Brahmana

This page deals with the Hindu theological texts. For other uses of this word and similar words, see Brahman (disambiguation).

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The Brāhmaṇas (Devanagari ब्राह्मण) are part of the Hindu Shruti; They are composed in Vedic Sanskrit, and the period of their composition is sometimes referred to as the Brahmanic period or age (approximately between 900 BCE and 500 BCE). They are essentially commentaries of the Vedas, explaining Vedic ritual. The earliest Brahmanas may have been written several centuries earlier, contemporary to the Black Yajurveda commentary prose, but they have only survived in fragments.

Each Brahmana is associated with one of the four Vedas, and within the tradition of that Veda with a particular shakha or school:

• Rigveda
  • Shakala shakha: Aitareya Brahmana (AB)
  • Bashkala shakha: Kaushitaki Brahmana (KS)
• Samaveda
  • Kauthuma: PB, SadvB
  • Jayminiya: Jayminiya Brahmana (JB)
• Yajurveda
  • Krishna: the Brahmanas are integrated into the samhitas:
    • Maitrayani (MS)
    • Carakakatha (CS)
    • Kapisthalakatha (KS)
    • Taittiriya (TS). The Taittiriya school has an additional Taittiriya Brahmana (TB)
  • Shukla
    • Vajasaneyi Madhyandina: Shatapatha Brahmana, Madhyadina recension (ShB)
    • Kanva: Shatapatha Brahmana, Kanva recension (ShBK)
• Atharvaveda
  • Paippalada: Gopatha Brahmana

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