Discussion Draft

Basics of Veda Swaras

and Vedic Recital-05

Chandas

Version 0.0 March 12, 2016

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Contents
1 Veda Basics Chandas ...................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Introduction: .................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 The Main Seven Chandas: ............................................................................................ 3
1.2.1 PraNava Nyasa Reference: .................................................................................... 5
2 Gayatri Chandas ................................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Examples from Known Areas ........................................................................................ 7
2.2.1 Examples of Gayatri Mantra ................................................................................... 7
2.2.2 Examples of Gayatrees of Other Devata ................................................................ 8
2.3 Examples of Other Gayatris ........................................................................................ 10
3 Anushtup Chandas............................................................................................................ 13
3.1 Examples from known areas ....................................................................................... 13
3.1.1 Vishnusahasranamam .......................................................................................... 13
3.1.2 Lalita Sahasranamam ........................................................................................... 14
3.1.3 Rudram ................................................................................................................. 16
3.1.4 Purusha Suktam ................................................................................................... 17
3.1.5 Recital of Anushtup Chandas: .............................................................................. 17
3.2 Observations ............................................................................................................... 18

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1 Veda Basics Chandas

1.1 Introduction:

Chanda ( NlS:) refers to how the poetry or verse is constructed in terms of certain well

defined rules.The English reference word is meter. A Chandas (Chanda:) has a rule of how
many aksharas or there in a Chandas and how it is distributed into distinct parts
/legs/Paadams. A person conversant with Tamil Grammar would know the specific area of
Yappilakkanam (the grammar of poetry). Chandas represents a similar grammatical
construction of poetry in Sanskrit. Chandas is one of the six main parts (angas) of Veda.
There are a number of Chandas used in poetry and Vedas.

1.2 The Main Seven Chandas:

The Main Seven Chandas used in Sanskrit Poetry/Vedas are:

1. Gayatri: This Chandas has 24 Letters/Aksharas in each stanza/mantra

divided into 3 Paadas (parts/legs) of 8 Letters/Aksharas.

2. Ushnik : This Chandas has 28 Letters/Aksharas in each stanza/mantra

divided into 4 Paadas of 7 Letters/Aksharas

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3. Anustup: This Chandas has 32 Letters/Aksharas in each stanza/ mantra

divided into 4 Paadas of 8 Letters/Aksharas. Most of the Slokas in
typical classical Sanskrit uses this Chandas, most often recited being
Vishnu Sahasranamam and Lalitha Sahasranamam.

4. Brihati : This Chandas has 36 Letters/Aksharasin each stanzas or mantra

divided into four 4 Paadas (8 + 8 + 12 + 8) Letters/Aksharas.

5. Pankti : This Chandas has 40 Letters/Aksharas in each stanza divided into

4 Paadas of 10 Letters each (sometimes 5 Padas of 8 letters each)

6. Tristup: This Chandas has 44 Letters/Aksharas in each stanza divided into

4 Paadas of 11 Letters/Aksharas.

7. Jagati: This Chandas has 48 Letters/Aksharas in each stanza divided into

4 Paadas of 12 Letters/Aksharas.

Each of these Chandas has specific rules for how the akshara/letter patterns are
formed. We limit our discussions to basic understanding of Gayatri and Anushtup
Chandas only as these are often used. As our team studies more about other
Chandas and right examples are found in the common area/subjects of Vedic
recital in Krishna Yajur Veda, a discussion note will be prepared for the mutual
benefit of Veda learners.

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1.2.1 PraNava Nyasa Reference:

During Sandya vandanam, we pray/remember/thank main seven Chandas during

PraNavanyasa as follows:

mhulrx
mhuxr GwU o, Su arcNlS: , mUqiq Sui ||
pUS xmi urilq - A- pa-Mix-ux-aiq- Mzrm-
AUx Gwr: ||
ar-EwhM-Alm- oWi- m- im- eairz-NlSqx ||
Aal-ur-A-uax- uh- ClS- u Su- Sui ||

