A History of Sanskrit Literature c11.8

c11.8

Of the two Brāhmaṇas attached to the *Rigveda*, the more important is the *Aitareya*. The extant text consists of forty chapters (*adhyāya*) divided into eight books called *panchikās* or “pentads,” because containing five chapters each. That its last ten chapters were a later addition appears likely both from internal evidence and from the fact that the closely related *Çāṅkhāyana Brāhmaṇa* contains nothing corresponding to their subject-matter, which is dealt with in the *Çāṅkhāyana Sūtra*. The last three books would further appear to have been composed at a later date than the first five, since the perfect in the former is used as a narrative tense, while in the latter it still has its original present force, as in the oldest Brāhmaṇas. The essential part of this Brāhmaṇa deals with the soma sacrifice. It treats first (1–16) of the soma rite called *Agnishṭoma*, which lasts one day, then (17–18) of that called *Gavāmayana*, which lasts 360 days, and thirdly (19–24) of the *Dvādaçāha* or "twelve days' rite." The next part (25–32), which is concerned with the *Agnihotra* or "fire sacrifice" and other matters, has the character of a supplement. The last portion (33–40), dealing with the ceremonies of the inauguration of the king and with the position of his domestic priest, bears similar signs of lateness.