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Araņya means forest. These were the books used by persons
who have retired from the active life of householder gŗhasta
and stayed in the forests to carry on their spiritual pursuits.
These books mention yajňa, but emphasize their symbolism,
especially the inner yajňa occurring in the subtle body of
the human aspirant. These books naturally provide a bridge from
the brāhmaņa books to the Upanishad books. Typically these books constitute penultimate chapters of the
brāhmaņa books. Sometimes they are separate books. For example
Rigveda has a separate āraņyaka called as Aitareya
āraņyaka which is associated with the corresponding
aitareya brāhmaņa. Some opine that they are different
chapters of the same book.
Shukla Yajurveda has no separate āraņyaka text, the last
chapter of the brāhmaņa book of this Veda is the
shatapatha brāhmaņa whose last chapter(s) constitute the
famous Bŗhadāraņyaka Upanishad.
Again Chhāndogya brāhmaņa of Sāmaveda has no āraņyaka.
It has the famous and massive Upanishad Chhāndogya. |
