Vedas and Upanisads

Witzel, Michael

doi:10.1002/9780470998694.ch4

Cited by 13 publications

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“…Āraṇyakas are works theoretically elaborating on the meaning and power of rituals, and the proper preparations for them. The word araṇya sometimes means ‘forest’ but here simply represents the wilderness beyond the settlement, the appropriate location for learning about some of the more dangerous Vedic rituals, since the texts tend to concentrate on the mahāvrata (discussed below) and the pravargya (Witzel ), two rituals regarded ambivalently as powerful yet hazardous. Āraṇyakas rarely attract much comment in introductory works and courses, but they are important repositories of ritual information.…”

Section: The Vedic Texts: Their Dates and Social Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They are thus older than some of the newer Upaniṣads . Witzel () puts the important Indian grammarian Patañjali at c. 150 CE, and assigns this as the latest possible date of any Vedic text, given the extensive quotations from Vedic material found in the grammarians. However, the oldest of the Sūtras , namely the Baudhāyana Śrauta Sūtra , and the partially extant Vādhula Sūtra (sometimes called the Vādhula Brāhmaṇa ) have a similar style and language to the late Brāhmaṇas , so they are potentially slightly earlier than 600 BCE (see Fushimi, ).…”

Section: The Vedic Texts: Their Dates and Social Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Contemporary Guide to the Vedas: A Critical Survey of the Texts and Literature

Elby

2014

Religion Compass

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The Vedas are a major textual foundation of Hinduism, yet much of their content remains obscure and difficult to access. A discussion of recent literature on the Vedas provides the scholar with a clear conception of the nature of Vedic textual materials, the world views implied by Vedic texts and the nature of Vedic ritual, the central element of Vedic religion. Important resources for the study of the Vedas are identified, together with an assessment of the most important research themes in Vedic religion today.

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Section: The Vedic Texts: Their Dates and Social Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Vedic Texts: Their Dates and Social Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Contemporary Guide to the Vedas: A Critical Survey of the Texts and Literature

Elby

2014

Religion Compass

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“…Initially, the Śutivedas consisted of four collections of mantras called sahitās, each associated with a particular i/s or aspect of ritual. Over centuries, three kinds of additional literature were attached to each of the sahitās: the brāhmaas (discussions of the ritual), the ārayakas (manuscripts recited in the forests) and the upaniads (the philosophical writings) (Bloomfield, 1908, Witzel, 2003.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sacrificially Important Trees Revealed in Krsna Yajur Veda Samhita-Their Description and Uses

Boddupalli¹

2015

Indian Journal of History of Science

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The is in Ka Yajurveda (KYV) Taittirīya Sahitā (TS) have offered respects and prostrations to the trees (1-3-5; 1-3-6; 1-8-13; 4-5-2, 4-5-8) saying that it is not possible to imagine life without trees. The Śukla Yajurveda (SYV) Vājasaneyī Sahitā (VS) (16-20-20) also show respect towards the trees and say one should have reverence and devotion towards all eatables, grains, forests, medicinal herbs, trees and vegetation.All mantrās of KYV-TS describe a detailed account of how to perform various yajñas or sacrifices. To perform any yajña flawlessly, only specific implements made from the wood of distinctive trees and vessels should be used, which are collectively called 'yajñāyudha' (meaning, 'the weapons used in yajña'). The entire 7th anuvāka of the 5 th prapāhaka of the 3 rd kāa of the KYV-TS clearly reveals the names of different trees. There is no detailed published information available as to which tree wood is applicable for making a specific yajña implement. The 8 th anuvāka of the 4 th prapāhaka of the 3 rd kāa of the KYV-TS provides the names of different trees that should be used as samidhas (faggots) in the yajña / homa. This paper lists and explains about the woody trees used to make these yajñāyudha and the samidhas.

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“…1 1 For an introduction to Vedic texts, see Witzel (2003; changes in afterlife beliefs are discussed on p. 84–6); and Jamison and Witzel (1992) for a more comprehensive overview of Vedic religion, largely in the form of bibliographic essay. …”

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confidence: 99%

“…28 28 Witzel (2003, p. 84), citing the Maitrayani Sa m hita (1.8.6), characterises the earlier system of rebirth as an ‘automatic, continuous cycle’. …”

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confidence: 99%

Afterlife Conceptions in the Vedas

Shushan

2011

Religion Compass

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Continuity and change in ancient Indian afterlife conceptions are discussed in a broad overview of the most relevant Vedic texts (the Rig Veda, the Krishna Yajur Veda, the Atharva Veda, the Shatapatha Brahmana, the Jaiminiya Brahmana and the Upanishads). Despite the introduction of (or re‐emphasis on) certain ideas, such as reincarnation and moksha (liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth), there is also continuity of a core set of conceptions from the earliest texts to the latest. Return‐from‐death narratives are also found in each textual strand, and are discussed separately.

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Vedas and Upanisads

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

A Contemporary Guide to the Vedas: A Critical Survey of the Texts and Literature

A Contemporary Guide to the Vedas: A Critical Survey of the Texts and Literature

Sacrificially Important Trees Revealed in Krsna Yajur Veda Samhita-Their Description and Uses

Afterlife Conceptions in the Vedas

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