The Shatapatha Brahmana (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, 'Brahmana of a Hundred Paths') is the most extensive and philosophically rich Brahmana text associated with the Shukla Yajurveda. It is traditionally attributed to the sage Yajnavalkya and is preserved in two recensions: the Madhyandina and the Kanva. The text is a prose commentary on Vedic rituals, but it also contains profound cosmological, mythological, and metaphysical teachings. Its mantras are not independent hymns but rather liturgical formulas and explanatory passages that accompany the performance of sacrifices, especially the Agnichayana (the construction of the fire altar) and the Soma sacrifices. The central deity is Agni, the fire god, who is identified with the cosmic sacrifice and the principle of transformation.
Prajapati, the creator, is also prominent as the archetypal sacrificer. The mantras often invoke the concept of Rta (cosmic order) and the correspondence between the microcosm (the altar) and the macrocosm (the universe). For example, the famous 'Puruṣa Sūkta' (Rigveda 10.90) is quoted and elaborated in the Shatapatha Brahmana, linking the primordial sacrifice to the creation of the world. The text also contains the earliest known exposition of the theory of karma and rebirth (Shatapatha Brahmana 6.2.2.27). The beej-aksharas (seed syllables) in these mantras are typically Vedic metrical sounds like 'Om', 'Bhūḥ', 'Bhuvaḥ', 'Svaḥ', and the Gayatri meter is frequently employed.
The traditional purpose of chanting these mantras is to gain a deep understanding of the symbolic meaning of rituals, to align oneself with cosmic order, and to attain spiritual liberation (moksha) through the performance of yajna. Recommended chanting context: during the performance of Vedic sacrifices (yajnas) such as Agnichayana or Agnihotra, ideally at dawn or dusk, with proper ritual purity and under the guidance of a qualified Vedic priest. The count varies according to the specific ritual; for example, the Agnichayana involves recitation of 360 verses (Shatapatha Brahmana 10.5.4.1). Cautions: these mantras are considered powerful and should not be chanted without proper initiation (diksha) and understanding of the ritual context, as they are intimately tied to sacrificial procedures. The text itself warns against incorrect recitation, which can lead to ritual failure (Shatapatha Brahmana 1.1.4.9).
Om, the earth, the atmosphere, the heavens.
Contains the seed-syllables 'bhūr', 'bhuvaḥ', 'svaḥ' which are the three vyāhṛtis (sacred utterances) representing the three worlds.