Chandas

One of the six Vedangas. These were the
auxiliary branches of knowledge intended
to facilitate the use of the Vedas, the
oldest Hindu religious texts. Chandas
was concerned with the study of metrical forms and verse, which were central
to the composition of the Vedas. One
indication of the importance of meter is
that in many sources (such as in Panini’s
grammar, the Ashtadhyayi) the word
chandas is used to designate the Vedas
themselves. Aside from chandas, the
other Vedangas are shiksha (correct pronunciation), vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar), kalpa (ritual instructions),
nirukta (etymology), and jyotisha (auspicious times for sacrifices).