VidhÃÂna is a genre of texts dealing with the use of Vedic mantras outside of Vedic sacrifices to attain various ends.
Except for the Atharva Veda, there is a VidhÃÂna text for each Veda, namely the á¹Âg VidhÃÂna, the Yajur VidhÃÂna, and the SÃÂma VidhÃÂna. M. S. Bhat dates the composition of these texts to between 500 and 300 BCE, with the á¹Âg VidhÃÂna being the oldest. In addition to these three texts, chapters dedicated to the á¹Âg, SÃÂma, Yajur, and Atharva VidhÃÂna also appear in the Viá¹£á¹Âudharmottara PurÃÂá¹Âa (Khanda II, chapters 124âÂÂ127) and the Agni PurÃÂá¹Âa (chapters 259âÂÂ262); most of these are likely based on homonymous works that have not survived. The á¹Âg VidhÃÂna is also followed up by works with titles such as á¹ÂgvidhÃÂnakÃÂrikÃÂ, á¹ÂgvidhÃÂnasaá¹Âká¹£epa, and á¹Âgvidhi; these are likely late compendia.
The oldest of VidhÃÂna texts, á¹Âg VidhÃÂna, composed in mixed à Âloka and Triá¹£á¹Âubh metres, is attributed to à Âaunaka. The text, in the earlier, shorter recension, consists of four adhyÃÂyas, or chapters. A commentary on the text, entitled á¹ÂgvidhÃÂna-pada-pañcikÃÂ, by MÃÂtá¹Âsà «nu, is extant.
The SÃÂmavidhÃÂna-brÃÂhmaá¹Âa, or simply the SÃÂma VidhÃÂna, is, despite its name, not properly a BrÃÂhmaá¹Âa text, but belongs to the VidhÃÂna literature. It consists of three prapÃÂá¹Âhakas and was commented upon by SÃÂyaá¹Âa.
The à ÂuklayajurvidhÃÂnasà «tra is ascribed to KÃÂtyÃÂyana and consists of seven adhyÃÂyas in the best preserved recension of the text; an earlier edition of the text was designated as YajurvidhÃÂna-à Âikṣàand was included among the à Âikṣàtexts. A commentary entitled Yajurmañjarë was written on the text by MahÃÂrÃÂja Mahëbhuj, with the assistance of KÃÂlanÃÂtha-bhaá¹Âá¹Âa.