Aranyaka

Hindu texts

Śruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajurveda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihasas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gherand Samhita Gita Govinda Hatha Yoga Pradipika This box: view talk edit

The Aranyakas (/ɑːˈrʌnjəkə/; Sanskrit: āraṇyaka आरण्यक) is the philosophy behind sacrifice of the ancient Hindu sacred texts, the Vedas.^[1] They are usually part of the later parts of Vedas, and are one of many layers of the Vedic text.^[2] The other parts of Vedas are the Samhitas (benedictions, hymns), Brahmanas (commentary), and the Upanishads (spirituality and abstract philosophy).^[3][4]

1. ↑ "Aranyaka". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
2. ↑ In post-Vedic classifications by text types, the Aranyakas are one of five, with other four being Samhita, Brahmana, Upasana and Upanishad; see A Bhattacharya (2006), Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology, ISBN 978-0595384556, pages 5-17
3. ↑ A Bhattacharya (2006), Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology, ISBN 978-0595384556, pages 8-14
4. ↑ Barbara A. Holdrege (1995), Veda and Torah: Transcending the Textuality of Scripture, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791416402, pages 351-357