Rigveda Brahmanas (THE AITAREYA AND KAUSITAKI BRAHMANAS OF THE RIGVEDA)

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The present volume (No.25 of the Harvard Oriental Series), contains Dr. A.B. Keith's English translation of the Aitareya and Kausitaki Brahmanas of the Rgveda.

The translation of the Aitareya Brahmana is based on the accurate original text edited by Haug, Aufrecht and the one used by Sayana in his commentary while that of the Kausitaki Brahmana is based on the text edited by Lindner. Both the Brahmanas are important, for they have preserved for us the ancient traditions of their schools, not available from any older source.

Dr. Keith has added a long introduction to this volume. Extending over 103 pages it covers the Comparison of Contents of the two Brahmanas, their Relation, Composition, Dates, Ritual, Language, Style, Metre, Commentaries and Editions. In the treatment of this vast subject matter the reader will find abundant material to ensure the correctness of textual interpretation in the translation of the text.

This monumental work is an excellent contribution to the Knowledge of sacrificial cult that characterized Indian life in the Vedic age.

1. Comparison of Contents of the two Brahmanas
2. The Relations of the two Brahmanas
3. The Composition of the Aitareya Brahmana
4. The Composition of the Kausitaki Brahmana
5. The Dates of the two Brahmanas
   Relation to Panini
   Relation to Yaska
   Relation to Cakalya
   Relation to Acvalayana and Cankhayana
   Absence of reference to Metempsychosis
   Political references
   Relation to other Brahmana texts
   Relation to Apastamba
   Astronomical data
   Date of later part of the Aitareya
   Date of Metrical Portions of the Aitareya
6. The Ritual
   The Cankhayana Crauta Sutra
   The Acvalayana Crauta Sutra
   The Soma Sacrifice
   The Rajasuya and the Story of Cunahcepa
7. Language, Style, and Metre
   Language of the Mantras
   Language of the Prose
   Style
   Metre
8. Commentaries and Editions