Chhanda
Chhanda is one of the six Vedangas, dealing with the study of meter and prosody in Vedic poetry.
- Chhanda (Chandas) is the Vedanga of poetic meters — the science of rhythmic structure in Vedic verse.
- It is called the 'feet of the Vedas' — the rhythmic foundation on which Vedic chanting walks.
- The primary text is Pingala's Chandas Shastra — which contains the earliest known description of binary numbers.
- Vedic poetry uses 7 primary meters: Gayatri (24), Ushnik (28), Anushtubh (32), Brihati (36), Pankti (40), Trishtubh (44), Jagati (48 syllables).
- The famous Gayatri Mantra is named after the Gayatri meter (3 × 8 = 24 syllables).
- Pingala's analysis of meter combinations (Meru Prastara) is equivalent to Pascal's triangle and binary arithmetic.
- Classical Sanskrit poetry (Kavya) developed over 100 meters — all rooted in Chandas Shastra.
- Understanding Chandas is essential for correct Vedic recitation and Sanskrit literary composition.
Structural Organization
Example: Gayatri meter: 3 padas × 8 syllables = 24 syllables total
Key Topics
Key Figures
Key Texts & Works
Featured Shlokas
Chandas as the Feet of the Veda
Chandas Shastra (Pingala) / Vedic tradition · Chapter 1 · Verse 1
छन्दः पादौ तु वेदस्य — इति स्मृतम्। पादाभ्यां हि जगति गम्यते सर्वत्र। छन्दोज्ञानेन वेदमन्त्राः सुगृहीताः॥
chandaḥ pādau tu vedasya — iti smṛtam | pādābhyāṃ hi jagati gamyate sarvatra | chandojñānena vedamantrāḥ sugṛhītāḥ ||
Chandas (prosody) are the feet of the Veda — as stated in tradition. Just as one travels the world on feet, so the Veda moves forward on its metrical structure. Knowledge of Chandas enables one to properly grasp Vedic mantras — understanding their rhythm and structure.
Laghu and Guru — Light and Heavy Syllables
Chandas Shastra (Pingala) · Chapter 1 · Verse 2
ह्रस्वो लघुः, गुरु दीर्घः। संयोगपूर्वश्च गुरुः, विसर्गपूर्वश्च। पादान्ते गुरुर्भवेत् — इति नियमः॥
hrasvo laghuḥ, guru dīrghaḥ | saṃyogapūrvaś ca guruḥ, visargapūrvaś ca | pādānte gurur bhavet — iti niyamaḥ ||
A short vowel syllable is Laghu (light = 1 mātrā). A long vowel is Guru (heavy = 2 mātrās). Also Guru: a syllable followed by a conjunct consonant or a Visarga. At the end of a metrical quarter (Pāda), the syllable is always Guru. This binary distinction (L/G, or la/ga in Piṅgala's notation) is the foundation of all Sanskrit prosody.
Shloka — The Classical Anushtubh Form Defined
Chandas Shastra (Pingala) · Chapter 3 · Verse 1
श्लोके षष्ठं गुरु ज्ञेयं सर्वत्र लघु पञ्चमम्। द्विचतुष्पादयोर्ह्रस्वं सप्तमं दीर्घमन्ययोः॥
śloke ṣaṣṭhaṃ guru jñeyaṃ sarvatra laghu pañcamam | dvicatuṣpādayor hrasvaṃ saptamaṃ dīrgham anyayoḥ ||
In the Śloka (classical Anuṣṭubh): the sixth syllable in every pāda is always Guru (heavy); the fifth is always Laghu (light). In the even-numbered pādas (2nd and 4th), the seventh syllable is Laghu; in the odd pādas (1st and 3rd), it is Guru. This rule precisely defines the Śloka — the meter of the epics.
Mandakranta — The Slow-Moving Classical Meter
Chandas Shastra (Pingala) · Chapter 4 · Verse 5
मन्दाक्रान्तां सुखगमिनीं मेघदूतस्य धारणाम्। म-भ-न-त-त-ग-ग — एकादशाक्षरः पादः। कालिदासस्य प्रिया छन्दः॥
mandākrāntāṃ sukhagaminīṃ meghadūtasya dhāraṇām | ma-bha-na-ta-ta-ga-ga — ekādaśākṣaraḥ pādaḥ | kālidāsasya priyā chandaḥ ||
Mandākrāntā is a classical Sanskrit meter of 17 syllables per pāda (4×17 = 68 syllables per verse). Pattern: m-bha-n-ta-ta-g-g (– – –, – ∪ –, ∪ ∪ ∪, – – ∪, – – ∪, –, –). Kālidāsa's Meghadūta (Cloud Messenger) is entirely in this meter. The name means "slow-stepping" — the meter has a stately, lamenting quality.