Taittiriya Aranyaka is a compilation of Upanishads along with several mantras for recitation for various reasons. In the Taittiriya Aranyaka one to six forms the Aranyaka proper. The first two are part of the astau kathakani. They were sourced from Kathaka shakha. They deal with varieties of the Agnicayana ritual.
Chapter 1 has some Puranic names. They are known as the Aruna prasna as they have a particular style of fire-brick piling. It is also known as the "Surya namaskara chapter" by South Indian Brahmins. They have created a ritual of reciting it with surya namaskara exercises after each of its 132 anuvakas.
Chapter 2 deals with five Maha yajnas that every brahmin has to perform daily. The major one is the recitation of the Veda. The sacred thread, the yajnopavita, sandhya worship, ancestors, the brahma-yajna and the homa-sacrifice are vividly described.
Chapter 3 deals with several other homas and yajnas. Chapter 4 deals with the mantras that are used in the pravargya Shrauta ritual. Chapter 5 enumerates about the Pravargya-yajna. Chapter 6 records the pitrmedha mantras which are recited during the rituals for the removal of the dead body.
Chapters 7, 8 and 9 are considered as the three vallis of the well-known Taittiriya Upanishad. Chapter 10 is also known by the name "Mahanarayana Upanishad". It has important mantras picked from the three Samhitas.
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