Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)

The Brahmanas (Sanskrit: ब्राह्मणम्, Brāhmaṇa) are a collection of ancient texts with commentaries on the mantras of the four Vedas. They are attached to each Veda and contain the explanation for the difficult meanings and thus the knowledge of Veda Samhitas is revealed.

परिचय || Introduction

The Vedas have been divided into four styles of texts – the Samhitas, the Aranyakas, the Brahmanas and the Upanishads. The Samhitas are sometimes identified as कर्म खण्ड || karma-kanda (action/ritual-related section), while the Upanishads are identified as ज्ञान खण्ड || jnana-kanda (knowledge/spirituality-related section). The Aranyakas and Brahmanas are variously classified, sometimes as the ceremonial karma-kanda, other times (or parts of them) as the jnana-kanda.

Another opinion states: "The Samhitas and the Brahmanas form the Karma-Kanda segment of the Vedas. They are apparently concerned with the ceremonial rites and rituals. The Aranyakas and the Upanishads form the Jnana-Kanda segment of the Vedas. They explicitly focus on the philosophy and spiritualism.

Another learned author says: These are four different modes of expressing the same truths, each as a cross check against others so that misrepresentations are avoided, a method used and valid even today.

Etymology

The word [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.
• आपस्तम्ब || Apastamba defines Brahmanas as ‘कर्मचोदना ब्राह्मणानि || Karmacodana Brahmanani’ meaning Brahmanas are injunctions for the performance of sacrificial rites (Apasthamba Shrau. Sut. 34 and 35).
• Jaimini Purvameemamsa darshana says शेषे ब्राह्मण शब्दः || sheshe brahmana shabdah ("what is not a mantra the rest of it is brahmana") (2.1.33)
• Sayanaacharya has said in the introduction of his commentary on the Rigveda:

"Which in tradition is not a hymn or a Mantra is a Brahmana and which is not Brahmana is a Mantra".

The term 'Brahmana' has been variously interpreted by the scholars. It comes from the word ब्रह्मन् || Brahman which means ब्रह्म वै मन्त्रः || "Brahma Vai Mantrah"(both the Veda and the Mantra). Thus the word Brahmana means 'that which relates to Brahman or the Veda'. It is derived from the root बृः || brih 'to grow', 'to expand'.

In other words, the name 'Brahmana' means the explanation of a ritual by a learned priest. Later this word came to mean a collection of such explanations by the priest on the science of sacrifice. The Brahmanas are thus the ritual text-books on the details of sacrifice or Yajna.

Brahmanas lack a homogeneous structure across the different Vedas, with some containing chapters that constitute Aranyakas or 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.

Dating of Brahmanas

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. 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).

Erdosy suggests that the later Brahmanas were composed during a period of urbanisation and considerable social change. This period also saw significant developments in mathematics, geometry, biology and grammar.

Contents

According to Apasthamba , these texts deal with the following six topics: Vidhi Arthavada , Ninda, Prashansha , Purakalpa and Parakriti.

1. विधि || Vidhi means injunctions for the performance of particular rites.
2. अर्थवाद || Arthavada comprises the numerous explanatory remarks on the meaning of Mantras and particular rites.
3. निन्दा || Ninda or censure consists in criticism and, refutation of the opponents' views.
4. स्थुति || Sthuti or प्रशन्सा || Prashansha means eulogy, recommendation.
5. पुराकल्प || Puraakalpa refers to the performance of sacrificial rites in former times.
6. पराकृति || Parakriti means the achievements of others.

The main subject of the Brahmanas is injunction (Vidhi), all other topics being subservient to it. Sayana states that performance of vedic activities is inspired by vidhi and arthavaada only:

द्विविधम् ब्राह्मनाम् विधिहि अनुवादस्च || "Dvividham braahmanam vidhihi anuvaadascha" (Rig bhashya bhu 9).

