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Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्) (view source)

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* '''Apastamba''' ('''आपस्तम्बः)''' clearly defines Brahmanas as the injunctions for the performance of yajnas (sacrificial rites), they are another name for Vedas themselves.<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>मन्त्रब्राह्मणे यज्ञस्य प्रमाणम् ३० मन्त्रब्राह्मणयोर्वेदनामधेयम् ३१ कर्मचोदना ब्राह्मणानि ३२ (Apas. Shrau. Sutr. 24.30 to 32)<ref>Apastamba Shrauta Sutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%82_%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AA Prashna 24])</ref></blockquote>The texts containing the explanations of mantras from Rigveda and other three vedas referring to their appropriate place and way of usage in particular yajnas are called as Brahmanas. In the Samhitas, that meaning which is hidden (not easily understandable), is brought out with explanations and anecdotes in the Brahmanas.

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* '''Purvamimamsa''' (मीमांसासूत्राणि) says the parts that are not mantra form the brahmana.<ref name=":1" />

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* '''Purvamimamsa''' (मीमांसासूत्राणि) and '''Shabara bhashyam''' says the parts that are not mantra form the brahmana.<ref name=":1" />

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<blockquote>शेषे ब्राह्मण शब्दः || (2.1.33)<ref>Purvamimamsa ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF 2.1.33])</ref></blockquote>

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<blockquote>शेषे ब्राह्मण शब्दः || (Purv. Mima. 2.1.33)<ref>Purvamimamsa ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BF 2.1.33])</ref></blockquote>

* '''Sayanaacharya''' has said in the introduction of his commentary on the Rigveda<ref name=":2" /> <blockquote>''"Which in tradition is not a hymn or a Mantra is a Brahmana and which is not Brahmana is a Mantra".''</blockquote>

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''Brahmanas'' lack a homogeneous structure across the different Vedas, with some containing chapters that constitute [[Aranyaka|Aranyakas]] or [[Upanishad|Upanishads]] in their own right. Each Vedic ~~शाखा ||~~ ''[[shakha]]'' (school) has its own ''Brahmana''. Numerous ''Brahmana'' texts existed in ancient India, many of which have been lost. A total of 19 Brahmanas are extant at least in their entirety.

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''Brahmanas'' lack a homogeneous structure across the different Vedas, with some containing chapters that constitute [[Aranyaka|Aranyakas]] or [[Upanishad|Upanishads]] in their own right. Each Vedic ''[[shakha]]'' (शाखा school) has its own ''Brahmana''. Numerous ''Brahmana'' texts existed in ancient India, many of which have been lost. A total of 19 Brahmanas are extant at least in their entirety.

== विषयविभागः ॥ Vishayavibhaga ==

=== Topics ===

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According to Apasthamba , these texts deal with the following six topics: Vidhi, Arthavada, Ninda, Prashansha (same as Stuti), Purakalpa and Parakriti.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Sayanacharya states that performance of vedic activities is inspired by vidhi and arthavada only:<ref name=":1" />

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According to Apasthamba , these texts deal with the following six topics: Vidhi, Arthavada, Ninda, Prashansha (same as Stuti), Purakalpa and Parakriti.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Sayanacharya states that performance of vedic activities is inspired by vidhi and arthavada only:<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>द्विविधम् ब्राह्मणम् विधिः अर्थवादश्च ||</blockquote>Thus the four Stuti, Ninda, Purakalpa and Parakriti may be classified under the heading Arthavada. In Shabara Bhasyam under the heading ब्राह्मणनिर्वचनाधिकरणम् the different aspects of Brahmanas are explained.

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द्विविधम् ब्राह्मणम् विधिः अर्थवादश्च ||

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Thus the four Stuti, Ninda, Purakalpa and Parakriti may be classified under the heading Arthavada. In Shabara Bhasyam under the heading ब्राह्मणनिर्वचनाधिकरणम् the different aspects of Brahmanas are explained.

