The ''Taittirīya Shakha'' (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural diffusion ...

, loosely meaning 'Branch or School of the sage Tittiri'), is a ''

shakha A shakha (Sanskrit ', "branch" or "limb") is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school.V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 913, left column.Moni ...

'' (i.e. 'branch', 'school', or rescension) of the Krishna (black) Yajurveda. Most prevalent in

South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union terr ...

, it consists of the ''Taittirīya

Samhita Saṃhitā literally means "put together, joined, union", a "collection", and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses".''Taittirīya Brahmana'' ('TB'), ''Taittirīya

Aranyaka The Aranyakas (; sa, आरण्यक; IAST: ' ) are the part of the ancient Indian Vedas concerned with the meaning of ritual sacrifice. They typically represent the later sections of the Vedas, and are one of many layers of the Vedic text ...

'' ('TA'), and ''Taittirīya

Pratisakhya Pratishakhya ( sa, प्रातिशाख्य '), also known as Parsada ('), are Vedic-era manuals devoted to the precise and consistent pronunciation of words. These works were critical to the preservation of the Vedic texts, as well as ...

'' ('TP').

Nomenclature

The 'Taittiriya Shakha' can be loosely translated as 'Branch or School of (the sage) Tittri' or 'Branch or School of Taittiriya' or 'School of the pupils of Tittiri'. *'Taittiriya' is derived from the name of the sage Taittiri (or Tittiri). *'Shakha' means 'branch' or 'school'.

Origin

Monier-Williams

According to

Monier-Williams Sir Monier Monier-Williams (; né Williams; 12 November 1819 – 11 April 1899) was a British scholar who was the second Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University, England. He studied, documented and taught Asian languages, especially ...

''Sanskrit-English Dictionary'', Taittiri was a pupil of Yaska (estimated 4th-5th century BCE). According to the Vishnu Purana, Yaska was in turn a pupil of Vaiśampáyana, (estimated 6th century BCE). Taittiri is also stated in the

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the '' Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the K ...

to have attended 'the Yaga

Vedic_ _upright=1.2,_The_Vedas_are_ancient_Sanskrit_texts_of_Hinduism._Above:_A_page_from_the_''_Atharvaveda''. The_Vedas_(,_,_)_are_a_large_body_of__religious_texts_originating_in_ancient_India._Composed_in__Vedic_Sanskrit,_the_texts_constitute_th_...

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Yajna">ritual sacrifice] conducted by Uparichara Vasu, Uparicaravasu'.

Vishnu Purana

'Tittiri' also means 'partridge'. This meaning is worked into the account of the stated origin of the School of Tittri in the

Vishnu Purana The Vishnu Purana ( IAST:, sa, विष्णुपुराण) is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of ancient and medieval texts of Hinduism. It is an important Pancharatra text in the Vaishnavism literature corpus. The manusc ...

(Book 3, Chapter 5). Following a division between

Brahmin Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests ( purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers ( ...

s at Mount Meru - including Vaiśampáyana (whose pupil, Tittiri, is attributed to the Krishna (black) Yajurveda) and

Yajnavalkya Yajnavalkya or Yagyavalkya ( sa, याज्ञवल्क्य, ) is a Hindu Vedic sage figuring in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (c. 700 BCE)., Quote: "Yajnavalkya, a Vedic sage, taught..."Ben-Ami Scharfstein (1998), ''A comparative histor ...

(attributed to the Shukla (White) Yajurveda) - 'The other scholars of Vaiśampáyana, transforming themselves to partridges (Tittiri), picked up the texts which he ájnawalkyahad disgorged, and which from that circumstance were called Taittiríya'. This indicates both Yaska and Taittiri were pupils of Vaiśampáyana. The translator, H.H. Wilson, states in his commentary to this chapter that 'the term Taittiríya is more rationally accounted for in the Anukramańí or index of the black Yajush rishna YajurVeda It is there said that Vaiśampáyana taught it to Yaska, who taught it to Tittiri, who also became a teacher; whence the term Taittiríya, for a grammatical rule explains it to mean, 'The Taittiríyas are those who read what was said or repeated by Tittiri'.'

