Contents Yajurveda

1 contents

1.1 samhitas
1.2 satapatha brahmana
1.3 upanishads

1.3.1 brihadaranyaka upanishad
1.3.2 isha upanishad
1.3.3 taittiriya upanishad
1.3.4 katha upanishad
1.3.5 shvetashvatara upanishad
1.3.6 maitrayaniya upanishad


1.4 srautasutras

contents
samhitas

the vajasaneyi samhita has forty chapters or adhyayas, containing formulas used following rituals:

structure of mantras

the various ritual mantras in yajurveda samhitas typically set in meter, , call on vedic deities such savita (sun), indra, agni, prajapati, rudra , others. taittiriya samhita in book 4, example, includes following verses agnicayana ritual recitation (abridged),

satapatha brahmana

the title satapatha brahmana means brahmana of hundred paths . 1 of largest brahmana text has survived. includes, states staal, veritable encyclopedia of meandering opinions on ritual , other matters .

the satapatha brahmana translated eggeling in late 19th-century, reprinted , has been read because of translation. however, has been misinterpreted , misused, states staal, because contains enough material support theory . eggeling, first translator of satapatha brahmana called flimsy symbolism rather serious reasoning , similar speculative vaporings found in christian , non-christian variety of gnosticism.

upanishads

the yajurveda has 6 primary upanishads embedded within it.

brihadaranyaka upanishad

the brihadaranyaka upanishad found in white yajurveda. 1 of mukhya upanishads, , among largest , oldest (~700 bce). key scripture of hinduism has influenced schools of hindu philosophy. text treatise on Ātman (soul, self), passages on metaphysics, ethics , yearning knowledge influenced various indian religions, ancient , medieval scholars.

the brihadaranyaka upanishad among earliest extensive discussions of hindu concept of dharma, karma , moksha (liberation sorrow, freedom, emancipation, self-realization). paul deussen calls it, unique in richness , warmth of presentation , profoundness retains full worth in modern times. max muller illustrated style follows,

isha upanishad

the isha upanishad found in white yajurveda. 1 of shortest upanishads, embedded final chapter of shukla yajurveda. key scripture of vedanta sub-schools of hinduism, name derived hidden in lord (self) .

the isha upanishad discusses atman (soul, self) theory of hinduism, , referenced both dvaita (dualism) , advaita (non-dualism) sub-schools of vedanta. classified poetic upanishad along kena, katha, svetasvatara , mundaka upanishads.

taittiriya upanishad

the taittiriya upanishad found in black yajurveda. seventh, eighth , ninth chapters of taittiriya aranyaka, called, respectively, siksha valli, ananda valli , bhrigu valli.

the taittiriya upanishad includes verses partly prayers , benedictions, partly instruction on phonetics , praxis, partly advice on ethics , morals given graduating students ancient vedic gurukul (schools), partly treatise on allegory, , partly philosophical instruction.

the text offers view of education system in ancient india. includes sections on ethics , invocation 1 s personal development. max muller translates text s tenth anuvaka, example, affirmation of 1 s self capable, empowered blissful being. tenth anuvaka asserts, shakes tree. glorious top of mountain. i, pure light (of knowledge) has risen, immortal, resides in sun. (soul, self) treasure, wise, immortal, imperishable. teaching of veda, sage trisanku.

katha upanishad

the katha upanishad found in black yajurveda. upanishad legendary story of little boy, nachiketa – son of sage vajasravasa, meets yama – indian deity of death. conversation evolves discussion of nature of man, knowledge, Ātman (soul, self) , moksha (liberation).

the kathaka upanishad important ancient sanskrit corpus of vedanta sub-schools. asserts atman (soul, self) exists , teaches precept seek self-knowledge highest bliss , , expounds on premise other primary upanishads of hinduism. detailed teachings of katha upanishad have been variously interpreted, dvaita (dualistic) , advaita (non-dualistic).

the katha upanishad found in yajurveda among studied upanishads. philosophers such arthur schopenhauer praised it, edwin arnold rendered in verse secret of death , , ralph waldo emerson credited katha upanishad central story @ end of essay immortality, poem brahma .

shvetashvatara upanishad

the shvetashvatara upanishad found in black yajurveda. text opens metaphysical questions primal cause of existence, origin, end, , role if did time, nature, necessity, chance, spirit had primal cause? develops answer, concluding universal soul exists in every individual, expresses in every creature, in world projection of it, , there oneness, unity of souls in 1 , self .

the shvetashvatara upanishad notable discussion of concept of personal god – ishvara, , suggesting path 1 s own highest self. text notable multiple mentions of both rudra , shiva, along other vedic deities, , of crystallization of shiva central theme.

maitrayaniya upanishad

the maitrayaniya upanishad, known maitri upanishad, found in black yajurveda. consists of 7 prapathakas (lessons). first prapathaka introductory, next 3 structured in question-answer style , discuss metaphysical questions relating atman (self, soul), while fifth seventh prapathaka supplements. however, several manuscripts discovered in different parts of india contain lesser number of prapathakas, telugu language version showing four.

the common kernel of maitri upanishad across different recensions, states max muller, reverence soul, can summarized in few words as, (man) self – immortal, fearless, brahman . maitrayaniya upanishad notable references theories found in buddhism, elements of samkhya , yoga schools of hinduism, ashrama system.

srautasutras

the yajurveda had shrautasutras , grhyasutras attached it, fifteen schools: apastamba, agastya, agniveshyaka, baudhayana, bharadvaja, hiranyakeshi, kaundinya, kusidaka, katyayana, lokaksita, madhyamdina, panca-kathaka, satyasadha, sakala, sandilya, vaikhanasa, , vadula. of these 9 have survived, along portions of kaundinya.