Rgveda Brahmanas (The Aitareya And Kausitaki Brahmanas of The Rigveda)

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The present volume, contains the translation of the Aitareya Brahmana based on the accurate original text edited by Haug, Aufrecht and the one used by Sayana in his commentary, while that of the Kausitaki Brahmana is based on the text edited by Lindtner. Both the Brahmanas are important, for they have preserved for use the ancient traditions of their schools, not available from any older source.

Dr. Keith has added a long introduction to this volume. Extending over 103 pages it covers the Comparison of Contents of the two Brahmanas, their Relation, Composition, Dates, Ritual, Language, Style, Metre, commentaries and Editions. In the treatment of this vast subject matter the reader will find abundant material to ensure the correctness of textual interpretation in the translation of the text.

This monumental work is an excellent contribution to the knowledge of sacrificial cult that characterized Indian life in the Vedic age.

PROF. ARTHUR BERRIEDALE KEITH (5 April 1879- 6 October 1944) was a Scottish constitutional lawyer, scholar of Sanskrit and Indologist. He became Regius Professor of Sanskrit and Lecturer in Constitutional History in the University of Edinburgh. He served in this role from 1914 to 1944. His other works on Indian Sanskrit literature and culture are Indian Mythology (1917), The Senhkhya System: A History of the Sarizkhya Philosophy (1918), Buddhist Philosophy in India, A History of Sanskrit Literature (1920). He also translated in English The Aitareya Aranyaka (1909), The Veda of the Black Yajus School (Taittiriya Satithitii), Itveda Brahmans: The Aitareya and Kausitaki Brahmans of the Rgoeda (1920).

THIS translation of the Brithmanas of the Rigveda was prepared in the winter of 1914-15, and in the following autumn Professor C. R. Lanman added to the many obligations which I owe to him by undertaking to find a place for it in the Harvard Oriental Series. Interruption of correspondence, due to submarine activity, delayed arrangements for printing, but substantial progress was made in 1917. Thereafter, however, the increasing pressure of war conditions rendered work difficult, and when, on the conclusion of the armistice, an active resumption of printing took place, my absence in London, while serving on Lord Crewe's Committee on the Home Administration of Indian Affairs, postponed for a considerable period the correction of the proofs.

The plan followed in this work is that adopted in the case of the translation of the Taittirlya SaAkita, vols. xviii and xix in this series, and it gives me sincere pleasure to express once more my indebtedness to the works of Professors A. A. Macdonell ; T. Aufrecht and J. Eggeling, my predecessors at Edinburgh ; W. Caland, V. Henry, A. Hillebrandt, H. Oldenberg, W. D. Whitney, and, last but not least, C. R. Lanman. Dr. F. W. Thomas, as ever, facilitated the use of the resources of the Library of the India Office, including the MS. of Vinayaka's commentary on the Kausitaki Bralmana, from which are derived the renderings ascribed in my translation to the commentary. My wife shared with me the task of correcting the proofs and preparing the indexes. To Mr. Frederick Hall and his staff my best thanks are due for the care which they have taken in the production of the work.

**Contents and Sample Pages**