Nirukta

Yaska, attributed as the teacher of Taittiri, is also attributed as the author of the

Nirukta ''Nirukta'' ( sa, निरुक्त, , "explained, interpreted") is one of the six ancient Vedangas, or ancillary science connected with the Vedas – the scriptures of Hinduism.James Lochtefeld (2002), "Nirukta" in The Illustrated Encycl ...

, a study of

etymology Etymology () The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words ...

concerned with correct interpretation of

words in the

Vedas upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute th ...

. This is significant as the Nirukta references and quotes extensively from the Taittiriya texts (e.g. as listed in Appendix 1 of the Nirukta).

Overview

The Taittiriya school of the Krishna (black) Yajurveda produced several types of texts constituting Sruti

Vedic upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute th ...

literature (of the YajurVeda). These are the: * Taittiriya

Samhita Saṃhitā literally means "put together, joined, union", a "collection", and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses".Brahmana The Brahmanas (; Sanskrit: , ''Brāhmaṇam'') are Vedic śruti works attached to the Samhitas (hymns and mantras) of the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas. They are a secondary layer or classification of Sanskrit texts embedded within ...

and Anukramani (index) sections. One of four total Samhitas of the Krishna YajurVeda. *

Taittiriya Brahmana The ''Taittirīya Shakha'' (Sanskrit, loosely meaning 'Branch or School of the sage Tittiri'), is a ''shakha'' (i.e. 'branch', 'school', or rescension) of the Krishna (black) Yajurveda. Most prevalent in South India, it consists of the ''Taitti ...

: Three books of hymns, mantras, legends,

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, g ...

, and - typical of

Brahmana The Brahmanas (; Sanskrit: , ''Brāhmaṇam'') are Vedic śruti works attached to the Samhitas (hymns and mantras) of the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas. They are a secondary layer or classification of Sanskrit texts embedded within ...

texts - instructions on the performance of

sacrificial rites Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used (whether recommended or prescribed) by a Christian congregation or denomination on a regular basis. The term liturgy comes from Greek and means "public work". The majority of Christian denominatio ...

. * Taittiriya

: Ten books of hymns, mantras, and - typical of

texts -

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

constituting two

Upanishads The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...

. * Taittiriya

: One book concerned with

phonetics Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies how humans produce and perceive sounds, or in the case of sign languages, the equivalent aspects of sign. Linguists who specialize in studying the physical properties of speech are phoneticians. ...

, i.e. the correct pronunciation of words.

Notable members

According to B.R. Modak, the scholar Sayana (died 1387 CE), notable for his commentaries on Vedic literature including the Taittirīya texts, was a member of the Taittiriya Shakha. According to G.R. Garg, Apastamba, notable for his Shrautasutras, was also a member.

Commentaries

The 'Śrauta Sútras' (or Shrautasutras) of Apastamba (450–350 BCE), Bodhayana (500–200 BCE), and

Vaikhanasa Vaikhanasa () or Vaikhanasagama () is a tradition of Hinduism that primarily worships Vishnu (and his associated avatars) as the Supreme God. The tradition draws its name from the philosophy propounded by its founder, Sage Vikhanasa. Vaikhan ...

.(300–100 BCE) are theological texts concerned with procedures and ceremonies of Vedic

ritual A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized ...

practice. All are attached to the Taittiriya Samhita. There are other commentaries written by Sanskrit scholars and philosophers on the works of the Taittiriya Shakha. Most notably, according to B.R. Modak, Sayana wrote commentaries on the Taittirīya texts (and others). According to N. Sharva, the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa was also commented upon by Bhava Swāmī (circa 700 CE or earlier); Kauśika Bhaṭṭa Bhāskara Miśra (preceding and referred to by Sayana in the

and by Devarāja Yajvā in the Nighantu); and Rāmānḍara / Rāmāgnichitta.

Taittiriya Samhita

R. Dalal states that 'The Yajur Veda consists of passages in verse and prose, arranged for the performance of

yajnas Yajna ( sa, यज्ञ, yajña, translit-std=IAST, sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering) refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras.SG Nigal (1986), Axiological Approach to the Vedas, Northern Bo ...

