Brāhmaṇas
Brāhmaṇas are a collection of ancient prose texts within Vedic literature, composed in a dialect of Sanskrit considered to be divinely inspired by practitioners of Hindu thought. Their name derives from the term "brāhmaṇa," which means "relating to Brahman," and they serve as commentaries on the four sacred Vedas or Saṃhitās, which are hymn collections dedicated to various deities. Unlike later texts that provide detailed instructions for rituals, the Brāhmaṇas focus on explaining the significance and effectiveness of these rituals, organizing ancient worship practices into coherent intellectual frameworks. They also engage with theological concepts that hint at the philosophical inquiries into Brahman, the ultimate reality of the universe, which would develop further in Indian philosophy. Additionally, the Brāhmaṇas recount myths and legends, some of which influence later Indian literature, albeit with notable changes. These texts provide valuable insight into early Hindu ritual practices and the evolution of religious thought in India. Understanding the Brāhmaṇas is essential for anyone interested in the foundations of Hindu spirituality and the development of its philosophical traditions.
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Brāhmaṇas
Related civilization: India.
Date: eighth-fifth centuries b.c.e.
Locale: India
Authorship: Composite; attributed to various legendary authors
Brāhmaṇas
The several lengthy prose texts known as Brāhmaṇas (BRAH-mah-nah-s), composed in an archaic dialect of Sanskrit, belong to Vedic literature, which Indian thought regards as divinely “revealed” (śruti). The term brāhmaṇa, meaning “relating to brahman” (a word that in this context refers to the Veda), indicates that they were meant to be commentaries on the earlier four Vedas or Saṃhitās, which are collections of hymns to various Hindu deities. The Brāhmaṇas explain the value and efficacy of the ritual ceremonies that make use of the earlier hymns. They do not, however, detail how the rituals are to be performed, a topic dealt with in later texts. Instead, the authors of these texts organize their understanding of ancient forms of worship into intellectual systems.
In the theological concerns of the Brāhmaṇas, it is sometimes possible to discern the germ of later philosophical speculation in India that centers on the nature of brahman, understood as the fundamental principle or reality of the universe. Occasionally, in the course of ritual explanations, Brāhmaṇas also narrate versions of myths and legends, some of which recur in later Indian texts with significant alterations.
Bibliography
Gonda, Jan. Vedic Literature (Saṃhitās and Brāhmaṇas). Vol. 1 in A History of Indian Literature. Wiesbaden, Germany: Harrassowitz, 1975.
Tilak, Sunanda Keshar. Cultural Gleanings from the Brahmana Literature. New Delhi, India: Yaska Publishers, 1990.