A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s7.13

v1.c8.s7.13

To the Ṛgveda belongs the Aitareya-Brāhmaṇa. It consists of forty Adhyāyas or "lessons," which are divided into eight Pañcakas or "fifths." Tradition names Mahīdāsa Aitareya as the author of the work. In reality he was probably only the compiler or editor of it. This Brāhmaṇa deals chiefly with the Soma-sacrifice, besides which with only the fire-sacrifice (Agnihotra) and the feast of the consecration of a king (Rājasūya). It is supposed that the last ten sections are of later origin.²