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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.
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"Hindu Dharma" is a book
which contains English translation of certain invaluable and
engrossing speeches of Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji (at
various times during the years 1907 to 1994).
For a general background, please see here
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