Vol 01.009 3. Hinduism rediscovered Sources of knowledge contd.

3. " Hinduism Rediscovered" Sources of Knowledge ( Contd)

2.2. BRAHMANAS ( Ceremonial handbooks)
The Brahmanas that followed are detailed handbooks, manuals or guidelines specially formulated for the benefit of the hotas, adharvyus, udgathas and brahmas - the priestly classes for the proper observance of the procedural chores involved in the sacrifices. One of the important Brahmanas is the 'Sata patha brahmana" of 1000 paths forming part of Sukla Yajur Veda which deals with modes of worship.

Together, the Samhitas and the Brahmanas were known as `Purva khanda' (Earlier works) or `Karma khanda' (Action works) as they occur in the earlier parts of the Vedas and deal with rituals, formulas and formalities called `Karma'. Brahmanas relate to holy performances while `Samhitas' to holy dictates.

2.3. AARANYAKAS( Ritual interpretations) and 2.4. UPANISHADS ( Metaphysical Dialogues)
The Aaranyakas and Upanishads which came later deal with philosophical disputations and intellectual discussions and explanations about realisation of God or `Brahman' - the ultimate reality (not to be confused with the four-headed Brahma). While the Aaranyakas were mantras recited usually in the hermitages or forests (Aaranyaka means `belonging to forest') Upanishads were the ones that contain the essence of wisdom enshrined in the Vedas.

Together, the Aranyakas and Upanishads are called `Uttara khaanda' (Later works) or Gnana khanda (knowledge works) or Brahmakhaanda (works relating to Brahman) and they embody an intellectual approach.

When we refer to Veda in general, we usually refer to the `Upanishads'. There are very many Braahmanas, Aaranyakas and Upanishads but attached to the Vedas either individually or collectively. In fact, we are told that there are more than a hundred Upanishads but only 10 of them are accepted as most authoritative by all sections of Hindus - known as `Dasopanishads' - the principal ten Upanishads, while a few others are listed as supplementary. "Upanishads generally present an objective view of the universe and rational approach to the problem of reality far in advance even of the flashes of intuitive knowledge that illumine occasional passages of the Vedas and Brahmanas. Thus, the expressions `as if' or `as it were' occurring in the BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD accords well with the modern scientific view that despite the manifold appearances of the phenomenal world, the entire universe both known and yet unknown is essentially one". ISAVASYA UPANISHAD says -

"The man who understands that every creature exists in God alone and thus perceives the unity of being has no grief and no illusions".

2. 5 SRAUTA SUTRAS ( VEDIC APHORISMS)
`Sutra' means `thread'. Later, this term was applied to compositions written in an `aphoristic' style. The `Sutra' conveyed the meanings of ancient wisdom with utmost economy of words. They are so constructed as to kindle the thought process conducive to reconstruction of reasoning and provided an opportunity to test the veracity and the validity of the truths expounded.

The earlier Vedic Sutras' based on SRUTI were law manuals called `Grihya sutras' (family aphorisms) dealing with sacrificial rites of the householder. The later Sutras based on SMRITI were the `Dharma sutras' (Societal Aphorisms) dealing with the relationship of the individual with the community. While the former may be understood as `personal law', the latter constituted `social law'. Together, they emphasised the individual's responsibilities to his own self to attain salvation and the moral law governing not only the individual's interaction with the community but also of society at large.

The `Sutra' style was later adopted in all liturgical works and in all quasi philosophical systems, but necessitated commentaries to explain in simpler terms the purport of the aphorisms to make them understandable by lay folk also. The brevity of the `Sutras' defeated the very purpose for which they were composed viz. to explain the Vedas, and the `Sutras' had to be explained sometimes making the process more difficult than explaining the Vedas themselves. Since the Brahmanas had become obscure, the `Sutras' were devised to elucidate the sacrificial instructions contained in the Brahmanas.