Aitareya Brahmana (a comprehensive analysis)

by Sanghamitra Mukherjee | 2016 | 51,075 words

Hinduism Vedic Hinduism

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Summary: This is an English study of the Aitareya Brahmana—a crucial Vedic text from the Rigveda divided into eight sections, emphasizing the responsibilities of priests known as Hotris and elaborating on Soma sacrifices and various rituals. The Aitareya Brahmana itself blends rituals with myths, legends, and the roles of deities while the present study offers a historical and cultural insight into the societal structures, economic conditions, and geographical knowledge reflected within the text.

Other titles: Aitareyabrāhmaṇa (ऐतरेयब्राह्मण) Aitareya-brāhmaṇa (ऐतरेय-ब्राह्मण), Aitareyabrahmana.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Aitareya Brahmana (a comprehensive analysis) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Acknowledgement

+ Chapter 1 - Rituals

. Introduction to the Soma sacrifice

. The Dīkṣaṇīyeṣṭi sacrifice

. The Prāyaṇīyeṣṭi sacrifice

. The Atithyā Iṣṭi sacrifice

. The Pravargya Ceremony (Aitareya-Brāhmaṇa 1.4.2)

. The Upasads (preliminary rite)

. The Tānūnaptra Rite

. The Animal Sacrifice

. Agniṣṭoma—at a glance (as stated by Haug)

. The Dvādaśāha Sacrifice

. Gavāmayana Satra

. The Division of the Sacrificial Animal

. Expiatory Rites

. Sacrificial Fee (Dakṣiṇā)

. Symbolical expressions in the Aitareya-brāhmaṇa

+ Chapter 2 - Gods and Goddesses

. Gods in the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa—Introduction

. Major deities (1): Description of Agni

. Major deities (2): Description of Āditya

. Major deities (3): Description of Prajāpati

. Major deities (4): Description of Viṣṇu

. Major deities (5): Description of Soma

. Major deities (6): Description of Indra

. Major deities (7): Description of Vāyu

. Major deities (8): Description of Varuṇa

. Major deities (9): Description of Rudra

. Major deities (10): Description of Savitṛ

. Major deities (11): Description of Bṛhaspati

. Minor Deities in the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa

. Group Deities in the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa—Introduction

. Group Deities (8): The Aṅgirases

. Group Deities (9): The Gandharvas

. Group Deities (10): The Apsarases

. Group Deities (11): The Pitṛs

. Group Deities (12): The Dyavāpṛthivī

. Group Deities (13): The Sarpadevas

. Group Deities (14): The Rudras

. Group Deities (15): The Maruts

. Group Deities (16): The Ṛbhus

. Group Deities (17): The Vasus

. Group Deities (18): The Viśvedevas

. Group Deities (19): The Ādityas

. Group Deities (20): The Apri Gods

. Goddesses (1): Description of Aditi

. Goddesses (2): Description of Uṣas

. Goddesses (3): Description of Vāc

. Goddesses (4): Description of Pathyā Svasti

. Goddesses (5): Description of Nirṛti

. Goddesses (6): Description of Sarasvatī

. Goddesses (7): Description of Āpāh

. Goddesses (8): The Devīkās and the Devīs

. Goddesses (9-10): The Sistersa and Wives of the Gods

. Goddesses (11): Description of Sūryā

+ Chapter 3 - Myths and Legends

. Introduction to the Myths and Legends of the Brāhmaṇas

. Part 1 - Details of the Soma myth

. Part 2 - The Myths on Indra-Vṛtra Battle

. Part 3.1 - The Origin of Praṇava

. Part 3.2 - The Tale of a Lusty Father

. Part 3.3 - Prajāpati and the Metres

. Part 3.4 - Prajāpati: The God of Creation

. Part 4 - The Myth regarding the Gods and the Demons

. Part 5 - The Myth regarding the Sacrifice of the Cows

. Part 6 - The Myth regarding the Gods and the sacrificial victim

. Part 7 - The Marriage of Sūryā Sāvitrī

. Part 8 - The Myth of Dīrghajihvī

. Part 9 - The Legend of Kavaṣa

. Part 10 - The Legend of Nabhānediṣṭha

. Part 11 - The Legend of Rāma Mārgaveya

. Part 12 - The Legend of Śunaḥśepa

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Last Updated: 17 May, 2025

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