Aitareya Brahmana

The Aitareya Brahmana (Sanskrit: ऐतरेय ब्राह्मण) is the Brahmana of the Shakala shakha of the Rigveda, an ancient Indian collection of sacred hymns. This work, according to the tradition is ascribed to Mahidasa Aitareya.^{[1] [2]}

Contents

Forty adhyayas (chapters) of this work are grouped under eight pañcikās (group of five). The following is an overview of its contents:

• Pañcikā I
  • Adhyāya I: The consecration rites
  • Adhyāya II: The introductory sacrifice
  • Adhyāya III: The buying and bringing of the Soma
  • Adhyāya IV: The Pravargya
  • Adhyāya V: The carrying forward of fire, Soma, and the offerings to the High Altar
• Pañcikā II
  • Adhyāya I: The animal sacrifice
  • Adhyāya II: The animal sacrifice and morning litany
  • Adhyāya III: The Aponaptriya and other ceremonies
  • Adhyāya IV: The cups of Indra and Vayu, Mitra and Varuna and the Ashvins
  • Adhyāya V: The Ajya Shastra
• Pañcikā III
  • Adhyāya I: The Prauga Shastra, the Vashat call and the Nivids
  • Adhyāya II: The Marutvatiya and the Nishkevalya Shastra
  • Adhyāya III: The Vaishvadeva and the Agnimaruta
  • Adhyāya IV: General considerations regarding the Agnishtoma
  • Adhyāya V: Certain details regarding the sacrifice
• Pañcikā IV
  • Adhyāya I: The Shodashin and the Atiratra sacrifices
  • Adhyāya II: The Ashvina Shastra and Gavam Ayana
  • Adhyāya III: The Shadahas and the Vishuvant
  • Adhyāya IV: The Dvadashaha rite
  • Adhyāya V: The first two days of the Dvadashaha
• Pañcikā V
  • Adhyāya I: The third and fourth days of the Dvadashaha
  • Adhyāya II: The fifth and sixth days of the Dvadashaha
  • Adhyāya III: The seventh and eighth days of the Dvadashaha
  • Adhyāya IV: The ninth and tenth days of the Dvadashaha
  • Adhyāya V: The Agnihotra and the Brahmana priest
• Pañcikā VI
  • Adhyāya I: The office of the Gravastut and Subrahmanya
  • Adhyāya II: The Shastras of the Hotrakas at Satras and Ahinas
  • Adhyāya III: Miscellaneous points as to the Hotrakas
  • Adhyāya IV: The Sampata hymns, the Valakhilyas and the Durohana
  • Adhyāya V: The Shilpa Shastras of the third pressing
• Pañcikā VII
  • Adhyāya I: The distribution of the portions of the victim of the sacrifice
  • Adhyāya II: Expiations of the errors in the sacrifice
  • Adhyāya III: The narrative of Shunahshepa
  • Adhyāya IV: The preparations for the royal consecretation
  • Adhyāya V: The sacrificial drink of the king
• Pañcikā VIII
  • Adhyāya I: The Stotras and Shastras of the Soma day
  • Adhyāya II: The anointing of the king
  • Adhyāya III: The great anointing of Indra
  • Adhyāya IV: The great anointing of the king
  • Adhyāya V: The office of Purohita

Notes