Questions tagged [brahmanas]
For the questions about Brahmanas (Sanskrit ब्राह्मणम्) or Brahmana Grantha, commentaries on Vedic Samhita/hymns. Also known as Karmakanda (कर्मकांड) part of Veda.
57 questions
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Is Soma Really a drink Or a Metaphor For Vedic Immortality?
Soma is considered a Juice which was Prepared by our Ancestors by Herbs of the leave of a plant.It is one of the most famous Drink In Vedas And In Rig veda whole Mandal 9 Is attributed to it.
But ...
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Does Veda has more than one Samhita regarding to Shakha?
As I've discussed here, we know that ancient Rishi heard Vedic hymns in the state of Tapasya (deep mediation) which are called Shruti/Vedas. Vedas are divided into two parts Samhita - the (mantra) ...
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How many Brahmanas and Aranyakas are there in the Vedas?
I know about the four Samhita texts and the later Upanishad texts. However, each Veda has Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka and Upanishad.
How many Brahmanas and Aranyakas are there under each Veda?
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Brahmana eating food cooked by others
Vyasa quoting Manu says:
SECTION XXXVII, Rajadharmanusasana Parva, Santi Parva
If a Brahmana takes food that has been cooked by a Kshatriya, it diminishes his energy; if he takes the food provided by ...
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Does Bhagavad Gita Sloka 17.23 refer to Brahmanas or Brahmins?
Recently while revising the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta, the following verse inspired me to think and search:
तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।
ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा।।17.23।...
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Does the different texts within Vedas follow a certain hierarchy or any known order of authority?
In Vedas there are texts such as Aranyakas, Brahmanas, Upanisads, Samhitas etc. so in the case of differing views of various texts is there a certain order of which text view should be taken first?
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What classes of scripture are claimed to be apaurusheya?
It is well known that Vedas are claimed to be apaurusheya or not of human origin. Hindu scripture has been continuously produced since the Veda-Samhitas – Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Itihasas, ...
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Alternatives to animal sacrifice during Vedic yajnas, according to Brahmana texts?
I seem to remember having read somewhere that one or more of the ancient Brahmana texts (maybe Shatapatha Brahmana) allow performing Vedic yajnas by providing alternatives to animal sacrifice, like ...
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Is the 6th section/Putramantha Brahmana of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad shruti?
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 6.4.7:
If she does not willingly yield her body to him, he should buy her
with presents. If she is still unyielding, he should strike her with a
stick or with his hand ...
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Is Surdarshan Chakra mentioned In Vedic literature?
The Surdarshan Chakra is Lord vishnu's weapon mentioned in many puranas and in Itihasas. But is there any reference of Surdarshana Chakra in Vedic literature (that is Vedas,Upanishads,Brahmans).the ...
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How to interpret Bhasyas of Madhidhara for Vajasaneyi Samhita 23.19-31 ? His Bhasyas look too vulgar
In Yajurveda Samhita, we come across Ashvamedha ritual. In Shukla Yajurveda, Madhyandin Samhita section 23.18–32, the so-called obscene ritual of the chief Queen Mahishi copulating with dead horse is ...
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Which are the characteristics of brAhmaNas?
We know that there are five to ten characteristics (Lakshana) of Purana which are discussed in this post. A similar question also asked for Itihasa. I want to know are there any characteristics of ...
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Who decided that mantras should be used for yajñas that came later?
Were the ṛṣis who heard the mantras (found in the saṃhitā portion of the Vedas) aware that what they heard (or was revealed to them) will be used to conduct yajñas (sacrifices)?
If not, who decided ...
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Which characters of Mahābhārata are also mentioned in the Vedas?
By characters, I mean people (kings, queens and sages) like Kṛṣṇa, Yudhiṣṭhira, Arjuna, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Duryodhana, Draupadī, Vyāsa, etc. and not gods/mythological beings like Indra, Agni, Śiva and Viṣṇu....
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What are the arguments of Purva Mimansa that says Brahmanas are Apaurusheya?
We know that Vedas are Shruti text which are called Aparusheya. Shruti literally means "which is heard". Rishis heard Vedas directly from Ishvar in the state of deep meditation and hence ...
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Do the Karma Kanda of Vedas themselves anywhere say performing rituals won't give us liberation?
Karma Kanda of Vedas, Vedangas are treated as Apara Vidhya and Upanishads are treated as Para Vidhya, since the former only give us rebirth and Upanishads provide us Knowledge of Brahman, through ...
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Are the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads revealed texts, or are they composed?
No Hindu disputes that the mantras in the Samhita part of the Vedas are direct revelations by Rishis.
But what about the texts of the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads? These don't seem to be ...
