Brāhmaṇa (book)

The Brāhmaṇa-s (devanāgarī: ब्राह्मणम्) are a collection of ancient Indian texts with commentaries on the hymns of the four Vedas. They are primarily a digest incorporating myths, legends, the explanation of Vedic rituals and in some cases philosophy. Each Brahmana is associated with one of the four Vedas, and within the tradition of that Veda with a particular shakha or school.

Mme. Blavatsky wrote:

The Brâhmanas, reproached by the Orientalists with their versions on the same subjects, often clashing with each other, are pre-eminently occult works, hence used purposely as blinds. They were allowed to survive for public use and property only because they were and are absolutely unintelligible to the masses. Otherwise they would have disappeared from circulation as long ago as the days of Akbar.