Upanishads These books are clearly much later than the Samhitā books. In course of time, the outward rituals became very strong; thus the crust of ritualism almost completely enveloped the deep...
Aranyaka Books Araņya means forest. These were the books used by persons who have retired from the active life of householder gŗhasta and stayed in the forests to carry on their spiritual pursuits. These books...
Brahmana Books At the end of the age of the Samhitās the deep knowledge in these books was almost lost; however the texts themselves were carefully preserved by special methods of recitation...