(sacrifices)... The two main versions of the Yajur are known as the Shukla (or "white") Yajur Veda and the Krishna (or 'Black') Yajur Veda... of the black Yajur Veda, five

shakhas A shakha (Sanskrit ', "branch" or "limb") is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school.V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 913, left column.Moni ...

are known: the Taittiriya (Apastamba), Kapishthala (Hiranyakesi), Katha, Kathaka (school of the Kaṭhas), and Maitrayani (Kalapa), with four closely related recensions, known as the Kathaka

Samhita Saṃhitā literally means "put together, joined, union", a "collection", and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses".Samhita Saṃhitā literally means "put together, joined, union", a "collection", and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses".Anukramanis (indexes). In translations such as that by A.B. Keith, this Samhita is presented as the Krishna (black) Yajurveda. M. Winternitz adds that the Samhita also includes

passages (i.e. instructions and explanations of

sacrificial Sacrifice is the offering of material possessions or the lives of animals or humans to a deity as an act of propitiation or worship. Evidence of ritual animal sacrifice has been seen at least since ancient Hebrews and Greeks, and possibly exis ...

ceremonies). The chapters (''prapāṭhakas'') for each of the books (''kandas'') of the Taittiriya Samhita are as follows: * Kanda 1 ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 1: The new and full moon sacrifices ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 2: The

Soma Soma may refer to: Businesses and brands * SOMA (architects), a New York–based firm of architects * Soma (company), a company that designs eco-friendly water filtration systems * SOMA Fabrications, a builder of bicycle frames and other bicycle ...

sacrifice ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 3: The Victim for

Agni Agni (English: , sa, अग्नि, translit=Agni) is a Sanskrit word meaning fire and connotes the Vedic fire deity of Hinduism. He is also the guardian deity of the southeast direction and is typically found in southeast corners of Hi ...

and

** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 4: The Soma cups ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 5: The Rekindling of the Fire ** ''Prapāṭhakas'' 6-7: The sacrificer's part in the new and full moon sacrifices ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 8: The

Rajasuya Rajasuya () is a Śrauta ritual of the Vedic religion. It is ceremony that marks a consecration of a king. According to the Puranas, it refers to a great sacrifice performed by a Chakravarti - universal monarch, in which the tributary princes ma ...

* Kanda 2 **''Prapāṭhaka'' 1: The special animal sacrifices ** ''Prapāṭhakas'' 2-4: The special sacrifices ** ''Prapāṭhakas'' 5-6: The new and full moon sacrifices * Kanda 3 ** ''Prapāṭhakas'' 1-3: The supplement to the Soma sacrifice ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 4: The optional and occasional offerings ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 5: Miscellaneous supplements * Kanda 4 ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 1: The lacing of the fire in the fire-pan. ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 2: The reparation of the ground for the fire ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 3: The five layers of bricks ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 4: The fifth layer of bricks ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 5: The offerings to

Rudra Rudra (; sa, रुद्र) is a Rigvedic deity associated with Shiva, the wind or storms, Vayu, medicine, and the hunt. One translation of the name is 'the roarer'. In the Rigveda, Rudra is praised as the 'mightiest of the mighty'. ...

** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 6: The preparation of the fire ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 7: The piling of the fire (continued) * Kanda 5 ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 1: The placing of the fire in the fire-pan ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 2: The preparation of the ground for the fire ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 3: The second and later layers of bricks ** ''Prapāṭhakas'' 4-7: The piling of the fire altar (continued) * Kanda 6 ** ''Prapāṭhakas'' 1-5: The exposition of the Soma sacrifice. ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 6: Exposition of the Daksina and other offerings * Kanda 7 ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 1: The Ekaha and Ahina Sacrifices ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 2: The Ahina sacrifices (continued) ** ''Prapāṭhakas'' 3-4: The Sattras. ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 5: The Gavam Ayana

Nakshatras

D.M. Harness states that 'The

Nakshatras Nakshatra ( sa, नक्षत्रम्, translit=Nakṣatram) is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Indian Astronomy. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a ...

tars Tars or TARS may refer to: Organisations * The Arthur Ransome Society, based on British children's author Arthur Ransome * Teen Age Republicans, a youth wing of the US Republican Party * TARS, an abbreviation for ''Transporturi Aeriene Româno-So ...

arose from a spiritual perception of the

cosmos The cosmos (, ) is another name for the Universe. Using the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity. The cosmos, and understandings of the reasons for its existence and significance, are studied in ...

