Brahmana

The Brahmana (Sanskrit, n, ब्राह्मण, brahmana, " that which belongs to the priest " ) are ritual and sacrificial texts of early Hinduism and are part of the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. As development time is 800 BC set to 500 BC.

The Brahmanas were written by Brahmins, who also managed the texts and oral tradition. There are texts by priests for priests. The Brahmanas are written in Vedic Sanskrit. The Brahmana period is connected with settlement support in the Gangetic Plain. An institutionalization of social hierarchy is a ( caste system ).

Many Brahmanas also contain an Aranyaka ( "Forest Text") and an Upanishad. The Chandogya Upanishad, for example, is part of belonging to the Samaveda Brahmana.

Your determination according to the Brahmanas sacrifice and ritual texts. The Shatapatha Brahmana sees the priest as the "gods on earth" in the Veda - qualified Brahmins reside all the deities. In the beginning the gods were mortal, through the sacrifice they were immortal. So the gods require the victim. Karma is considered the most sacred act, the actions of the priest, by karma one is immortal. Through the sacrifice to be born again, the correct execution of the victim is considered to be essential for its success. To this end, the Brahmanas were written and handed down.

In the Brahmanas life is considered to be suffering that could be prevented only by the sacrifice ritual. Moreover, the notion of Wiedertods or re- dying emerges ( punarmrityu ). Who does not take part in the sacrifice, is not considered a human, ie only participation in the ritual sacrifice of a human doing. Members of the lowest caste, the Sudras, are considered not suitable for the victim.

In the phase of formation of the Brahmanas the beginnings of so fundamental to Hinduism Karma and Samsara idea can be formulated. The four stages of life of the people ( asrama ) are defined: students ( brahmacarya ) Grihastha ( steward ), Vanaprastha ( in the forest solitude walking ) and sannyasi ( enlightenment -seekers ).

Classification

Each of the four Vedas are assigned to Brahmanas. Each Vedic school had her Brahmana.

• Rigveda Aitareya - Brahmana (AB)
• Kaushitaki - Brahmana (KB )

• Jayminiya Brahmana (JB)
• Pancavimsha Brahmana
• Shadvimsha Brahmana

• White Yajurveda: Shatapatha - Brahmana ( SB)

• Taittiriya - Brahmana (TB)

• Gopatha - Brahmana ( GopB )