:
3, 3 32: ,
3 ||
43 - - 4--
-3- - : ||
3---3- - -
- ||

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3---3- - 3-
3- 3 ||

eYpdsJ
eYps Eryk gx, bpz MxjZyP: ,
ekixx bpZx ||
hkxby se pxtZzdxI - AZy- hM-K-psyr-
MZi- Kxqe-AOMyks Erj: ||
MxjZz-DryK-Adre-gtZz- eZz- Zre-
RMZq-QxIsy ||
Ay-pxj-Ak-pxMzs- pkY- C- pyq
bpx- bpZx ||

The main principle that we touch our head indicating remember/thank the
rishi who gave the mantra, touch the area above the mouth to remember
that the chandas be in your mouth(meaning proper recital) and touch the
heart, the Devata(s) who is/are worshipped be always in your heart.
Nyasam is the practice to concentrate your main and bring in the spiritual
forces you are worshipping into your Self.

Reader may also note that in the Eleventh Chapter of Chamakam reference to gift of verse is
made from Chaturvigmsatischa me to Ashtachatvaarigmscha me indicating these seven
Chandas. (24,28,32,36,40,44,48)

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2 Gayatri Chandas
2.1 Introduction
Gayatri Chandas has been very often used in composing Gayatris for various Devathas.
The Chandas seems to get its name from the Gayatri Mantra which follows Gayatri Chandas.
The normal Gayatri Chandas in its original form has 24 letters of 3 Paadams of 8 letters each.
The normal recital shall be made as 2+1 Paadams and many books mark the separator
accordingly. Some schools insist on recital by each Paadam. That is each Ruk consists of
eight letters and there must be distinct pause between Paadams.

There are many variants of Gayatri Chandas. They are generally referred to as NiSrut Gayatri
Chandas. The meaning of the word NiSrut stands for untie or loosen. But scholars interpret it
as modified Gayatris. Letters may vary from the standard Gayatri Chandas, example 22
letters, 25 letters and 26 letters. Then the method of recital is also defined by the Composing
Rishi/Saint/Poet.
First we shall see some examples of Gayatri Chandas.

2.2 Examples from Known Areas

2.2.1 Examples of Gayatri Mantra

A i jx u i-u U hr | (Paadam 1)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

p a S u xr k q W | (Paadam 2)

k r r l m c S ri || (Paadam 3)

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2 | (Paadam 1)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

4 3 3 4 | (Paadam 2)

4 : 3 || (Paadam 3)

HxI Z as py Z p k YI | (Paadam 1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
h Mx b p s cz i ty | (Paadam 2)

cy jx jx dJ e Px b jxZ || (Paadam 3)

2.2.2 Examples of Gayatrees of Other Devata

i im w r u W - u i hQ r k q W |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

i S li m c S ri ||
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
3 4 |

3 : 3 ||

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Z Ze k rx j py bi t
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P K Z x j cz i ty |
Z x b yJ e Px b jxZ ||

iimwr uW qWSur kqW | i S mcSri ||

lUrhr uW uxSur kqW | i uwh mcSri ||

3 3 4 |

3: 3 ||

3 3 4 |

: 3 ||

ZZekrxj pybit itxbpxj czity |

Zx kbJ ePxbjxZ ||
dxkxjYxj pybit pxsbpxj czity |
Zx pyrJ ePxbjxZ ||

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Now please check the other two Gayatris of Rudra and Vishnu. They follow the same form
and pattern. Many a times the swaram acquisition shall be very similar.

2.3 Examples of Other Gayatris

u e l Z r u W i h-S r k q W |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

i l U x W m c S ri ||
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Note: Total letters 26 ; third paadam has 10 to aaccomodate the name of the Devata.

2 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

3 4 |

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

: 3 ||

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Note: Total letters 26 ; third paadam has 10 to aaccomodate the name of the Devata.

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p R d Lx j py bi t
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Zz Y b rx j cz i ty |
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Z x dx k sy tJ e Px b jxZ ||
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Note: Total letters 26 ; third paadam has 10 to aaccomodate the name of the Devata.

p xM U r u W q W S i M U r k q W |

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

i A S ir m c S ri ||

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Note: Total letters 26 ; First and Second paadams together has 17 letters (instead of 16)
and the third paadam has one more letter. (9 instead of 8)

4 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

33 4 |
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

3 : 3 ||
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Note: Total letters 26 ; First and Second paadams together has 17 letters (instead of 16)
and the third paadam has one more letter. (9 instead of 8)

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hx s kx j py bi t
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

i t Zy K kx j cz i ty |
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Z x B by ZJ e Px b jxZ ||
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Note: Total letters 26 ; First and Second paadams together has 17 letters (instead of 16)
and the third paadam has one more letter. (9 instead of 8)

It is important to note that Veda mantras are more like poetry and the defined rules of grammar
may not be always followed. Vedas are said to be older than the times scholars see the
definition/emergence of modern Sanskrit grammar and related rules.
The Gayatris with different aksharas other than 24 letters have different names.
The rishi who composed the mantra has a definite way to express the meaning.
Then they also teach their students as to how the verse shall be recited.

