INTRODUCTION

Vedanta is the science of the self. The most important thing in the entire world is the self.  Everything else is secondary; created for the consumption of the self. While all other sciences explore the external world, Vedanta deals with the very nature of this self. It is for this reason that it stands above all other sciences.

Like every other science, Vedanta also has a set of sub sciences. The study of these sub sciences is useful in the understanding of Vedanta, just as the study of Mathematics is useful for the understanding of Computer Science.
There are three main sub sciences, without whose knowledge, Vedanta is not fully comprehensible. They are Vyakarana, Nyaya or Tarka and Mimamsa. These three sub sciences along with Vedanta are collectively called as Tantra Chatushtaya or Shastra.

The study of these four is absolutely essential for a true spiritual aspirant. A poet poignantly expresses his concern over the lack of knowledge of these sciences during recent times. He says:

AmulAgranibaddhatarkajatilaM shabdaikajIvAturaM |

mImAmsAnayagamya shankaravaco hu~NkArabha~Ngapradam |

shAstraM tantracatuShTayAtmakamidaM niHsvapnatantrAntarAH |

vyAkhyAsyanti phaThanti hanta kimaho kimvA kalu durghaTam ||

There seems to be nothing impossible to the people of this age of Kali, as some people, who never ever dreamt of the 4 Tantras, study, comment and teach this fourfold Vedanta Shastra, which is overflowing with terse logical statements, having the theory of grammar as its life breath and which effortlessly rejects theories which quote extensively from Mimamsa.

The sweet juice of sugarcane cannot be enjoyed unless one picks out the sugarcane, fleeces the skin, crushes and chews with his strong teeth. Similarly, the sweet nectar of Vedanta cannot be enjoyed unless one uses his strong acumen to understand the grammar, master the logic and use the experience of the Mimamsa.

Therefore, for a greater depth and satisfaction in the knowledge of Vedanta, let us now study the three ancillary topics in the next three sections.