Meaning of the term Aranyakas used during Vedic Period
The term “Aranyakas” refers to a set of ancient Hindu texts that are associated with the Vedic Period. The Aranyakas are considered to be a part of the Vedas, which were a collection of religious texts composed between roughly 1500 BCE and 500 BCE.
The Aranyakas are considered to be a continuation of the Brahmanas, which were another set of Vedic texts. The Brahmanas were primarily concerned with the performance of Vedic rituals and sacrifices, while the Aranyakas focused more on the philosophical and spiritual aspects of Vedic religion.
The word “Aranyakas” itself means “forest treatises,” and this reflects the fact that these texts were traditionally studied and practiced by hermits and ascetics who lived in the forest or wilderness. The Aranyakas include discussions of various philosophical and spiritual topics, such as the nature of the self, the relationship between the individual and the cosmos, and the methods of achieving spiritual enlightenment.
Overall, the Aranyakas represent an important aspect of Vedic religion and philosophy, and they continue to be studied and practiced by some Hindus to this day.