In modern times, we see many variants of Gayatri for various types of Deities,
Sidda Purushas and also Gurus. The level of acceptance is different amongst Vedic Schools.

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3 Anushtup Chandas

3.1 Examples from known areas

3.1.1 Vishnusahasranamam

uwh xWxlq xi - zsM 1

u q u whU-u w OM U (Paadam 1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

p i p ur p u im m | (Paadam 2) the Ruk Ends.

p i Mi p i p u (Paadam 3)

p i iq p i p u l || (Paadam 4)
After 32 letters, end of the Chandas is indicated by ||

- 1

-
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (Paadam 1)
4 4 4 : | (Paadam 2)

4 4 3 4 (Paadam 3)

4 4 4 : || (Paadam 4)
After 32 letters, end of the Chandas is indicated by ||

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pyr stsdxi sxZ - qxK 1

py qI py rk - p r UKx kx (Paadam 1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
h Z h p h p Ze eJ | (Paadam 2)

h Z KZ h Z hb hx px (Paadam 3)

h Zx x h Z hx p dJ || (Paadam 4)
After 32 letters, end of the Chandas is indicated by ||

3.1.2 Lalita Sahasranamam

ssi xWxlq xi - zsM 118

A iq u q W u (Paadam 1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

u M q x u i | (Paadam 2)
w Q z U u (Paadam 3)
Z O M q M O M || (Paadam 4)
After 32 letters, end of the Chandas is indicated by ||

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- 118

3 3 (Paadam 1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

3 | (Paadam 2)
3 3 (Paadam 3)

2 || (Paadam 4)

After 32 letters, end of the Chandas is indicated by ||

mmyZx stsdxi sxZ - qxK 118

B py bx i tx py bx (Paadam 1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

qz py bx Kx i s py Zx | (Paadam 2)

qz rx W qx kz py bx (Paadam 3)

Zy L Ux Kx i Kx Uy Kx || (Paadam 4)
After 32 letters, end of the Chandas is indicated by ||

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3.1.3 Rudram

l q xi S q lr u (P1) E i i C w u l q | (P2)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

l q xi A xi k lu l (P3) o W pr q i i l q|| (P4)

3 (P1)
: | (P2)
4 (P3)

3 4 : || (P4)

d i s k b i d p (P1)
D Zx Z C r p d iJ | (P2)
d i s A s c d d (P3)

gx t hx i Z Z d iJ | (P4)

Note: P1, P2, P3, P4 indicate the number of the Paadam.

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3.1.4 Purusha Suktam

x W x z w m w | (P1) x W x x W x mi | (P2)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

x p q u i u iu | (P3) A ir i - z s | (P4)
: | (P1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

| (P2)

4 |(P3)
2- 33 ||(P4)

s t s qz rx e k rJ | (P1)
s t sx J s t s exZ | (P2)

s h iyI py q Zx p Zx | (P3)

A Z Zy r qx OM mI || (P4)

3.1.5 Recital of Anushtup Chandas:

The Veda Gurus/Scholars recommend that the rule to recite the Anushtup Chandas is to
evenly recite the four parts of the Chandas clearly with a pause between one Paadam and the
following Paadam. It should not be long to create a break.
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3.2 Observations
1. When we get into the Second Anuvaham of Rudram, starting with Namo
HiranyabAgaVe, each of the lines do not form a specific Chandas; it seems the total
recital of one Anuvaaham or a set of Anuvaaham completes the Chandas.
2. Similarly, in Purusha Suktam , the flow of the mantra starting with the para
VedAhamEdam Purusham mahAntam changes in terms of the number of Aksharas
per Padam.

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