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Is this alleged citation from the Paingirahasya Brahmana verifiable from neutral commentators?
eko ha vai nārāyaṇa āsīn na brahmā na ca śaṅkaraḥ
Only Narayana existed - not Brahma, not Shankara
This is cited by Vaishnavites as evidence for their sectarian doctrines.
I originally questioned if ...
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How is Bramhana part of Veda?
Bramhana (like Aitareya brAhmana, satapata Bramhana, etc) are said to be part of Vedas and seem to expound the meaning of Samhita mantra and how to do Yajna. They also contain many legends like story ...
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How was manu born according to Vedas?
In bhagvata purana and vishnu purana it mentions that he was born from body of brahma, along with satarupa, what do Vedas say?
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Is amrita or legend of samudra manthan mentioned in Vedic scriptures?
The legend of samudra manthan and amrita is mentioned in itihasa, puranas but the legend of samudra manthan mentioned in verses of vedas, Upanishads or brahmanas or is the drink of immortality amrita ...
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Looking for scriptural source that introduce Brahmanas
I know about Brahmanas (ब्राह्मण ग्रंथ) as described at BharatDiscovery, what they are, how they originated, part of Vedas, association with Samhita, Shakha etc. I mentioned them in some of my posts ...
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Difference between Matanga and Vishwamitra
Matanga, born as Chandala, does penance to become a Brahmana. Indra tells him that he will not become a Brahmana and explains the birth cycles and durations to become a Brahmana. Indra says it's not ...
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Do the following incarnations of Vishnu have references in Rig Veda/ brAhmanAs/ Upanishads?
Many incarnations of Vishnu, including partial and full, were mentioned in Puranas.
In Ramayana, Vamana and Parasurama were mentioned as incarnations of Vishnu, which is disputable.
My area of ...
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Offspring due to marriage between a Sudra man and a Brahmana woman
The following passage is from this answer quoted from Agni Purana
An anuloma marriage is a marriage where the husband is from a higher
class than the wife. The offspring of such a marriage belong to ...
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Vedas are pan-geographic?
Are All Veda samhitas pan-geographic? That is, do veda samhitas pertain only to Bharatavarsha or to the entire world of creation.
This doubt arises because of two things I find contradictory. Many ...
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Which scripture is the source of the verse "Janmanā jāyatē jantuḥ karmaṇā jāyatē dvijaḥ" (everyone is born worm)?
Complete verse is as follows.
Janmanā jāyatē jantuḥ karmaṇā jāyatē dvijaḥ |
vēdādhyayanatō vipraḥ brahmavid brāhmaṇa smr̥taḥ ||
In Devanagari script:
जन्मना जायते जन्तु: कर्मणा जायते द्विज:।
वेदा...
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Were there only three Varnas in Vedic Age?
Satapatha Brahmana II. 1.4.11
“(Uttering), ‘bhuh’, Prajapati generated this earth. (Uttering)‘bhuvah’ he generated the air, and (Uttering) ‘svah’ he generated the sky.This universe is co-extensive ...
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What is the difference between these four types of Brahmanas?
I got the following four categories of Brahmanas from Which of the Brahmana says, "wife is half her husband?"
[A] Shatapatha Brahmana
[B] Aitareya Brahmana
[C] Gopatha Brahmana
[D] ...
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Varaha Avatara - reference in Taittirya recensions
If any one knows of references to Sri Varaha Avatara of Lord Sriman Narayana in Taittiriya Samhita / Brahmana / Arankaya, I request you to kindly post them here.
If there are references in other ...
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Ritwijas and Purohitas becoming Kshatriya
While describing the duties of the Brahmanas, Bhishma says
They amongst them that become Ritwikas, Purohitas, counsellors, envoys, and messengers, become, O king, equal to Kshatriyas.
Ganguly's ...
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On what basis are parts of the Vedas classified as Upanishads, etc. as per the explanation of Adi Shankara?
The Vedas in their entirety are supposed to sing of Brahman. However, the main portions which directly do are the Upanishads or the Vedanta.
In this regard Puri Shankaracharya talks of the explanation ...
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Does anyone know the exact location of the following text in the Padma Purana?
Does anyone know the exact location of the following text in the Padma Purana?
The text is found here.
ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṇo vipro
mantra-tantra-viśāradaḥ
avaiṣṇavo gurur na syād
vaiṣṇavaḥ śva-...
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Who divided/rearranged the brāhmaṇas, āraṇyakas and upaniṣads?
According to SB 12.6.50 it appears Vyāsa (Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana) only rearranged the Vedic mantras into four parts:
50. Just as (out of a heap of mixed up)
precious stones of the same kind are ...