. Nakshatras are the mansions of the Gods or cosmic powers and of the

Rishis ''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...

or sages. They can also project negative or anti-divine forces, just as certain planets like

Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; h ...

have well known malefic effects. The term Nakshatra refers to a means (''tra'') of worship (''naksha'') or approach... The Nakshatras dispense the fruits of

karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively ...

... For this reason

Vedic rituals The historical Vedic religion (also known as Vedicism, Vedism or ancient Hinduism and subsequently Brahmanism (also spelled as Brahminism)), constituted the religious ideas and practices among some Indo-Aryan peoples of northwest Indian Subco ...

and

meditations ''Meditations'' () is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the ''Meditations'' in Koine ...

to the present day follow the timing of the Nakshatras...

hich Ij ( fa, ايج, also Romanized as Īj; also known as Hich and Īch) is a village in Golabar Rural District, in the Central District of Ijrud County, Zanjan Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also ...

are of prime mportancein

muhurta Muhūrta ( sa, मुहूर्त, translit=muhūrtaṃ) is a Hindu unit of measurement for time along with nimiṣa, kāṣṭhā, and kalā in the Hindu calendar. In the Brāhmaṇas, ''muhūrta'' denotes a division of time: 1/30 of a day, ...

or electional

astrology Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Di ...

for determining favorable times for actions, particularly sacramental or sacred actions like marriage'. Reference to the Nakṣhatra Sūktam (star positions relating to new and full moon ceremonies), occurs in ''kāṇḍa'' (book) 3, ''prapāṭhaka'' (chapter) 5, ''anuvākaḥ'' (section) 1 (3.5.1).

Shaivism

Shri Rudram and Namah Shivaya homages to Shiva

The Shri Rudram Chamakam and Namah Shivaya, homages to

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one o ...

(the supreme deity in

Shaivism Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangi ...

), occur in ''kāṇḍa'' (book) 5, ''prapāṭhakas'' (chapters) 5 and 7 (5.5 and 5.7).

Vaishnavism

The Varaha Avatara of Vishnu

Varaha, the boar

avatar Avatar (, ; ), is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means "descent". It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, goddess or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appear ...

Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...

(listed in the

Dashavatara The Dashavatara ( sa, दशावतार, ) are the ten primary avatars of Vishnu, a principal Hindu god. Vishnu is said to descend in the form of an avatar to restore cosmic order. The word ''Dashavatara'' derives from , meaning "ten", an ...

, or ten primary incarnation of Vishnu) is primarily associated with the

Puranic Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...

legend of lifting the Earth out of the

cosmic ocean A cosmic ocean or celestial river is a mythological motif found in the mythology of many cultures and civilizations, representing the world or cosmos as enveloped by primordial waters. In ancient creation texts, the primordial waters are often ...

. A.A. Macdonell and R. Janmajit both state that the origin and development of the

boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is ...

avatar is found in the Taittiriya Samhita, albeit initially as a form of

Prajapati Prajapati ( sa, प्रजापति, Prajāpati, lord and protector of creation) is a Vedic deity of Hinduism. In later literature, Prajapati is identified with the creator god Brahma, but the term also connotes many different gods, depe ...

: Another extract attributed to the early development of the Varaha avatar by Macdonell is:

Taittiriya Brahmana

The Taittirīya Brāhmaņa ('TB') is considered by academics to be an appendix or extension of the Taittirīya

Samhita Saṃhitā literally means "put together, joined, union", a "collection", and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses". The first two books ( ''ashṭakas'') largely consist of hymns and

mantras A mantra (Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ma ...

to the

-era

Devas Devas may refer to: * Devas Club, a club in south London * Anthony Devas (1911–1958), British portrait painter * Charles Stanton Devas (1848–1906), political economist * Jocelyn Devas (died 1886), founder of the Devas Club * Devas (band), ...

