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=== Aitareya Aranyaka ===

=== Aitareya Aranyaka ===

Consists of five books each of which is again called Aranyaka. The five books together contain 18 adhyayas subdivided into Kandas.Mahidasa Aitereya, who had compiled and expounded the Aitereya Brahmana also expounded the first of the three (books) Aranyakas of the Aitereya Aranyaka.  The fourth was given by Ashvalaayana and the fifth by Saunaka.  

Consists of five books each of which is again called Aranyaka. The five books together contain 18 adhyayas subdivided into Kandas.Mahidasa Aitereya, who had compiled and expounded the Aitereya Brahmana also expounded the first of the three (books) Aranyakas of the Aitereya Aranyaka.  The fourth was given by Ashvalaayana and the fifth by Saunaka. Aitareya Aranyaka says ‘The same Real is worshipped as Uktha in the Rk, as Agni in the Yajuh and as Mahavrata in the Sama.’ (Aitareya Aranyaka, III. 2. 3. 12). Thus the Aranyaka introduces the concept of unifying the different aspects given in Vedas thus paving way to philosophical considerations.  

* The first Aranyaka discusses ‘Mahaa-vrata’ (which is a part of the Gavvamayana sattra described in AB III) or fundamental duties and vows and the saamana stotras to be sung in a particular day.

* The first Aranyaka discusses ‘Mahaa-vrata’ (which is a part of the Gavvamayana sattra described in AB III) or fundamental duties and vows and the saamana stotras to be sung in a particular day.  

* The second Aranyaka has six chapters of which the first three are about ‘Praana-vidyaa’ – meaning, Prana, the Vital Air that constitutes the life-breath of a living body is also the life-breath of all mantras, all vedas and all vedic declarations (cf. 2.2.2 of Aitareya Aranyaka). It is in this portion of the Aranyaka that one finds specific statements about how one who follows the vedic injunctions and performs the sacrifices goes to become the God of Fire, or the Sun or Air and how one who transgresses the Vedic prescriptions is born into lower levels of being, namely, as birds and reptiles. Chapters 4 to 6 constitute the [[Aitareya Upanishad]].

* The second Aranyaka has six chapters of which the first three are about ‘Praana-vidyaa’ – meaning, Prana, the Vital Air that constitutes the life-breath of a living body is also the life-breath of all mantras, all vedas and all vedic declarations (cf. 2.2.2 of Aitareya Aranyaka). It is in this portion of the Aranyaka that one finds specific statements about how one who follows the vedic injunctions and performs the sacrifices goes to become the God of Fire, or the Sun or Air and how one who transgresses the Vedic prescriptions is born into lower levels of being, namely, as birds and reptiles. Chapters 4 to 6 constitute the [[Aitareya Upanishad]].

* The third Aranyaka is also known as ‘Samhitopanishad’. This elaborates on the various ways – like pada-paatha, krama-paatha, etc. – of reciting the Vedas and the nuances of the ‘svaras’, division of vowels and consonants.  This aranyaka mentions a large number of rishis.

* The third Aranyaka is also known as ‘Samhitopanishad’. This elaborates on the various ways – like pada-paatha, krama-paatha, etc. – of reciting the Vedas and the nuances of the ‘svaras’, division of vowels and consonants.  This aranyaka mentions a large number of rishis.