# ''विधिः || Vidhi'' means injunctions for the performance of particular rites. Example : विधिः, यजमानसम्मिता उदुम्बरी भवति। as given in Shabara Bhasyam. This is further divided under two headings :

#* Apavrittapravartaka (अपवृत्तप्रवर्तकम्) injunctions which promote the yajamana into conducting yajnas previously not undertaken by him.

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#* ''परकृतिः || Parakriti'' indicates the antagonistic injunctions followed by others. Example : परकृतिः माषानेव मह्यं पचतीति। <ref name=":1" /> <ref name=":3" />

#* ''पुराकल्पः || Puraakalpa'' refers to the performance of sacrificial rites in former times.<ref name=":2" /> According to another version, purakalpa refers to the historical record. Example : पुरा ब्राह्मणाअभैषुः इति पुराकल्पः ।<ref>Vachaspatyam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A7 See Brahmana])</ref> <ref name=":1" />

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Thus the main subject of the Brahmanas is injunction (Vidhi), all other topics being subservient to it.<ref name=":2" /> Shabara, in his commentary, has summed up their subjects into ten following heads:~~<ref name=":3" />~~<blockquote>हेतुर्निर्वचनं निन्दा प्रशंसा संशयो विधिः। परक्रिया पुराकल्पो व्यवधारणकल्पना।।</blockquote><blockquote>उपमानं दशैते तु विधयो ब्राह्मणस्य तु। एतद्वै सर्ववेदेषु नियतं विधिलक्षणम्।।</blockquote>

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Thus the main subject of the Brahmanas is injunction (Vidhi), all other topics being subservient to it.<ref name=":2" /> Shabara, in his commentary, has summed up their subjects into ten following heads:<blockquote>हेतुर्निर्वचनं निन्दा प्रशंसा संशयो विधिः। परक्रिया पुराकल्पो व्यवधारणकल्पना।। (Shab. Bhas. 2.1.33)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>उपमानं दशैते तु विधयो ब्राह्मणस्य तु। एतद्वै सर्ववेदेषु नियतं विधिलक्षणम्।।</blockquote>

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# ''~~हेतु~~ || Hetu'' - reasons

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# ''हेतुः || Hetu'' - reasons

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# ''~~निर्वचन~~ || Nirvacana'' - etymology

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# ''निर्वचनम् || Nirvacana'' - etymology

# ''निन्दा || Ninda'' - censure ,condemn

# ''प्रशंसा'' ''|| Prashansha'' - eulogy, praise

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# ''~~संशय~~ || Samshaya'' - doubt,uncertainty

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# ''संशयः || Samshaya'' - doubt,uncertainty

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# ''~~विधि~~ || Vidhi'' - injunction,sanction

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# ''विधिः || Vidhi'' - injunction,sanction

# ''परक्रिया || Parakriya'' - feats/deeds of others

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# ''~~पुरकल्प~~ || Purakalpa'' - legendary background

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# ''पुरकल्पः || Purakalpa'' - legendary background

# ''व्यवधारण कल्पना || Vyavadharana''- Kalpana - managerial application

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# ''~~उपमान~~ || Upamana'' - illustration.

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# ''उपमानम् || Upamana'' - illustration.

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''Yajna'' is not only sacrifice. In Brahmanas we find it as symbolic also. Here it often represents the knowledge of creation and thus describes the secrets of creation.<ref name=":2" />

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''Yajna'' is not only sacrifice. In Brahmanas we find it symbolic also. Here it often represents the knowledge of creation and thus describes the secrets of creation.<ref name=":2" />

=== Texual Design ===

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Like Veda samhita Brahmanas are not metrically composed, yet they are treated as mantras having padapatha even though they contain prose. This is more pronounced in Taittriya and Shatapatha Brahmanas of Yajurveda where mantras are seen. Even though Brahmana texts agree with the Samhitas in the context of performing Yajnas, the difference in language style and description of social conditions indicate that all Brahmana texts did not arise in a single point of time. Tattriya Brahmana is said to be the oldest of all Brahmanas due to the following reasons.<ref name=":4">Pt. Suryanarayana Sastry Malladi. (1982) ''Samskruta Vangmaya Charitra, Volume 1, Vaidika Vangmayam.'' Hyderabad : Andhra Sarasvata Parishat</ref>

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Like Veda samhita Brahmanas are not metrically composed, yet they are treated as mantras having padapatha even though they contain prose. This is more pronounced in Taittriya and Shatapatha Brahmanas of Yajurveda where mantras are seen. Even though Brahmana texts agree with the Samhitas in the context of performing Yajnas, the difference in language style and description of social conditions indicate that all Brahmana texts did not arise in a single point of time.