, as well as

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narra ...

, and

(i.e. the

); the third book contains commentaries and instructions on

rites such as the Purushamedha, Kaukili-Sutramani,

Ashvamedha The Ashvamedha ( sa, अश्वमेध, aśvamedha, translit-std=IAST) was a horse sacrifice ritual followed by the Śrauta tradition of Vedic religion. It was used by ancient Indian kings to prove their imperial sovereignty: a horse accom ...

, and Agnicayana. Recorded around 300-400 BCE, it was prevalent in southern

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

in areas such in

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

, south and east of Narmada (Gujarat), and areas on the banks of the

Godavari The Godavari ( IAST: ''Godāvarī'' �od̪aːʋəɾiː is India's second longest river after the Ganga river and drains into the third largest basin in India, covering about 10% of India's total geographical area. Its source is in Trimbakesh ...

river down to the sea. A.B Keith states that 'at a comparatively early period the formulae

Samhitas Saṃhitā literally means "put together, joined, union", a "collection", and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses". the chapters (''prapāṭhakas'') for each of the books (''ashṭakas'' or sometimes referred to as ''kandas'') are as follows: * Ashṭaka 1: Pārakshudra **''Prapāṭhaka'' 1: Explanation for the establishment of

** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 2: (

, chants, Vishuvat, Solstices, Mahavrata, and the bird-shaped altar) ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 3: Vajapeya

Yajna Yajna ( sa, यज्ञ, yajña, translit-std=IAST, sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering) refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras.SG Nigal (1986), Axiological Approach to the Vedas, Northern Boo ...

** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 4: Explanation of

offerings ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 5: The powers of stars or

nakshatras Nakshatra ( sa, नक्षत्रम्, translit=Nakṣatram) is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Indian Astronomy. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a ...

, rites and

RigVeda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonical Hindu texts ('' śruti'') known as the Vedas. Only on ...

Mantras A mantra (Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ma ...

** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 6: (Unknown) ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 7: (Unknown) ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 8: (Unknown) * Ashṭaka 2: Agnihotra **''Prapāṭhaka'' 1: The

Agnihotra Agnihotra (IAST: ''Agnihotra'', Devnagari: अग्निहोत्र) refers to the yajna of casting of ghee into the sacred fire as per strict rites, and may include twice-daily heated milk offering made by those in the Śrauta tradition. Th ...

Sacrifice ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 2: Dasahotra

Sacrifice Sacrifice is the offering of material possessions or the lives of animals or humans to a deity as an act of propitiation or worship. Evidence of ritual animal sacrifice has been seen at least since ancient Hebrews and Greeks, and possibly exis ...

** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 3: Dasahotra Sacrifices concluded ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 4: Mantras for Subsidiary Sacrifices or Upahomas ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 5: Mantras for Subsidiary Sacrifices or Upahomas (Concluded) ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 6: Kaukila Sautramani or the Sacrifice with Spirituous Liquor ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 7: Ephemeral Sacrifices or Savas ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 8: Sacrifices with especial prayers (Kamya) * Ashṭaka 3: (Various) ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 1: Sacrifices to the Constellations - Nakshatra

Ishti An ishti in Hinduism is a series of oblations to different deities A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divin ...

** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 2: Dars'a Ya'ga or Sacrifices meet on the wane of the Moon ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 3: Paurnamasa Ishti or Ceremonies to be performed on the full moon ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 4: On

Human sacrifices Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more humans as part of a ritual, which is usually intended to please or appease gods, a human ruler, an authoritative/priestly figure or spirits of dead ancestors or as a retainer sacrifice, wherein ...

** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 5: Ishti Sacrifices ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 6: Pa'Shuka Hotra ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 7: Expiations for defects in the performance of ceremonies ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 8: On the operations of the first day of the Asvamedha sacrifice ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 9: On the operations of the second and third days of the horse sacrifice ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 10: Sa'vitra-Chayana or collection of fire for the adoration of the sun ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 11: Nachiketa-Chayana, or collection of Nachiketa Fire ** ''Prapāṭhaka'' 12: Cha-tur-hotra and Vaisvasrij ceremonies

Taittiriya Aranyaka

The Taittiriya

('TA') is primarily a

theological Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the s ...

text consisting of ten chapters (p''rapāṭhakas''). J. Dowson states that 'Aranyaka' means 'belonging to the forest' as this type of text is intended to 'expound the

mystical Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute, but may refer to any kind of ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or spiritual meaning. It may also refer to the attainment of insight in u ...

sense of the [

] ceremonies, discuss the nature of God [etc.]. They are attached to the

s, and reintended for study in the forest by

brahmanas The Brahmanas (; Sanskrit: , ''Brāhmaṇam'') are Vedic śruti works attached to the Samhitas (hymns and mantras) of the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas. They are a secondary layer or classification of Sanskrit texts embedded within ...

who have retired from the distractions of the world'. As illustrated below, the Taittiriya Aranyaka contains a Brahmana text of its own, the Pravargya

, as well as two

, the

Taittiriya Upanishad The Taittirīya Upanishad ( Devanagari: तैत्तिरीय उपनिषद्) is a Vedic era Sanskrit text, embedded as three chapters (''adhyāya'') of the Yajurveda. It is a '' mukhya'' (primary, principal) Upanishad, and lik ...

(a Muktika or primary Upanishad) and the

Mahanarayana Upanishad The ''Mahanarayana Upanishad'' ( sa, महानारायण उपनिषद्, IAST: Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad) is an ancient Sanskrit text, and is one of the minor Upanishads of Hinduism. The text is classified as a Vaishnava Upa ...

(a minor

Vaishnava Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...

Upanishad).

Structure and Content

R. Mitra states that the Taittiriya Aranyaka is 'by far the largest of the Aranyakas. It extends altogether to ten p''rapāṭhakas'' or 'Great Lessons', i.e. books or chapters, of which the last four are

, and the first six, are Aranyaka strictly so-called'. The 10 chapters (p''rapāṭhakas'') of the Taittiriya Aranyaka, including numbers of ''anuvakas'' (sections) for each, are as follows:

Vaishnavism

The

is classified as a

Upanishad. In addition to this, the Taittiriya Aranyaka is also considered significant by academics in the development of the avatars (or incarnations) and their associated legends of the

RigVedic The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonical Hindu texts (''śruti'') known as the Vedas. Only one ...

god

, the supreme being in Vaishnavism.

The Varaha Avatara of Vishnu

A. Daniélou states that a hundred-armed black boar lifts the earth out of the waters in the Taittiriya Aranyaka (TA 10.1.8). J. Eggeling in note 451:1 to the

Shatapatha Brahmana The Shatapatha Brahmana ( sa, शतपथब्राह्मणम् , Śatapatha Brāhmaṇam, meaning 'Brāhmaṇa of one hundred paths', abbreviated to 'SB') is a commentary on the Śukla (white) Yajurveda. It is attributed to the Vedic ...

(relating to the Shukla or White Yajurveda) incorrectly states it was 'a black boar with a thousand arms'. The ''Journal Of The Indian Society Of Oriental Art'' (volume 13) states 'in the ‘Taittiriya Aranyaka’, the earth is said to have been raised by a black boar with a hundred arms (‘''varahena krsnena satabahuna uddhrta''’). It is an easily understandable step to the making of the boar an incarnation of Visnu himself, a step which is finally taken in the epics and the

Puranas Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...

'. This legend is also contained in the

(p''rapāṭhaka'' 10 of the Taittiriya Aranyaka): As 'Krishna' also means 'black', the verse can also be interpreted as 'black boar' or 'raised up by the black boar', as stated by Daniélou and Eggeling. However, the translation given above clearly shows how

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

is linked with

Varaha Varaha ( sa, वराह, , "boar") is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of a boar. Varaha is generally listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. Varaha is most commonly associated with the leg ...

