The History of Indian Literature c8.165

c8.165

The first and most important of these is the *Táṇḍya Bráhmaṇa*, also called *Pañchaviṅśa*, from its containing twenty-five books. Its contents, it is true, are in the main of a very dry and unprofitable character; for in mystic trifling it often exceeds all bounds, as indeed it was the adherents of the Sámaveda generally who carried matters furthest in this direction. Nevertheless, from its great extent, this work contains a mass of highly interesting legends, as well as of information generally. It refers solely to the celebration of the Soma sacrifices, and to the chanting of the *sámans* accompanying it, which are quoted by their technical names. These sacrifices were celebrated in a great variety of ways; there is one special classification of them according as they extended over one day or several, or finally over more than twelve days.⁶² The latter, called *sattras*, or sessions, could only be performed by Brahmans, and that in considerable numbers, and might last 100 days, or even several years. In consequence of the great variety of ceremonies thus involved, each bears its own name, which is borrowed either from the object of its celebration, or the sage who was the first to celebrate it, or from other considerations. How far the order of the Saṃhitá is here observed has not yet been investigated, but in any case it would be a mistake to suppose that for all the different sacrifices enumerated in the Bráhmaṇa corresponding prayers exist in the Saṃhitá. On the contrary, the latter probably only exhibits the verses to be chanted generally at all the Soma sacrifices; and the Bráhmaṇa must be regarded as the supplement in which the modifications for the separate sacrifices are given, and also for those which arose later. While, as we saw above (p. 14), a combination of verses of the Ṛik for the purpose of recitation bears the name *śastra*, a similar selection of different *sámans* united into a whole is usually called *uktha* (√() *vach*, to speak), *stoma* (√() *stu*, to praise), or *pṛishṭha* (√() *prachh*, to ask); and these in their turn, like the *śastras*, receive different appellations.⁶³