Rigveda Āraṇyaka
Among the four part of Vedic literature, Āraṇyakas are a developed part of Vedic literature which occupy a place at the end of the Brāhmaṇas. Even though, Aranyaks comes at the ending portion of Brāhmaṇa, they are considered as individual texts also. They contain instructions for performing meditation of spiritualist signs which due to their superior sanctity, and are intended to be communicated to student by a teacher in the solitude of the forests. They are also meant for the use of religious men who have retired to the forest after completing all the worldly activities to the forest and who no longer perform sacrifices. Since, these are to be practiced in forests, these parts are known as Āraṇyaka. In Sanskrit, Aranya means forest and Āraṇyakam means that which is connected to and the works that are to recited or read in Aranya i.e. forest.
Among the four part of Vedic literature, Āraṇyakas are a developed part of Vedic literature which occupy a place at the end of the Brāhmaṇas. Even though, Aranyaks comes at the ending portion of Brāhmaṇa, they are considered as individual texts also. They contain instructions for performing meditation of spiritualist signs which due to their superior sanctity, and are intended to be communicated to student by a teacher in the solitude of the forests. They are also meant for the use of religious men who have retired to the forest after completing all the worldly activities to the forest and who no longer perform sacrifices. Since, these are to be practiced in forests, these parts are known as Āraṇyaka. In Sanskrit, Aranya means forest and Āraṇyakam means that which is connected to and the works that are to recited or read in Aranya i.e. forest.
Ātmavidyā, Prāṇavidyā and Dhyāna or Upāsanā (philosophy, awareness on Prāṇa (breath) control and meditation) are the key content of most of the Āraṇyaka works. Though there were many Āraṇyakas for each Vedas, today only few among them are available now. Āraṇyaka of Rigveda are: Aitareya Āraṇyaka and Sāṅkhyāyana or Kauṣītaki Āraṇyaka.
Āraṇyakas of Rigveda
As mentioned earlier for Rigveda, there are two Āraṇyakas and they are Aitareya Āraṇyaka and Sāṅkhyāyana Āraṇyaka, this is also known as Kousitiki Āraṇyaka.
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