PREFACE

The dissertation entittled The Rigveda Pratisakhya : Its Phonetic and

Morphological Expositions deals with the phonetic and morphological structure
of the vedic text at large. The phonetic and morphological structure as reflected
in the Rigveda Pratisakhya, other Pratisakhyas, Siksa texts have been thoroughly
studied and taken into consideration in the dissertation.

In the brahmanic age the students used to collect the vedic mantras
directly from the mouth of their teachers and tried to remember them.
Subsequently wants increased and fro the sake of correct pronunciation of Vedic
mantras as well as for the proper knowledge of the rules of letters, accents,
quantity of sounds, euphonic combination, metres etc. the Pratisakhya texts
were composed. Pratisakhya are originated from the different branches or ^akhas
of the vedas. The Rigveda Pratisakhya is originated from the Sakala sakha of
Rigveda Samhita which deals with the phonetic and morphological structure of
vedic texts at large. The Rigveda Pratisakhya bears the evidence of phonetic
and morphological studies in ancient India. The research work occupies a; -
general introduction of Rigveda Pratisakhya as well as the technical rules of
euphonic combination, phonetics and metrical treatments of the Rigveda
Pratisakhya. Rather than a text the Rigveda Pratisakhya is an instruction. It
instructs how to pronounce the vedic mantras correctly. Among the other
PrStis'akhayas the Rigveda Pratisakhya has occupied a dignited position. Without
a proper knowledge of Rigveda Pratisakhya ths impossible to go deep into the
vast vedic text. To the development of phonetic and morphology of the Vedic
languages the contribution of Rigveda Pratisakhya is unparalleled. To form a
proper linguistic structure of Vedic Language the profound knowledge of
Rigveda Pratisakhya is essential. The present research work on Rigveda
Pratisakhya provides an immense wisdom of phonetic and morphology of Vedic
language. Not only the vedic language it helps to understand the classical
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languages too as the present work deals mainly with the treatment of phonemes
and grammar classical languages also.

The present work is divided into six chapters. The first chapter provides
an introduction to the present work. The second chapter deals with the samjna
paribhasa and samhita patala of Rigveda Pratisakhya the third chapter deals with
the sandhi patala of Rigveda Pratisakhya the fourth chapter deals with siksa
Patala of Rigveda Pratisakhya which consists of the classification and
enumeration of alphabetic sounds and their places of articulation. The fifth
chapter deals with the various vedic metres depicted in the Rigveda Pratisakhya.
The sixth chapter is the conclusion of the present works as well as the major
findings of the same.

From the view point of the subject-matter the work is divisible into two
groups-phonology and morphology. Besides the introduction and conclusion
i.e. the first and the sixth chapter, the second and fourth chapter are based on
phonetic value of Rigveda Pratisakhya while the third and fifth chapter deal
with the vedic morphology.

The Rigveda Pratisakhya has certain peculiar traits which distinguish it

from others. While the other Pratisakhya are deals with phonetics, grammar,
accents etc. the Rigveda Pratisakhya alongwith the above concerns also deals
with the metrical treatments of vedic literature which is rarely found in the text
of vedic literature. The research work contains many valuable traits which are
essential for a student who is chasing to know vedic literature. Without a proper
understanding of Rigveda Pratisakhya it is impossible to go deep into the vast
vedic texts, therefore a study of phonetic and morphological structure of the
Rigveda Pratisakhya is very essential.

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