Vedic Shakhas

A Vedic Shakha (Sanskrit śākhā, "branch" or "limb") is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school. An individual follower of a particular school or revision is called a Shakhin. The term is also used in Hindu philosophy to refer to an adherent of a particular orthodox system.

A related term, Charana ("conduct of life" or "behavior") is also used to refer to such a Vedic school: "although the words Charana and Shakha are sometimes used synonymously, yet Charana properly applies to the sect or collection of persons united in one school, and Shakha to the traditional text followed, as in the phrase Shakham Adithe ("he recites a particular version of the Veda").

In short, Shakha is the branch and Charana is the way of the followers of that branch.

Function of Shakhas

The four Vedas were transmitted in various Shakhas. Each school likely represented an ancient community of a particular area, or kingdom. Each school followed its own canon. Multiple recensions (revisions) are known for each of the Vedas.

There were Vedic schools that believed in polytheism in which numerous gods had different natural functions, henotheistic beliefs where only one god was worshipped but others were thought to exist, monotheistic beliefs in a single god, agnosticism, and monistic beliefs where "there is an absolute reality that goes beyond the gods and that includes or transcends everything that exists." Indra, Agni, and Yama were popular subjects of worship by polytheist organizations

Transmission of Shakhas

The schools have different points of view, described as Shakha Bedha ("difference of (Vedic) school"). Each school would learn a specific Vedic Samhita (one of the "four Vedas" properly so-called), as well as its associated Brahmana, Aranyakas, Shrauta Sutras, Griha Sutras and Upanishads.

In traditional Hindu society affiliation with a specific school is an important aspect of class identity. By the end of the Rig Vedic period the term Brahmana (Brahmin) had come to be applied to all members of the priestly class, but there were subdivisions within this order based both on Varna (class) and on the Shakha (branch) with which they were affiliated.

A Brahmana (Brahmin) who changed school would be called Shakharandah ("a traitor to his śākhā").

List of Shakhas by Vedas

I'm skipping Shrauta Sutras and Griha Sutras for now (except whenever I find it).
EDIT: Actually, a full list is available in Sutras.

Note that several (thousands) of Shakhas have gone missing over the years, and we have only been able to obtain a small list.

Rig Veda

Shaakala Shakha

Samhita: Shaakala Samhitha
Brahmana: Aitreya Samhita
Aranyaka: Aitreya Aranyaka
Upanishad: Aitreya Upanishad
Shrauta Sutra: Asvalayana Shrauta Sutra
Griha Sutra: Asvalayana Griha Sutra

Yajur Veda

The Yajurvedin Shakhas are divided in Shukla (White) and Krishna (Black) schools.

The White recensions have separate Brahmanas, while the Black ones have their (much earlier) Brahmanas interspersed between the Mantras.

Shukla (White)

Madhyandina Shakha

Samhita: Vajasneyi Samhita (Madhyandina) (VSM)
- Currently recited by all over North Indian Brahmins and by Deshastha Brahmins
Brahmana: Shatapatha Brahmana (Madhyandina) (SBM)
Aranyaka: Survives as Shatapatha XIV.1–8, with accents
Upanishad: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (SBM XIV.3–8 with accents), Ishavasya Upanishad (VSM 40)
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Kanva Shakha

Samhita: Vajasneyi Samhita (Kanva) (VSK)
Brahmana: Shatapatha Brahmana (Kanva) (SBK)
Aranyaka: Survives as book XVII of SBK
Upanishad: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (SBK with accents), Ishavasya Upanishad (VSK 40)
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Katyayana Shakha

Samhita:
Brahmana:
Aranyaka:
Upanishad:
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Krishna (Black)

Taittiriya Shakha

Samhita: Taittirīya Saṃhita
- Present all over South India and in Konkan
Brahmana: Taittiriya Brahmana and Vadhula Br. (part of Vadhula Srautrasutra)
Aranyaka: Taittiriya Aranyaka
Upanishad: Taittiriya Upanishad
Shrauta Sutra: The Shrauta Sutras of Apastamba (450–350 BCE), Bodhayana (500–200 BCE), and Vaikhanasa (300–100 BCE).
- All are attached to the Taittiriya Samhita
Griha Sutra:

Maitrayani Shakha

Samhita: Maitrayani Saṃhita
- Recited by few Brahmins in Nasik
Brahmana:
Aranyaka: Virtually same as the Upanishad
Upanishad: Maitrayaniya Upanishad
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Charaka-Kātha / Kātha Shakha

Samhita: Charaka-Kātha Saṃhita / Kāṭhaka saṃhitā
Brahmana: Śatādhyāya Brāhmaṇa (only exists in fragments)
Aranyaka: Kātha Aranyaka (almost the entire text from a solitary manuscript)
Upanishad: Kāthaka Upanishad, Kātha-Shiksha Upanishad
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Kapishthala Shakha

Samhita: Kapiṣṭhala-Kātha Saṃhita (fragmentary manuscript, a variant of Kāthaka Samhita, only first sections accented), edited (without accents) by Raghu Vira
Brahmana:
Aranyaka:
Upanishad:
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Sama Veda

Kauthuma Shakha

Samhita: Edited, Recited by all over North and in South India
Brahmana: Edited (8 Brahmanas in all), no accents
Aranyaka: None. The Samhita itself has the ‘Aranyaka’
Upanishad: Chandogya Upanishad
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Ranayaniya Shakha

Samhita: Manuscripts of Samhita exist. Recited by Gokarna, and Deshastha Brahmins
Brahmana: Same as Kauthuma with minor differences.
Aranyaka: None. The Samhita itself has the ‘Aranyaka’
Upanishad: Same as Kauthuma.
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Jaiminiya/Talavakara Shakha

Samhita: Samhita edited. Recited by Nambudiris and choliyal of Tamil nadu. Two distinct styles of Saman recitation, partially recorded and published
Brahmana: Brahmana published (without accents) – Jaiminiya Brahmana, Arsheya Brahmana
Aranyaka: Tamil Nadu version of Talavakara Aranyaka (=Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana) published
Upanishad: Kena Upanishad
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Shatyayana Shakha

Samhita:
Brahmana:
Aranyaka:
Upanishad:
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

Atharva Veda

Only one shakha of an original nine is now extant for the Atharvaveda. The nine Shakhas were Paippalada, Tauda, Mauda, Shaunakiya, Jajala, Jalada, Brahmavada, Devadarsa and Chaarana-Vaidya.

The Shaunaka is the only Shakha of the Atharvaveda for which both printed texts and an active oral tradition are known to still exist.

Shaunaka Shakha

Samhita: Atharva Veda Shaunaka Samhita
Brahmana: Fragmentary Gopatha Brahmana (extant and published), no accents
Aranyaka:
Upanishad: Mundaka Upanishad (?) published.
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra:

8 lost Shakhas

Paippalada Shakha

Samhita: Atharva Veda Paippalada Samhitha
Brahmana: Lost, similar to that of Gopatha Brahmana
Aranyaka:
Upanishad: Prashna Upanishad, Sharabha Upanishad etc. – all edited
Shrauta Sutra:
Griha Sutra: