Brahmana (or Brāhmaṇam, Sanskrit: ब्राह्मणम्) can be loosely translated as 'explanations of sacred knowledge or doctrine' or 'Brahmanical explanation'. [5] According to the Monier-Williams Sanskrit dictionary, 'Brahmana' means: [6]

Brahmana, any of a number of prose commentaries attached to the Vedas, the earliest writings of Hinduism, explaining their significance as used in ritual sacrifices and the symbolic import of the priests’ actions.

Sep 29, 2021 · Brahmana varna – the highest caste of priests, intellectuals, and teachers; Kshatriya varna – warriors, protectors, guardians, police; Vaishya varna – merchants, bankers, clerks, farmers; Shudra varna – the lowest caste of unskilled workers, laborers, servants

Apr 4, 2025 · Hinduism - Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Vedas: Attached to each Samhita was a collection of explanations of religious rites, called a Brahmana, which often relied on mythology to describe the origins and importance of individual ritual acts.

The Śāṇḍilya doctrine on Brahman is not unique to Chandogya Upanishad, but found in other ancient texts such as the Satapatha Brahmana in section 10.6.3. It asserts that Atman (the inner essence, Self inside man) exists, the Brahman is identical with Atman , that the Brahman is inside man—thematic quotations that are frequently cited by ...

Mar 24, 2025 · The term ‘Brahmana’ has been variously interpreted by the scholars. It comes from the word Brahman which means both the Veda and the Mantra – “Brahma Vai Mantrah.” Thus the word Brahmana means ‘that which relates to Brahman or the Veda’. It is derived from the root brih ‘to grow’, ‘to expand’.

Each Vedic shakha (school) has its own Brahmana. Numerous Brahmana texts existed in ancient India, many of which have been lost. A total of 19 Brahmanas are extant at least in their entirety. The dating of the final codification of the Brahmanas and associated Vedic texts is controversial, which occurred after centuries of verbal transmission.

Introduction to Brahmanism. Brahmanism, an ancient religious tradition rooted in the Indian subcontinent, serves as one of the foundational pillars of what eventually evolved into modern Hinduism.

Dec 21, 2023 · There are numerous Brahmana texts from ancient India which have been lost, but 19 still exist in their entirety. The Brahmanas contain legends, myths, notes on the performance of rituals, as well as explanations of particular sacred words from the Vedas and some philosophy.

Each of the four Vedas, namely, Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda, consists of two parts: the Samhita and the Brahmana. There exist one or more Brahmanas attached to each Veda. They serve as an explanation of the Samhita portion of the Vedas and explain the secret meanings of the mantras and hymns.