The Kurma Avatara of Vishnu

N. Aiyangar states that the following verse from the Taittiriya Aranyaka (p''rapāṭhaka'' 1.23-25) 'is narrated in connection with the ritual called ''Arunaketuka-kayana'', in which the tortoise Kurma'.html"_;"title="Kurma.html"_;"title="Kurma">Kurma'">Kurma.html"_;"title="Kurma">Kurma'is_placed_below_the_''uttara-vedi''_[altar.html" ;"title="Kurma">Kurma'.html" ;"title="Kurma.html" ;"title="Kurma">Kurma'">Kurma.html" ;"title="Kurma">Kurma'is placed below the ''uttara-vedi'' [altar">Kurma">Kurma'.html" ;"title="Kurma.html" ;"title="Kurma">Kurma'">Kurma.html" ;"title="Kurma">Kurma'is placed below the ''uttara-vedi'' [altar In it

or his juice the Tortoise is called ''Arunaketu'' (one who had red rays)': The ''Vātaraśanāḥ'' Rishis (or Muni (Saint), Munis) created are also mentioned in

10.136, where

drank water/poison, linking to the legend of

Kurma Kurma ( sa, कूर्म; , 'Turtle', 'Tortoise'), is the second avatar of the Hindu preserver deity, Vishnu. Originating in Vedic literature such as the Yajurveda as being synonymous with the Saptarishi called Kashyapa, Kurma is mo ...

and the churning of the

Ocean of Milk In Hindu cosmology, the Ocean of Milk (',', ''Malayalam: Pālāḻi'') is the fifth from the centre of the seven oceans. It surrounds the continent known as Krauncha. According to Hindu scriptures, the devas and asuras worked together for a mill ...

, referred to as the

Samudra manthan The Samudra Manthana ( sa, समुद्रमन्थन; ) is a major episode in Hinduism that is elaborated in the Vishnu Purana, a major text of Hinduism. The Samudra Manthana explains the origin of the elixir of eternal life, amrita. No ...

then encounters a tortoise (Kurma/Arunaketu) that existed even before he, the creator of the universe, came into being.

Taittiriya Pratisakhya

The Taittiriya Pratisakhya ('TP') is concerned with

, i.e. the correct pronunciation of words.

Structure and Content

The 24 chapters of the Taittiriya Pratisakhya are as follows: # List of sounds # Origin of sounds # Shortening of

vowels A vowel is a syllabic speech sound pronounced without any stricture in the vocal tract. Vowels are one of the two principal classes of speech sounds, the other being the consonant. Vowels vary in quality, in loudness and also in quantity (len ...

# Pragraha or uncombinable words # Sanhita or combination of words # Conversions of ''s'' and visarjaniya into ''sh''. # Conversion of ''n'' into ''ṇ'' # Changes of unaspirated surds # Changes of ''h, ah, áh, n, ṉ, án, in'', etc. #

Coalescence Coalescence may refer to: * Coalescence (chemistry), the process by which two or more separate masses of miscible substances seem to "pull" each other together should they make the slightest contact * Coalescence (computer science), the merging o ...

of vowels #

Elision In linguistics, an elision or deletion is the omission of one or more sounds (such as a vowel, a consonant, or a whole syllable) in a word or phrase. However, these terms are also used to refer more narrowly to cases where two words are run toget ...

of vowels # Elision of vowels # Elision of ''m'' # Duplication #

Nasalization In phonetics, nasalization (or nasalisation) is the production of a sound while the velum is lowered, so that some air escapes through the nose during the production of the sound by the mouth. An archetypal nasal sound is . In the Internation ...

# the use of ''n'' # Various opinions about nasality # Opinions about the aspiration of Om # Emphasis and shaking # Different kinds of circumflex letters # Division of

consonants In articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract. Examples are and pronounced with the lips; and pronounced with the front of the tongue; and pronounced wit ...

in syllabication # Formation of articulate sounds, tones, pitch, long and short syllables, etc. # Articulation # Various kinds of texts, and qualifications of

teachers and readers

Manuscripts and translations

Supplemental

*Ápastamba's Śrauta Sútra (Sanskrit) edited by D. Garbe (1882): Prasnas 1-7 and Prasnas 8-15

References

{{Reflist Vedas