Kausheethaki Aranyaka

The Shankhayana Aranyaka or Kaushitaki Aranyaka belongs to Kaushitaki and Shankhayana recension of the Rigveda. The Aranyaka is considered as a Vedic text containing mystic and spiritual thoughts related to Vedic Philosophy and Ritualistic concept. It is divided into fifteen chapters, out of which chapters third, fourth, fifth and sixth are considered as Kaushtaki Upanishad and chapters seventh and eights as Samhitopanishad. Content of the Aranyaka includes Mahavrata, description about the Upanishadic thoughts (Kaushitaki and Samhitopanishad), greatness of Prana, mystic implication of the Agnihotra ritual, spiritual practices for warding off death and sickness, results of prayer, philosophical matters such as penance, faith and self-control, and genealogy of teachers from Brahma to Guna Sankhayayana.