Brahmanas

Brahmanas are the treatises on the ceremonial system of Brahminism, with prescriptions bearing upon ritual, and abounding in legends and speculations. These are prose commentaries attached to the Vedas. They explained the significance of the Vedas as used in the ritual sacrifices and offerings to the Supreme God. The symbolic significance of the priest's actions and their importance are also explained. Numerous Brahmana texts existed in ancient India, many of which have been lost. A total of 19 Brahmanas are extant in their entirety, the chief among them are four - Aitareya, Shatpath, Sam, and Gopath Brahman.