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Re: Samhita (fwd)

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Sadagopan • July 13, 1998 


Dear BhakthAs : there was a question about 
Brahmanas and SamhithAs from a good friend .
The Questionwas about BrahmaNAs as being 
part of SamhithA and particularly with respect
to my comments on TaitthirIya samhithA .

I am copying you on my response 
to address any confusion that I might have created .
Regards,
V.Sadagopan 

>BrahmaaNAs is that portion of the Vedas , which
>states rules for the employment of the hymns at 
>the various YaagAs and Yaj~nAs , their origin  
>and dtailed explanation, with some times lengthy 
>illustrations in the form of legends and stories .
>IT IS DISTINCT FROM THE MANTHRA PORTION OF THE VEDAS .
For instance , the conductance of AsvamEtha Yaagam
is in one of the BraahmaNAs .

>BrahmaNAs are also " Sruthis " .
>
>Each Veda has its own BraahmaNA(s).
>Rg Vedam : IytharEya, AasvalAyana , Kouseethaki 
>Yajur Vedam : sathapatha BraahmaNam
>Saama Vedam : Pancha vimsa and Shad Vimsa 
>Atharva Vedam : Gopatha BrAhmaNam 
>
>Taittiriya samhitha contains many injunctions
>and guidelines like BrahmaNAs .That was the reasoning
behind my observation .

>V.Sadagopan 

Question from the BhakthA 
**************************
>      
>>nAmaskAram Sir
>>
>>I do not understand here. brAhmaNa-s are also part of veda-s hence it is
>>also shR^iti. But you say that taittirIya samhitA is closer to brahmANa-s
>>rather than shR^iti-s.  Can you explain to me.
>>
>