Question

How many different Chandas are there in the Vedas?

Answer

A question What are the 21 meters known to Rig Vedic seers? (actually a Rigveda mantra quoted) triggered me to search for the list of 21 Chhandas. So, I have searched for Chhandasutras of Pingalacharya which is the oldest scripture on Chhanda, one of the six Vedangas. Original Sanskrit text is easily available on Vedic reserve of Maharshi University site, I searched for the translation but couldn't find any handy English or Hindi translation. I found one Hindi translation on Internet Archive, I've read it but its quality is low and some information is missing, however I got some interesting things from it. Still a thorough study was needed to summarize things.

Meanwhile I found a very useful research article on Chhanda (meter) of Rigveda from Shodhganga, a reservoir of Indian theses. Chapter 5 of thesis contains very useful information on Chhandas and I have prepared my this answer from it.

The referenced article is written based on 1. Chhanda Sutra of Pingalacharya and 2. Rigveda Pratisakya. Most of the things are cited from this two scriptures on every step. You can read Chapter 5 pdf if you want to study and learn; I'm writing an answer to the question:

The most popular 7 Chhandas, also mentioned in Shulka Yajurveda 23.33 are:

  1. Gayatri 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24 syllables
  2. Usnik   8 + 8 + 12 = 28 syllables
  3. Anustubh  8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 32 syllables
  4. Brhati   8 + 8 + 12 + 8 = 36 syllables
  5. Pankti  8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 40 syllables
  6. Tristubh 11 + 11 + 11 + 11= 44 syllables
  7. Jagati 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 = 48 syllables

There are five categories of these meter of 1. Prajapati, 2. Devas, 3. Asuras, 4. Rishis and 5. Brahmanas and syllables for them are as follows:

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These seven Chhandas have their sub-varieties owing to the differences in the quantity of syllables which are as follows:

Gayatri varieties

  • Padapankti Gayatri. 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 25
  • Bhurik Padapankti Gayatri 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 6 = 26
  • Virat / Padanicrt Gayatri. 7 + 7 + 7 = 21
  • Atinicrt Gdyatri. 7 + 7 + 6 = 20
  • Vardhamdna Gayatri. 6 + 7 + 8 = 21
  • Yavamadhya Gayatri 7 + 10 + 7 = 25
  • Dvipada Gayatri. 12 + 12 = 24
  • Ushiggarbha Gdyatri. 6 + 7 + 10 = 23

Usnik varieties

  • Pura Usnik 12+ 8 + 8
  • Kakubh Usnik. 8 + 12 + 8
  • Kakumnyarikusiranicrt Usnik 11 + 12 + 4 = 27
  • Pipilikanadhya Usnik. 11 + 6 + 11 = 27
  • Janusira Usnik.11 + 11 + 6 = 28
  • Anustubhgarbha Usnik. = 5 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 29

Anustubh varieties

  • Krti Anustubh. 12 + 12 + 8 = 32
  • Pipilikamadhyama – Anustubh. 12 + 8 + 12 = 32
  • Kavirat -Anustubh. 9 + 12 + 9 = 30
  • Nastarupa – Anustubh. = 9 + 10 + 13 = 32
  • Virat – Anustubh. 10 + 10 + 10 = 30 ( e.g. Rig 7.22.4) or 11 + 11 + 11 = 33 (e.g. Rig 3.25.4)
  • Mahapadaparikti – Anustubh. 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 6 = 31

Brhati varieties

  • Purastad Brhati = 12 + 8 + 8 + 8 =36 syllables,
  • Uparistat Brhati = 8 + 8 + 8 + 12 = 36 syllables,
  • Nyankusarini = 8 + 12 + 8 + 8 = 36 syllables,
  • Brhati urddhabrhati = 12 + 12 + 12 = 36 syllables,
  • Bistarabrhati = 8 + 10 + 10 + 8 = 36 syllables,
  • Pipilikamadhyamabrhati = 13 + 8 + 13 =34 syllables.
  • Bisamapadabrhati = 9 + 8 + 11 + 8 = 36 syllables.

Pankti varieties

  • Virat Pankti =10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 40 syllables.
  • Satobrhati Pankti= 12 + 8 + 1 2 + 8 = 40 syllables.
  • Viparita Pankti = 8 + 12 + 8+ 12 = 40 syllables.
  • Astara pankti = 8 + 8+ 12+12 = 40 syllables.
  • Prastara Pankti = 12 + 12 + 8 + 8 = 40 syllables.
  • Sanslara Pankti = 12 + 8 + 8 + 12 = 40 syllables.

Apart from these i) Aksara Pankti. ii) Alpasah Pankti. iii) Pada Pankti. iv) Jagati Pankti. v) Panchapada Pankti etc. vi) Pathya Pankti are also mentioned in Chhandasutras.

Tristubh varieties

  • Abhisarini Trisubh = 10 + 10 + 12 + 12 = 44 syllables
  • Viratsthana Tristubh (three conditions)
    1. 9 + 10 + 10 + 11 = 40 syllables,
    2. 9 + 9 + 10 + 11 = 39 syllables,
    3. 9 + 10 + 11 + 11 = 41 syllables.
  • Viratpurana Tristubh = 10+10+8+8+8 = 44 syllables.
  • Viratrupa Tristubh =11 + 11 + 1 1 + 8 = 41 syllables.
  • Jyotismati Tristubh = 12 + 12 + 12 + 8 = 44 syllables.
  • Mahabrhati Tristubh = 12 + 8 +8 + 8 + 8 = 44 syllables.
  • Yavamadhya Trisubh = 8 + 8 + 12 + 8 + 8 = 44 syllables.

Jagati varieties

  • Mahapankti Jagati= 8 + 8+ 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 48 syllables.
  • Mahasatobrhati Jagati = 8 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 10 + 9 = 48 syllables.

Vedic meters are divided into three class. Above discussed seven Chhandas are of 1st class. Chhandas of other two class are called Aatichhandas (long meters) wich are as follows:

The 2nd class contains seven metres:

  1. Atijagati - (52 Syllables)
  2. Sakvari - (52 syllables)
  3. Atisakvari-{6 syllables)
  4. Asti - (64 syllables)
  5. Atyasti - (68 syllables)
  6. Dhrti - (72 syllables)
  7. Adhrti - (76 syllables)

The 3rd class also consists of seven metres:

  1. Krti - (80 syllables)
  2. Prakrti - (84 syllables)
  3. Akrti - (88 syllables)
  4. Vikrti - (92 syllables)
  5. Samkrti - (96 syllables)
  6. Adhikrti - (100 syllables)
  7. Vtkrti- (104 syllables)

Q. about abhimany devthas like for gaythri mantra its gaythri chands, savitha devaatha rshi is vishwa mitra

Yes, reading 3rd chapter of Pingalacharya's Chhandasutras, I've prepared one table to relate Chhandas with their Devatas, Varna, Gautra and Svaras. Hope this would be useful.

enter image description here

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