Brahmanas facts for kids

The Brahmanas are a collection of ancient Indian books. They are very important because they help explain the Vedas, which are the four most sacred books in the Hindu religion. Think of them as guidebooks that tell you more about the Vedas and how to understand them better.

These books give instructions on how to perform important religious ceremonies, known as rituals. They also explain the deeper, symbolic meanings behind these rituals, helping people understand why certain actions are done.

In ancient India, different schools of thought, called shakhas, each had their own Brahmana texts. Many of these old texts have been lost over time, but the ones that remain are still very valuable for understanding ancient Hindu practices.

What are the Brahmanas?

The Brahmanas are like detailed instruction manuals and explanation books for the Vedas. They were written a very long time ago, probably between 900 and 700 BCE. This means they are thousands of years old! They are part of the larger group of Hindu scriptures known as Shruti, which means "what is heard" and is considered to be revealed knowledge.

Why were they important?

The Vedas themselves are mostly hymns and prayers. The Brahmanas came along to help people understand how to use these hymns in rituals. They explain:

• How to perform different sacrifices and ceremonies.
• The exact words to say and actions to take.
• The deeper meaning and purpose of each part of the ritual.
• The importance of the gods and goddesses involved.

They were crucial for priests and people who wanted to perform these complex rituals correctly.

What do they contain?

Each Brahmana text is usually linked to a specific Veda and a specific shakha (school or branch) of that Veda. For example, the Aitareya Brahmana and Kaushitaki Brahmana are connected to the Rigveda. The Shatapatha Brahmana is one of the most famous and largest, linked to the Yajurveda.

These texts contain:

• Explanations of rituals: Detailed steps for ceremonies like the Yajna (fire sacrifice).
• Myths and legends: Stories that explain the origin of rituals or important concepts.
• Philosophical ideas: Early discussions about the universe, gods, and human life.
• Grammar and language: Sometimes they also touch upon the rules of the ancient Sanskrit language.

They offer a unique look into the religious life and thoughts of ancient India.

Different Brahmanas

There are many different Brahmanas, each connected to one of the four Vedas:

• Rigveda: Includes the Aitareya Brahmana and Kaushitaki Brahmana.
• Samaveda: Includes the Panchavimsha Brahmana and Jaiminiya Brahmana.
• Yajurveda: Includes the Taittiriya Brahmana and the very important Shatapatha Brahmana.
• Atharvaveda: Has the Gopatha Brahmana.

Many of these texts are still studied today by scholars and followers of Hinduism to understand their ancient traditions.

Images for kids

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  A 17th-century manuscript page of Sadvimsha Brahmana, a Pañcaviṃśa-Brāhmaṇa supplement (Sanskrit, Devanagari). It is found embedded in the Samaveda.

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  Performance of Yajna.

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  Page from the Aitareya Brahmana.

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  Tools used for Yajna.

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  Sadvimsha Brahmana page.

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  Page from the SamaVeda samhita and brahmanam.

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  Page form the Mimamsa sutra of Jaiminimi, who also recorded the Jaiminiya Brahmana and other works.

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  Extract from a 13th-century manuscript of the Shatapatha Brahmana (Khanda 14).

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  Page of the Taittiriya Samhita.

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  Atharva-Veda samhita page.

See also

In Spanish: Bráhmana (texto) para niños