A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c9.s2.15

c9.s2.15

Most of the Brâhmaṇas which are left to us are collective works. A tradition has been preserved in confirmation of this fact. The Brâhmaṇa of the Taittirîyas, in the Śâkhâs both of the Âpastambîyas and the Âtreyas, contains some portions which bear the name of Kaṭha, and were formerly the property of his followers. The component parts are frequently called Brâhmaṇas, instead of chapters or sections. The same applies to the Âraṇyakas and Upanishads. In some cases, these smaller Brâhmaṇas are quoted by their special titles¹; and in their collected form they are handed down, not always by the name of the Charaṇa by which they were adopted, but more frequently by that of the Charaṇa in which their original collection took place. Thus the Aitareya-brâhmaṇa, though adopted by the Âśvalâyanîyas, is more frequently quoted by its original name than by that of Âśvalâyana-brâhmaṇa.² The Brâhmaṇa of Kaushîtakin or the Kaushîtakins is more usually referred to by this name than by that of the later Charaṇa of the Śânkhâyanas.