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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 <blockquote>ऐतरेयब्राह्मणेऽस्ति काण्डमारण्यकाभिधम् । अरण्य ऐव पाठ्यत्वादारण्यकमितीर्यते ॥ (5)</blockquote><blockquote>सत्रप्रकरणेऽनुक्तिररण्याध्ययनाय हि । महाव्रतस्य तस्यात्र हौत्र कर्म विविच्यते ॥ (6)</blockquote>Sayana in the Taittiriya Aranyaka explains <ref name=":4">Upadhyaya, Baldev. (1958) ''[https://archive.org/details/VaidikSahityaBaldevUpadhyaya1958 Vaidik Sahitya]''. </ref><blockquote>अरण्याध्ययनादेतद् अारन्यकमितीर्यते । अरणंये तदधीयीतेत्येवं वाक्यं प्रचक्ष्यते ॥ (Tait. Aran. Bhas. 6)</blockquote>''Yajna'' and other rituals are prescribed only for those who live in homes and lead the life of house-holders. But it has to be understood that Vedic rituals are intended to confer not only material benefits but also mental purity by constant discipline. Having obtained purity, one must seek the solitude of forests for further concentration and meditation.   

Sayana has the definition आरन्यव्रतरुपम् ब्रह्मणम् || Aaranyavratarupam brahamanam. He in his introduction to his commentary on the Aitereya Brahmana writes <blockquote>ऐतरेयब्राह्मणेऽस्ति काण्डमारण्यकाभिधम् । अरण्य ऐव पाठ्यत्वादारण्यकमितीर्यते ॥ (5)</blockquote><blockquote>सत्रप्रकरणेऽनुक्तिररण्याध्ययनाय हि । महाव्रतस्य तस्यात्र हौत्र कर्म विविच्यते ॥ (6)</blockquote>Sayana in the Taittiriya Aranyaka explains <ref name=":4">Upadhyaya, Baldev. (1958) ''[https://archive.org/stream/VaidikSahityaBaldevUpadhyaya1958/Vaidik%20Sahitya%20Baldev%20Upadhyaya%201958#page/n263/mode/2up Vaidik Sahitya]''. </ref><blockquote>अरण्याध्ययनादेतद् अारन्यकमितीर्यते । अरणंये तदधीयीतेत्येवं वाक्यं प्रचक्ष्यते ॥ (Tait. Aran. Bhas. 6)</blockquote>''Yajna'' and other rituals are prescribed only for those who live in homes and lead the life of house-holders. But it has to be understood that Vedic rituals are intended to confer not only material benefits but also mental purity by constant discipline. Having obtained purity, one must seek the solitude of forests for further concentration and meditation.   

According to Sankara also Aranyaka is so called because it is to be learnt or studied in the forest.  The Brahmanas advocating the actual observances of the sacrifices are meant for गृहस्थ || ''Grihastha'' and the आरण्यक || Aranyakas containing explanations of the rituals and allegorical speculations thereon are meant for वानप्रस्थ || ''Vanprasthas'', who renounce family life residing in the forests for tapas and other religious activities.  

According to Sankara also Aranyaka is so called because it is to be learnt or studied in the forest.  The Brahmanas advocating the actual observances of the sacrifices are meant for गृहस्थ || ''Grihastha'' and the आरण्यक || Aranyakas containing explanations of the rituals and allegorical speculations thereon are meant for वानप्रस्थ || ''Vanprasthas'', who renounce family life residing in the forests for tapas and other religious activities.