|Śaṅkhāyana, and IAST|Māṇḍukāyana, but that only one, the IAST|Śākala, is now extant.

The Rigveda is known in the Shakala-shakha only (with surviving Bashkala fragments), The Bashkala recension of the Rigveda has the Khilani which are not present in the Shakala text.

The "Shakala" has the Aitareya-Brahmana, The Bashkala has the Kausitaki-Brahmana.

ama Veda

IAST|Śaunaka's "IAST|Caraṇa-vyuha" lists twelve shakhas for the Sama Veda out of a thousand that are said to have once existed, but that of these only one or perhaps two are still extant.The two Samaveda recensions are the Jaiminiya and Kauthuma.

The Kauthuma shakha has the PB, SadvB, the Jaiminiya shakha has the Jaiminiya Brahmana.

Atharva Veda

Only one shakha of an original nine is now extant for the Atharvaveda.

The Shaunaka is the only shakha of the Atharvaveda for which both printed texts and an active oral tradition are known to still exist.

For the Atharvaveda, both the Shaunakiya and the Paippalada traditions contain textual corruption, and the original text of the Atharvaveda may only be approximated from comparison between the two.

The Paippalada tradition was discontinued, and its text is known only from manuscripts collected since the 19th century.No Brahmana is known for the Shaunaka shakha.The Paippalada is possibly associated with the Gopatha Brahmana.

Notes

References

* Michael Witzel, "Tracing the Vedic dialects" in "Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes" ed. Caillat, Paris, 1989, 97–265.