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Offerings made at Shradda
In Anushasana parva, Bhishma explains about giving our taking offerings Shraddha by Bhrahmachari...
If, having practised the vow of Brahmacharyya for the prescribed period (of twelve years) and ...
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Was absence of mention about brAhmanas, upanishads, aranyakas in Ramayana indicates that it had been composed much earlier to them?
I tried to find any mention of brAhmanas, upanishads, aranyakas in Ramayana, as they were supposed to have been composed in post vedic period, as Ramayana was.
The following slokas are from 5th Sarga ...
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Are the Āraṇyaká-s and the Upaniṣád-s part of the Véda?
Mántra–Brā́hmaṇayor Veda-nāma-dheyám.
"The name 'Véda' is given to the Mántra and the Brā́hmaṇa."
—Āpastamba-şrāuta-sūtrá 24.1.31
Ádhi-Dāivam áth' ā́dhy-ātmam
ádhi-yajñam íti trayám
...
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What is the meaning of this verse from the Satapatha Brahmana?
You have taken birth from my various limbs and have arisen from my very heart. You are my own self in the form of my son. May you live through a hundred autumns.
Satapatha Brahmana (14.9.8.4).
I ...
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Is there any verse in Scriptures or by any Acharya that says that Brahmanas are not Apaursheya?
I got this verse-
Sayanacharya in his commentary on Taitariya Samhita:
यद्यपि मंत्र ब्राह्मणात्मको वेद तथापि ब्राह्मणस्य मंत्र व्याख्यान स्वरुपत्वाद् मन्त्रा एवादौ समाम्नताः।
Though Mantra and ...
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For the past 2 millenia, have the mantras of the Vedas been chanted wrong?
My doubt arises from this article https://lrc.la.utexas.edu/books/rigveda/RV00
Also the Tāittirīya-saṁhitā́ contains both mántra-s (poëtry written in meter) and yájus-es and brā́hmaṇa-s (prose not ...
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Do stories, such as Prajapati having intercourse with his daughter or creating cattle out of his sperm, have any scriptural basis?
The stories mentioned in the question are from the reference below.
Do these stories have any scriptural basis, and if so, I would like to understand the ethical concerns/dilemmas regarding these ...
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Was the creation of Earth story has roots in the Rig Veda or somewhere else?
Harivamsha in the mahAbharata - bhaviShyaparva Chapter 34 describes as to how viShNu takes varAha avatAra to lift the Earth from Netherworld
There is a legend of creation in the Taittiriya Brahmana.
...
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Is there a scriptural base, from other than the Veda and Puranas, to indicate that the Battle of the Ten Kings occurred?
There is already a question existing - Timeline of the battle of the ten kings in the Vedas. However, there are no answers posted yet and my question is different.
It was mentioned in this wikipedia ...
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Did the Battle of the Ten Kings really occur? [closed]
There is already a question existing - Timeline of the battle of the ten kings in the Vedas. However, there are no answers posted yet and my question is different.
It was mentioned in this wikipedia ...
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Which characters of Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa are also mentioned in the Vedas?
By characters, I mean people (kings, queens and sages) like Daśaratha, Rāma, Janaka, Sītā, Viśvāmitra, Vasiṣṭha, etc. and not gods/mythological beings like Indra, Agni, Śiva and Viṣṇu.
And by Vedas, ...
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Is the daughter of Brahma in shatpatha brahmana Sandhya the nymph or saraswati?
The story of Brahma lusting after his daughter due to arrow struck by kama deva is present in shatpatha brahmana, my question is, is the daughter called Sandhya or saraswati, because there is ...
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Do Vedas praise today minor gods as Brahman anywhere?
Vedas constantly praise Brahman with various names or superimposing attributes of brahman on various dieties. Like Sri rudram praises Rudra as Brahman,In such manner do they praise Agni,Varuna,Aditi,...
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Ravan Dahan is morally right?
Ravan Dahan, where effigy of Ravan is burnt, is celebrated in some parts of Bharat during Vijaya Dashami day.
Ravan, though rakshasa, still considered as Brahmana.
Some Puranas white of Rama, Hanuman ...
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How do vaishnavas interpret the Tryambaka hymn, accounting for all the internal vedic explanations of it provided in the Brāhmaṇa-s?
I know that they think the hymn is for Nṛsiṃha/Saṃkarṣaṇa etc. My question is specifically how.
Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa and Gopatha Brāhmaṇa as well as other texts such as Sarvānukramaṇī of Kātyāyana, ...
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Are there texts classified as Brahmanas that contain Taratamya of deities?
Taratamya: Gradation, proportion, relative importance, comparative value.
The Paingirahasyabrahmana is alleged to do so:
Does this alleged extended citation from Paingi Rahasya Brahmana invalidate &...