Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s10.t5.1

v1.c7.s10.t5.1

Brahmana is an ancient Indian Brahmanism Sutra, also known as “Brahman book” or “Brahmanas”, formed about between 1000 BCE and 700 BCE. It is an important book of ancient codes and records, further explaining the origin, purpose, meaning and methods of sacrifice, based on the four Vedas. Brahmana is a prosy scripture, its contents are mainly in three aspects: ritual procedure, illustrating the ritual details and a variety of specific provisions, like the type of sacrifice, number of sacrificial fire and priests, time and location of sacrifices, etc.; interpretation, explaining the hidden meanings of hymn, prayers and spell used in rituals, ultimate implications, indicating the purpose and, meaning and philosophy to be achieved of ritual.