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Tattriya Brahmana is said to be the oldest of all Brahmanas due to the following reasons.<ref name=":4">Pt. Suryanarayana Sastry Malladi. (1982) ''Samskruta Vangmaya Charitra, Volume 1, Vaidika Vangmayam.'' Hyderabad : Andhra Sarasvata Parishat</ref>

* Extensive usage of vedic words (प्राचीनप्रयोगबाहुल्यम्)

* Profound prose compositions (प्रढगद्यशैली)

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=== Rig Samhita ===

There are two available brahamanas associated with Rig veda.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

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# '''ऐतरेय ब्राह्मण || Aitareya Brahmana''' : It consists of 8 Panchikas each containing 5 adhyayas thus a total of 40 ''adhyayas'' (अध्याय '''|''' lessons, chapters) are present. Some say that Bahvrucha brahmana (बहुव्रुच ब्राह्मण) is the same as Aitareya brahmana belonging to the Shakala shaka of Rig Samhita.<ref name=":1" /> In this brahmana the first 16 adhyayas deal with Soma sacrifice. Apart from this Agnistoma, Hotri krityas for yajnas like Jyotistoma, Atiratram, Gavamana and Agnihotra rituals are described.

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# '''ऐतरेय ब्राह्मण || Aitareya Brahmana''' : It consists of 8 Panchikas each containing 5 adhyayas thus a total of 40 ''adhyayas'' (अध्याय '''|''' lessons, chapters) are present. Some say that Bahvrucha brahmana (बहुव्रुच ब्राह्मण) is the same as Aitareya brahmana belonging to the Shakala shaka of Rig Samhita.<ref name=":1" /> In this brahmana the first 16 adhyayas deal with Soma sacrifice. Apart from this Agnistoma, Hotri krityas for yajnas like Jyotistoma, Atiratram, Gavamana and Agnihotra rituals are described.

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# '''कौषितकि / ~~सङ्खयन~~ ब्राह्मण || Kaushitaki / Sankhayana Brahmana''' : It consists of 30 adhyayas and belongs to the Shankhyayana and Bashkala shakas of Rig Samhita. The first six adhyayas are dedicated to food sacrifice and the remaining to Soma sacrifice in a manner matching the Aitareya Brahmana. However, differences are seen with respect to Agnyadhana, Agnihotra, Darsapurnamasa istis, Chaturmasya yajnas.

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# '''कौषितकि / साङ्खयन ब्राह्मण || Kaushitaki / Sankhayana Brahmana''' : It consists of 30 adhyayas and belongs to the Shankhyayana and Bashkala shakas of Rig Samhita. The first six adhyayas are dedicated to food sacrifice and the remaining to Soma sacrifice in a manner matching the Aitareya Brahmana. However, differences are seen with respect to Agnyadhana, Agnihotra, Darsapurnamasa istis, Chaturmasya yajnas.

Earlier Rig samhita was supposed to have 21 shakas and each shaka had an associated brahmana.

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# '''Shukla-Yajurveda''' : (1) Madhyandina Shatapatha Brahmana and (2) Kanva Shatapatha Brahmana are available.

# '''Krishna-Yajurveda''' : (1) Taittiriya Brahmana is available.

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The Shatapatha Brahmana consists of a hundred ~~अध्याय ||~~ ''adhyayas'' (chapters), and is the most cited and famous among the Brahmana texts. Much of the text is commentaries on Vedic rituals, such as the preparation of the fire altar. It also includes [[Upanayana]], a ceremony that marked the start of [[Brahmacharya]] (student) stage of life, as well as the Vedic era recitation practice of [[Svādhyāya|Svadhyaya]]. The text describes procedures for other important Hindu rituals such as a funeral ceremony. The old and famous [[Brhadaranyaka Upanishad]] form the closing chapters of Śatapatha Brahmana.

