- Aitareya Aranyaka consists of 5 Aranyakas, which are sub-divided into 18 chapters, and 75 Khandas.
- The first Aranayaka consists of mantras, Nishkaivalya Shastra and certain rights.
- The second and the third Aranayakas are called the Upanishads.
- The fourth and fifth chapter of the second Aranyaka constitutes the Aitareya Upanishad.
- The third Aranayaka constitute the Samhita Upanishad.
The Aitareya Aranyaka is a significant text within the corpus of ancient Indian scriptures known as the Aranyakas, which are part of the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. The Aitareya Aranyaka is associated with the Rigveda, one of the four Vedas, and specifically with the Aitareya Brahmana, which is its preceding text. Together, the Aitareya Brahmana and the Aitareya Aranyaka constitute the Aitareya tradition within the Rigveda.
The word "Aranyaka" literally means "belonging to the forest" or "forest text." Aranyakas are considered to be texts that contain philosophical and mystical teachings, often intended for hermits and ascetics who live in the forests. They are characterized by their speculative and symbolic interpretations of Vedic rituals and philosophical concepts.
The Aitareya Aranyaka consists of three chapters (or "khandas") and is primarily composed in prose, although it also contains some hymns in verse form. The text deals with various topics, including rituals, sacrificial ceremonies, cosmology, meditation, and philosophy. It explores profound metaphysical ideas such as the nature of reality, the relationship between the individual soul (Atman) and the universal soul (Brahman), and the concept of karma.
One of the most famous passages from the Aitareya Aranyaka is the Aitareya Upanishad, which is found in its third chapter. The Aitareya Upanishad delves into the nature of the self (Atman) and its relationship with the ultimate reality (Brahman), presenting profound philosophical insights that have been influential in Hindu thought.
Overall, the Aitareya Aranyaka holds a significant place in the Vedic literature, offering profound philosophical teachings and insights into ancient Indian spirituality and metaphysics.