Brahmanas definition of Brahmanas in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Brahmanas

ancient Indian sacred tracts forming part of Vedic literature. The texts of the Brahmanas were created approximately from the eighth to sixth centuries B. C. and are the very earliest examples of ancient Indian prose. The Brahmanas reflected the pretensions of the Indian priesthood (the brahmins) to a ruling position in society; sacrificial offerings are regarded in the texts as the foundation and meaning of life, and the priests are regarded as “living gods.” The Brahmanas contain myths, traditions, detailed descriptions of ritual, and information on the social and cultural history of ancient India. The language of the Brahmanas is terse and dry, but certain legends, tales, and parables have artistic value or contain a philosophical generalization. In the vast literature of the Brahmanas, the Shatapatha Brahmana is the most esteemed.

REFERENCES

Winternitz, M. A History of Indian Literature, 2nd ed., vol. 1, part 1. Calcutta, 1959.
Oldenberg, H. Zur Geschichte der altindischen Prosa. Berlin, 1917.
Rau, W. Staat und Gesellschaft im alten Indien. Wiesbaden, 1957.

P. A. GRINTSER

Mentioned in	?		References in periodicals archive	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found	of the Brahmanas or ritualistic writings; and the rest of the Upanishads are independent,not comprised in any of the Brahmanas or other parts of the Vedas; but there is no reason to suppose that they were entirely independent of other parts,for, as we well know, many of these have been lost entirely and many of the Brahmanas have become extinct. Age New Spirituality ? Inspirational Stories ( Part 120 ) by John Harricharan / Philosophy and religion community Although the world is not fulfilling a prearranged plan mechanically, such engagement would, however, involve human effort that the Hindus divide into four categories: Brahmanas (Intellectuals), Kshatriyas (Warriors), Vaisyas (Trade and finance) and Sudras (Service). A holistic approach to business management: perspectives from the ... by Hee, Charles Chow Hoi / Singapore Management Review However, it then gained more specific and enduring meaning as 'world' (in the Atharvaveda, certain Brahmanas and onwards). When folk culture met print culture: some thoughts on the ... by Chalmers, Rhoderick / Contributions to Nepalese Studies	Bragg, Braxton Bragg, Mabel Caroline Bragg, Sir William Bragg, Sir William Henry Bragg, Sir William Lawrence Bragg-Kleeman rule Bragg-Pierce law Bragg-Vulf Condition Braggadocchio bragger braggite Bragi Bragin Braginskii, Iosif Braginskii, Iosif Samuilovich Brahe Brahe, Tycho Brahm, Otto Brahma brahma-loka Brahmagiri Brahmagupta Brahman Brahman cattle Brahmana Brahmanas Brahmanism Brahmans Brahmaputra Brahmaputra River Brahmi Brahmin Brahmo Samaj Brahms Brahms, Johannes Brahui braid braid pattern Braid, James braided stream braided wire braiding Braidwood, Robert Braidwood, Robert J. Braidwood, Thomas braie Braila Braille braille display Braille embosser Braille Print	Brahmagiri hills Brahmagupta Brahmahgupta Brahmam Brahmam Brahmam Brahman Brahman Brahman Brahmán Brahmán Bráhman Bráhman Bráhman Brahman (caste) Brahman (caste) Brahman (cattle) Brahman (god) Brahman (god) Brahman (god) Brahman bull Brahman cattle Brahman Hinduism Brahman Hinduism Brahman Samaj of North America Brahman's Brahman's Brahman's Brahmana Brahmana Brahmanas Brahmanesque Brahmanesque Brahmaness Brahmani Brahmanic Brahmanic Brahmanic Brahmanical Brahmanical Brahmanical Brahmanism Brahmanism Brâhmanism Brâhmanism Brahmanist Brahmanist Brahmans Brahmans Brahmans Brahmaputra Brahmaputra Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd Brahmaputra River Brahmaputra River Brahmaputra Valley Brahmaputra Valley Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. brahmaputras brahmaputras brahmas

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Encyclopedia browser

Full browser

No references found

of the Brahmanas or ritualistic writings; and the rest of the Upanishads are independent,not comprised in any of the Brahmanas or other parts of the Vedas; but there is no reason to suppose that they were entirely independent of other parts,for, as we well know, many of these have been lost entirely and many of the Brahmanas have become extinct.

Age New Spirituality ? Inspirational Stories ( Part 120 ) by John Harricharan / Philosophy and religion community

Although the world is not fulfilling a prearranged plan mechanically, such engagement would, however, involve human effort that the Hindus divide into four categories: Brahmanas (Intellectuals), Kshatriyas (Warriors), Vaisyas (Trade and finance) and Sudras (Service).

A holistic approach to business management: perspectives from the ... by Hee, Charles Chow Hoi / Singapore Management Review

However, it then gained more specific and enduring meaning as 'world' (in the Atharvaveda, certain Brahmanas and onwards).

When folk culture met print culture: some thoughts on the ... by Chalmers, Rhoderick / Contributions to Nepalese Studies