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The '''Brahmanas''' (Sanskrit: {{lang|sa|ब्राह्मणम्}}, ''Brāhmaṇa'') are a collection of ancient texts with commentaries on the mantras of the four [[Vedas]]. They are attached to each Veda and are composed to explain the difficult meaning and secret knowledge of the Vedic Samhitas.

The '''Brahmanas''' (Sanskrit: {{lang|sa|ब्राह्मणम्}}, ''Brāhmaṇa'') are a collection of ancient texts with commentaries on the mantras of the four [[Vedas]]. They are attached to each Veda and are composed to explain the difficult meaning and knowledge of the Vedic Samhitas.

== परिचय || Introduction ==

== परिचय || Introduction ==

The word {{lang|2=ब्राह्मणम्}}  Brahmana in neuter gender means Brahmana texts. One wonders why these literary compositions are given this name even though the authors of Brahmanas and their commentators have not offered any definition of this word.  

The word {{lang|2=ब्राह्मणम्}}  Brahmana in neuter gender means Brahmana texts. One wonders why these literary compositions are given this name even though the authors of Brahmanas and their commentators have not offered any definition of this word.  

* According to '''Shatapatha Braahmana''' the word "Brahma" means the samhita part of the four vedas (Shat. Brah. 7.1.1.5). The collection of mantras from these samhita parts of the four vedas are termed as Braahmanas.  

* According to '''Shatapatha Braahmana''' the word "Brahma" means the samhita part of the four vedas (Shat. Brah. 7.1.1.5). The collection of mantras from these samhita parts of the four vedas are termed as Braahmanas.  

* '''Apastamba''' defines Brahmanas as ‘कर्मचोदन ब्राह्मणानि Karmacodana Brahmanani’ meaning Brahmanas are injunctions for the performance of sacrificial rites(Apasthamba Shrau. Sut. 34 and 35).  

* '''Apastamba''' defines Brahmanas as ‘कर्मचोदन ब्राह्मणानि Karmacodana Brahmanani’ meaning Brahmanas are injunctions for the performance of sacrificial rites (Apasthamba Shrau. Sut. 34 and 35).  

* '''Jaimini Purvameemamsa darshana''' says "what is not a mantra the rest of it is brahmana शेषे ब्राह्मण शब्दः " (2.1.33)  

* '''Jaimini Purvameemamsa darshana''' says "what is not a mantra the rest of it is brahmana शेषे ब्राह्मण शब्दः " (2.1.33)  

* '''Sayanaacharya''' has said in the introduction of his commentary on the Rigveda:  

* '''Sayanaacharya''' has said in the introduction of his commentary on the Rigveda:  

== Dating of Brahmanas ==

== Dating of Brahmanas ==

The dating of the final codification of the ''Brahmanas'' and associated Vedic texts is controversial, which occurred after centuries of verbal transmission.<ref>Klaus Klostermaier (2007), A Survey of Hinduism, Third Edition, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791470824, page 47</ref> The oldest is dated to about 900 [[BCE]], while the youngest Brahmanas (such as the [[Shatapatha Brahmana]]), were complete by about 700 BCE.<ref name="ebri2">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/77126/Brahmana Brahmana] Encyclopædia Britannica (2013)</ref><ref name="mw2">[[Michael Witzel]], "Tracing the Vedic dialects" in ''Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. Caillat, Paris, 1989, 97–265.</ref><ref name="bcp2">Biswas et al (1989), Cosmic Perspectives, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521343541, pages 42-43</ref> According to [[Jan Gonda]], the final codification of the four Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and early Upanishads took place in pre-Buddhist times (ca. 600 BCE).<ref name="kklo2">Klaus Klostermaier (1994), A Survey of Hinduism, Second Edition, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791421093, page 67</ref>

The dating of the final codification of the ''Brahmanas'' and associated Vedic texts is controversial. The oldest is dated to about 900 [[BCE]], while the youngest Brahmanas (such as the [[Shatapatha Brahmana]]), were complete by about 700 BCE.<ref name="ebri2">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/77126/Brahmana Brahmana] Encyclopædia Britannica (2013)</ref><ref name="mw2">[[Michael Witzel]], "Tracing the Vedic dialects" in ''Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. Caillat, Paris, 1989, 97–265.</ref><ref name="bcp2">Biswas et al (1989), Cosmic Perspectives, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521343541, pages 42-43</ref> According to [[Jan Gonda]], the final codification of the four Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and early Upanishads took place in pre-Buddhist times (ca. 600 BCE).<ref name="kklo2">Klaus Klostermaier (1994), A Survey of Hinduism, Second Edition, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791421093, page 67</ref>

Erdosy suggests that the later Brahmanas were composed during a period of urbanisation and considerable social change.<ref>Erdosy, George, ed, ''The Indo-Aryans of Ancient South Asia: Language, Material Culture and Ethnicity'', New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1995</ref> This period also saw significant developments in mathematics, geometry, biology and grammar.<ref>Doniger, Wendy, ''The Hindus, An Alternative History'', Oxford University Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0-19-959334-7, pbk</ref>

Erdosy suggests that the later Brahmanas were composed during a period of urbanisation and considerable social change.<ref>Erdosy, George, ed, ''The Indo-Aryans of Ancient South Asia: Language, Material Culture and Ethnicity'', New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1995</ref> This period also saw significant developments in mathematics, geometry, biology and grammar.<ref>Doniger, Wendy, ''The Hindus, An Alternative History'', Oxford University Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0-19-959334-7, pbk</ref>

(C) Krishna-Yajurveda : (1) Taittiriya Brahmana

(C) Krishna-Yajurveda : (1) Taittiriya Brahmana

(D) Samaveda:<blockquote>(1) Tandya Brahmana, <br>

(D) Samaveda:<blockquote>(1) Tandya Brahmana, 

(2)Shadvinsha Brahmana,<br>

(2)Shadvinsha Brahmana,<br>

(3) Samavidhana Brahmana, <br>

(3) Samavidhana Brahmana, <br>

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ebene_1/fiindolo/gretil.htm#Brahm GRETIL etexts]

* [http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ebene_1/fiindolo/gretil.htm#Brahm GRETIL etexts]

[[Category:Brahmanas|*]]

[[Category:Brahmanas|*]]

[[Category:Hindu texts]]

[[Category:Hindu texts]]