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Consider a RV verse labeled M having m words, M = a1,a2,a3,…,am,
each ai being a distinct
word. Note two consecutive words ai
and ai+1 are always different from each other. The idea
of error correcting code-like vikratis
is given below. It has two boxes, the encoder and decoder. It
should be noted that both encoder operations and
decoder operations are carried out
mentally without using mechanical gadgets. We use these words
because of their familiarity in modern parlance.
For the given verse M, the encoder generates a verse
I having n words, n being much greater
than m. The words of I are those in M. The chanter recites I
unconsciously, introducing errors. The
output heard by a listener is, O = O1,…,On,
having n words, n being known. Thus, O # I.
(# - Not equal to)
With every M, a string I is generated ,
having the same words as in M; the length of I being 4m or more.
The rules for generating the verse I should be such that I can be
chanted with relative ease. The verse I is chanted by a
reciter. Typically, he or she
memorises all the encoded versions of
all the verses in one mandala or
chapter of Rig Veda. Hence errors are bound to creep in. The
version of I heard is called O, which
may have errors. Another expert in the same family, on hearing O,
acts as a (mental) decoder and generates the correct verse M,
under appropriate conditions.
There are eight
families of vikratis with
suggestive names like
maala (garland),
ratha (chariot),
danda (stick),
dvaja (flag). Each family has
several variants. We give below a variant of the garland or
maala family,
Krama-maala. |