Thus, they may be classified differently. Shabara, in his commentary, has summed up their subjects into ten following heads:

1. हेतु || Hetu - reasons
2. निर्वचन || Nirvacana - etymology
3. निन्दा || Ninda - censure ,condemn
4. प्रशन्सा || Prashansha - eulogy, praise
5. संशय || Sanshaya - doubt,uncertainty
6. विधि || Vidhi - injunction,sanction
7. पराक्रिया || Parakriya - feats/deeds of others
8. पुरकल्प || Purakalpa - legendary background
9. व्यवधारण कल्पना || Vyavadharana- Kalpana - managerial application
10. उपमान || Upamana - illustration.

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.

Classification of Brahmanas

Each Brahmana is associated with one of the four Vedas, and within the tradition of that Veda with a particular shakha or school. Originally, there were numerous Brahmanas, of which only a few have survived to us. For each Samhita, there are corresponding Brahmanas which are listed here:

(A) Rigveda 

There are two available brahamanas associated with Rig veda.

1. ऐतरेय ब्राह्मण || Aitareya Brahmana : It consists of 40 अध्याय || adhyayas (lessons, chapters), dealing with Soma sacrifice, and in particular the fire sacrifice ritual.
2. कौषितकी / सङ्खयन ब्राह्मण || Kaushitaki / Sankhayana Brahmana : It consists of 30 chapters, the first six of which are dedicated to food sacrifice, and the remaining to Soma sacrifice in a manner matching the Aitareya Brahmana.

Earlier Rig samhita was supposed to have 21 shakas and each shaka had an associated brahmana. Four of the Rig samhita brahmanas namely Paingi, Bahvrucha, Aashvalayana, Gaalava brahmanas are lost in time. Some say that बहुव्रुच ब्राह्मण || Bahvrucha brahmana is the same as Aitareya brahmana.

(B) Yajus Samhita

Brahmanas of Yajur veda includes two important shakas.

1. Shukla-yajurveda : (1) Maadhyandina Shatapatha Brahmana and (2) Kanva Shatapatha Brahmana are available.
2. Krishna-Yajurveda : (1) Taittiriya Brahmana is available.

The Satapatha 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 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.

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.

(D) Samaveda

1. जैमिनीय ब्राह्मण || Jaimineeya Brahmana or Talavakaara is the principal Brahmana of the Jaiminiya shakha, divided into three खण्ड || kandas (sections). One of the oldest Brahmanas, older than Tandya Mahabrahmana, but only fragments of manuscript have survived.
2. तानद्य || Taandya (Proudha or Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa) is the principal Brahmana of both the Kauthuma and Ranayaniya shakhas. This is one of the oldest Brahmanas and includes twenty five books. It is notable for its important ancient legends and Vratyastomas.
3. छान्दोग्य || Chandogya (Mantra) Brahmana are the three primarily available brahmanas. Chandogya Brahmana is divided into ten प्रपथक || prapathakas (chapters). Its first two prapathakas (chapters) form the Mantra Brahmana and each of them is divided into eight khandas (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

Four Saamaveda brahmanas that have been lost in time include Bhaallavi, Kaala, Rauruki, and Shaatyayana brahmanas.

(E) Atharvaveda 

(1) Gopatha Bramana is the only available brahmana. Names of other brahmanas are not available for this Veda samhita.

Apart from these many other brahmanas are mentioned in important books such as Nirukta and in Bhashya books of Patanjali, Sayana among others.

सम्वाद || Discussion

Are brahmanas vedas is a question that has been around for many centuries.

References

1. A. C. Banerjea, Studies in the Brāhmaṇas, Motilal Banarsidass (1963)
2. E. R. Sreekrishna Sarma, Kauṣītaki-Brāhmaṇa, Wiesbaden (1968, comm. 1976).
3. Dr.Shashi Tiwari (Retd.), Sanskrit Department, Delhi University at http://vedicheritage.gov.in/brahmanas/
4. Aarshavignana sarvasvamu, Dvitiya samputa, Page 4, 5
5. A Comprehensive History of Vedic Literature, Brahmana and Aranyaka works by Satya Shrava