Sunday, October 10, 2010

Anushtup Chandaha -- Meaning?

We always read "anushtup chandaha" in the beginning of Sanskrit hymns. What does it mean?

By specifying this in the beginning, it is made clear how to read the given line. It gives a hint to the reader/chanter where or which word to stress more and where to not stress more while reading. This is way to minimize error in reading and to improve the effectiveness of the text which is being read.

  • It actually means eight syllables in a quarter. 
  • There are several metres defined in Sanskrit texts. For ex: 
    • Metres with 4 syllables in a quarter are called "pratishta".
    • Metres with 5 syllables in a quarter are called "supratishta".
    • Metres with 6 syllables in a quarter are called "gayathri".
    • Metres with 7 syllables in a quarter are called "ushnik".
    • Metres with 8 syllables in a quarter are called "anushtup".
    • Metres with 9 syllables in a quarter are called "vruhathi".
Let's take a simple example to understand the usage of this metric. Consider the following mantra:

vakratunda mahakaaya suryakoti samaprabah:

nirvighnam kuru me deva sarva karyeshu sarvada

Applying "Anushtup" Metre or Metres with 8 syllables in a quarter, we can read the above mantra as:

| vak | ra | tun | da | ma | ha | ka | ya| (8)
  | sur| ya | ko | ti | sa | ma | pra| bha| (8)
  |nir | vigh | nam | ku | ru | me | de | va (8)
  |sar | va | kar | ye | shu| sar| va | da | (8)

23 comments:

  1. great to know about anustop chanda

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  2. thanks for the information , I am delighted to know this .

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  3. Probably in all languages, originated from Sanskrit this type of chand/ ,meters are available.

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  4. Thanks for this valuable information. So now I just want to know, like anushtu chandaha how many chandahas in Sanskrit languahe.??

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    1. In Rigveda...anushtup,gayatri,trishtubh and jagati

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  5. Thanks for this valuable information. So now I just want to know, like anushtu chandaha how many chandahas in Sanskrit languahe.??

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  6. USHNIK : correct pronunciation for Maha Kali Maha Mantra ? ?

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  7. Can't thank you enough for posting this with an example.

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  8. Excellent this has reinforced the basic concepts of syllables that i learnt through another blog. Thanks a lot sir

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  9. Grt to know the rhythims (taal) were defined even to chant without singing. Ours grt civilisation and culture needs to be protected

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  10. Grt to know the rhythims (taal) were defined even to chant without singing. Ours grt civilisation and culture needs to be protected

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  11. Beautiful explanation which I was searching for so long.
    Pls can you give examples for the other metres also?

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  12. Is there any idea about Pragati Chanda ?how to recite mantra in this chanda ?Baglamukhi mantra should recite in pragati chanda as I read.please sent me any link if anybody know about Pragati chhanda.

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  13. see the indic dharma sanskrit strotams here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6a0bwn4t_0&t=3s like share ans subscribe.

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  14. Hi my name is Anustup and I am glad to understand the meaning of my name using an example as famous as vakratunda mahakaya.

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  15. Very nicely explained hats off

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