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Dear Members

" Hindu Dharma " is a book published by Bharatiya Vidya

Bhavan which contains English translation of two volumes of the Tamil

Book " Deivatthin Kural " ; which is a collection of invaluable and

engrossing speeches of Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi

MahaSwamiji.

 

http://kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap29.htm

 

Brahmana and Aranyaka

 

So

far, in speaking of the Vedas, I have dealt mainly with the

Samhita part of each sakha or recension. We have already seen

that the Samhitas are the main text of the Vedas. Apart from

them, each sakha has a Brahmana and an Aranyaka.

 

The

Brahmana lays down the various rites - karma - to be performed

and explains the procedure for the same. It interprets the words

of the mantras occuring in the Samhita, how they are to be

understood in the conduct of sacrifices. The Brahmanas constitute

a guide for the conduct of yajnas.

 

The

word " Aranyaka " is derived from " aranya " . You

must have heard of places like " Dandakaranya " and

" Vedaranya " . " Aranya " means a

" forest " . Neither in the Samhita nor in the Brahmana is

one urged to go and live in a forest. Vedic rites like sacrifices

are to be preformed by the householder (grhastha) living in a

village. But after his mind is rendered pure through such rites,

he goes to a forest as a recluse to engage himself in meditation.

It is to qualify for this stage of vanaprastha, to become

inwardly pure and mellow, that Vedic practices like sacrifices

are to be followed.

 

The

Aranyakas prepare one for one's stage in life as an anchorite.

They expound the concepts inherent in the mantras of the Samhitas

and the rites detailed in the Brahmanas. In other words, they

explain the hidden meaning of the Vedas, their metaphorical

passages. Indeed, they throw light on the esoteric message of our

scripture. For the Aranyakas, more important than the performance

of sacrifices awareness of their inner

meaning and significance. According to present-day scholars, the

Aranyakas incorporate the metaphorical passages representing the

metaphysical inquires conducted by the inmates of forest

hermitages.

 

The

Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, as its very name suggests, is both an

Aranyaka and an Upanishad, and it begins with a philosophical

explanation of the horse sacrifice.

JAYA JAYA SANKARA HARA HARA SANKARA

 

Thwameva Maathaa Cha Pithaa Thwameva Thwameva Bhandhuscha Sakhaa Thwameva

Thwameva Vidhyaa Dhravinam Thwameva Thwameva Sarvam Mama Dheva Dheva.