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The Shatapatha Brahmana consists of a hundred ''adhyayas'' (chapters), and is the most cited and famous among the Brahmana texts. Much of the text is commentaries on Vedic rituals, such as the preparation of the fire altar. It also includes [[Upanayana]], a ceremony that marked the start of [[Brahmacharya]] (student) stage of life, as well as the Vedic era recitation practice of [[Svādhyāya|Svadhyaya]]. The text describes procedures for other important Hindu rituals such as a funeral ceremony. The old and famous [[Brhadaranyaka Upanishad]] form the closing chapters of Śatapatha Brahmana.

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The Taittreya Brahmana consists of

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The Taittreya Brahmana consists of

Twelve Yajus samhita related brahmanas have been lost in time. They are Charaka, Svetasvatara, Kaathaka, or Shataadhyayana, Maitraayani, Jaabala, Khandikeya, Oukheya, Haridravika, Tumburu, Aavhvaraka, Kankati, Chaagaleya brahmanas.<ref name=":1" />

=== Sama Samhita ===

Brahmanas available in Sama samhita include <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

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# '''जैमिनीय ब्राह्मण || Jaiminiya Brahmana''' (तलवकार ।Talavakara) is the principal Brahmana of the Jaiminiya shakha, divided into three ~~खण्ड ||~~ ''kanda''s (sections). One of the oldest Brahmanas, older than Tandya Mahabrahmana, but only fragments of manuscript have survived.

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# '''जैमिनीय ब्राह्मण || Jaiminiya Brahmana''' (तलवकार ।Talavakara) is the principal Brahmana of the Jaiminiya shakha, divided into three ''kanda''s (sections). One of the oldest Brahmanas, older than Tandya Mahabrahmana, but only fragments of manuscript have survived.

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# '''तानद्य || Taandya''' (प्रौढ । Proudha or महाब्राह्मणम्। Mahabrahmana or पञ्चविंश । ~~{{IAST|Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa}}~~) is the principal Brahmana of both the Kauthuma (कौथुम) and Ranayaniya (राणायनीय) shakhas. This is one of the oldest, vast and most important of Brahmanas which includes twenty five books. It is notable for its important ancient legends and ''Vratyastomas and Gavayamana yajnas.''

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# '''तानद्य || Taandya''' (प्रौढ । Proudha or महाब्राह्मणम्। Mahabrahmana or पञ्चविंश । Panchavimsha Brahmana) is the principal Brahmana of both the Kauthuma (कौथुम) and Ranayaniya (राणायनीय) shakhas. This is one of the oldest, vast and most important of Brahmanas which includes twenty five books. It is notable for its important ancient legends and ''Vratyastomas and Gavayamana yajnas.''

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# '''छान्दोग्य || Chandogya''' (Mantra) Brahmana ~~are~~ the three primarily available brahmanas. Chandogya Brahmana is divided into ten ~~प्रपथक ||~~ ''prapathaka''s (chapters). Its first two ''prapathaka''s (chapters) form the Mantra Brahmana and each of them is divided into eight ''khanda''s (sections). Prapathakas 3–10 form the [[Chandogya Upanishad]].

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# '''छान्दोग्य || Chandogya''' (Mantra) Brahmana is one of the three primarily available brahmanas. Chandogya Brahmana is divided into ten ''prapathaka''s (प्रपाठकः। chapters). Its first two ''prapathaka''s (chapters) form the Mantra Brahmana and each of them is divided into eight ''khanda''s (sections). Prapathakas 3–10 form the [[Chandogya Upanishad]].

Four Upabrahmanas or Anubrahmanas for Samaveda include - (1) Saamavidhana Brahmana (2) Devatadhyaya or Daivata Brahmana (3) Vamsha Brahmana (4) Simhatopanishad brahmana<ref name=":1" />

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Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्) (view source)

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