|
The Aranyakas (; Sanskrit: ' ) are the ritual sacrifice part of the ancient Indian texts, the Vedas.〔("Aranyaka" ). ''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''.〕 They typically represent the earlier sections of Vedas, and are one of many layers of the Vedic texts.〔Classified by text types, the Aranyakas are one of five, with other four being Samhita, Brahmana, Upasana and Upanishad; see A Bhattacharya (2006), Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology, ISBN 978-0595384556, pages 5-17〕 The other parts of Vedas are the Samhitas (benedictions, hymns), Brahmanas (commentary), Upasanas (worship), and the Upanishads (spirituality and abstract philosophy).〔A Bhattacharya (2006), Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology, ISBN 978-0595384556, pages 8-14〕〔Barbara A. Holdrege (1995), Veda and Torah: Transcending the Textuality of Scripture, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791416402, pages 351-357〕 ''Aranyakas'' describe and discuss rituals and sacrifices from various perspectives. For example, Katha Aranyaka describes rituals such as the ''Mahavrata'' and ''Pravargya''.〔M. Witzel, Katha Aranyaka,Cambridge:Harvard Oriental Series 2004: xxviii sqq〕 Aitareya Aranyaka includes explanation of the ''Mahavrata'' ritual from ritualisitic to symbolic meta-ritualistic points of view.〔 ''Aranyakas'', however, neither are homogeneous in content nor in structure.〔 ''Aranyakas'' are sometimes identified as ''karma-kanda'' (कर्म खण्ड, ritualistic action/sacrifice section), while the Upanishads are identified as ''jnana-kanda'' (ज्ञान खण्ड, knowledge/spirituality section).〔〔See to ''Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad'' at pages 1-5; Quote - "The Vedas are divided in two parts, the first is the karma-kanda, the ceremonial part, also (called) purva-kanda, and treats on ceremonies; the second part is the jnana kanda, the part which contains knowledge, also named uttara-kanda or posterior part, and unfolds the knowledge of Brahma or the universal soul." (Translator: Edward Roer)〕 In an alternate classification, the early part of Vedas are called Samhitas and the commentary are called the Brahmanas which together are identified as the ceremonial ''karma-kanda'', while ''Aranyakas'' and ''Upanishads'' are referred to as the ''jnana-kanda''.〔Stephen Knapp (2005), The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment and Illumination, ISBN 978-0595350759, pages 10-11〕 In the immense volume of ancient Indian Vedic literature, there is no absolute universally true distinction between ''Aranyakas'' and ''Brahamanas''. Similarly, there is no absolute distinction between ''Aranyakas'' and ''Upanishads'', as some Upanishads are incorporated inside a few ''Aranyakas''.〔AB Keith (2007), The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120806443, pages 491-492〕 ''Aranyakas'', along with Brahmanas, represent the emerging transitions in early Vedic religious practices.〔Edward F Crangle (1994), The Origin and Development of Early Indian Contemplative Practices, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, ISBN 978-3447034791, pagea 55-59〕 The transition completes with the blossoming of ancient Indian philosophy from external sacrificial rituals to internalized philosophical treatise of Upanishads.〔AB Keith (2007), The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120806443, pages 491-509〕 ==Etymology== "Aranyaka" () literally means "produced, born, relating to a forest " or "belonging to the wilderness". It is derived from the root ' (अरण्य), which means "forest, wilderness".〔(araNya ) Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Koeln University, Germany〕 Two theories have been proposed on the origin of the word ''Aranyakas''. One theory holds that these texts were meant to be studied in a forest, while the other holds that the name came from these being the manuals of allegorical interpretation of sacrifices, for those in Vanaprastha (retired, forest-dwelling) stage of their life, according to the historic age-based Ashrama system of human life.〔AB Keith (2007), The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120806443, pages 489-490〕 Taittiriya Ar. 2 says, "from where one cannot see the roofs of the settlement", which does not indicate a forested area. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Aranyaka」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|