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Aranyakas are partly included in the Brahmanas themselves, but partly they are recognized as independent works. Aranyaka literature is rather small as compared to the Brahmanas. Whereas the Brahmanas deal with a huge bulk of sacrificial topics which represents ''Karma-Kanda'', the Aranyakas and Upanishads, on the other hand, chiefly deal with the philosophical and theosophical speculations which represent ''Jnana-Kanda''.

Aranyakas are partly included in the Brahmanas themselves, but partly they are recognized as independent works. Aranyaka literature is rather small as compared to the Brahmanas. Whereas the Brahmanas deal with a huge bulk of sacrificial topics which represents ''Karma-Kanda'', the Aranyakas and Upanishads, on the other hand, chiefly deal with the philosophical and theosophical speculations which represent ''Jnana-Kanda''.

Sayana has the definition आरन्यव्रतरुपम् ब्रह्मणम् || Aaranyavratarupam brahamanam. He in his introduction to his commentary on the Aitereya Brahmana writes  

Sayana has the definition आरन्यव्रतरुपम् ब्रह्मणम् || Aaranyavratarupam brahamanam. He in his introduction to his commentary on the Aitereya Brahmana writes <blockquote>ऐतरेयब्राह्मणेऽस्ति काण्डमारण्यकाभिधम् ।</blockquote><blockquote>अरण्य ऐव पाठ्यत्वादारण्यकमितीर्यते ॥ (5)</blockquote><blockquote>सत्रप्रकरणेऽनुक्तिररण्याध्ययनाय हि ।</blockquote><blockquote>महाव्रतस्य तस्यात्र हौत्र कर्म विविच्यते ॥ (6)</blockquote>Sayana in the Taittiriya Aranyaka explains-

 

ऐतरेयब्राह्मणेऽस्ति काण्डमारण्यकाभिधम् ।  

 

अरण्य ऐव पाठ्यत्वादारण्यकमितीर्यते ॥ (5)  

 

सत्रप्रकरणेऽनुक्तिररण्याध्ययनाय हि ।  

 

महाव्रतस्य तस्यात्र हौत्र कर्म विविच्यते ॥ (6)  

 

Sayana in the Taittiriya Aranyaka explains-

''अरण्यध्ययनद एतद् अरन्यकम् इतिर्यते || Aranyadhyayanad-etad –aranyakam-itiryate.''

''अरण्यध्ययनद एतद् अरन्यकम् इतिर्यते || Aranyadhyayanad-etad –aranyakam-itiryate.''

Alternately, the reason might be that these texts were propounded by the Rishis who resided in the forests and thought upon the secrets of the ''Yajnas''. Aranyakas describe the actions of life and also acquisition of knowledge. These works form the basis of the रहस्य || ''Rahasya'' (secrets) discussed in the Upanishads, therefore, another name of the Aranyakas was ‘''Rahasya''‘ as well. This name is mentioned in the Gopatha Brahmana (2.10, Purvabhaga) and Manusmriti (2.140) Pg No 280 of Ref 5).

Alternately, the reason might be that these texts were propounded by the Rishis who resided in the forests and thought upon the secrets of the ''Yajnas''. Aranyakas describe the actions of life and also acquisition of knowledge. These works form the basis of the रहस्य || ''Rahasya'' (secrets) discussed in the Upanishads, therefore, another name of the Aranyakas was ‘''Rahasya''‘ as well. This name is mentioned in the Gopatha Brahmana (2.10, Purvabhaga) and Manusmriti (2.140) Pg No 280 of Ref 5).

==  Dating of Aranyaka ==

==  '''Dating of Aranyaka''' ==

They are said to have formed at the end of the Vedic period.

'''They are said to have formed at the end of the Vedic period.'''

==  Contents ==

==  Contents ==