They belong to the non-revealed literature, as distinguished from the revealed literature,--a distinction made by the Brahmans before the time of Buddha.

At the time of the Buddhist controversy the Sutras were admitted to be of human origin and were consequently recent works.

The distinction between the Sutras and Brahmanas is very marked, the second being revealed.

The Brahmanas were composed by and for Brahmans and are in three collections.

The Vedangas are intermediate between the Vedic and non-Vedic literature.