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− | == श्रौतकर्माणि ॥ Shrauta Karmas ==
| + | Shrauta karmas include the elaborate activities related to Shrauta yajnas and yagas meant for the well-being of mankind. These karmas are so called because their procedures are directly based on the Srutis or instructions given in Vedas. The brahmanas contain the description of yajnas (which last for many days) and different aakhyayikas as part of the Shrauta karmas (for example Haviyagnakandam of Kanvasatapatha brahmana contains the details of Haviryajnas). However, in Kalpas the rules are methodically compiled in Sutra format without the aakhyayika part.<ref name=":1222222222">Purkayastha, Dipanjona (2014) Ph. D Thesis from Assam University : ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/41946 A Study of the Asvalayana srauta sutra with reference to the principal sacrifices]''</ref> Usually, Srauta karmas involve the Chaturhotr - the four priests (Hota, Adhvaryu, Udgaata, Brahma). |
− | Shrauta karmas include the elaborate activities related to Shrauta yajnas and yagas meant for the well-being of mankind. These karmas are so called because their procedures are directly based on the Srutis or instructions given in Vedas. The brahmanas contain the description of yajnas (which last for many days) and different aakhyayikas as part of the Shrauta karmas (for example Haviyagnakandam of Kanvasatapatha brahmana contains the details of Haviryajnas). However, in Kalpas the rules are methodically compiled in Sutra format without the aakhyayika part.<ref name=":1222222222">Purkayastha, Dipanjona (2014) Ph. D Thesis from Assam University : ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/41946 A Study of the Asvalayana srauta sutra with reference to the principal sacrifices]''</ref> Usually, Srauta karmas involve the Chaaturhotr - the four priests (Hota, Adhvaryu, Udgaata, Brahma). | |
| === कल्पः ॥ Kalpa === | | === कल्पः ॥ Kalpa === |
| Kalpas (कल्पः) mainly deal with elaborating the Vedic Yajna procedures and is classified under [[Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)|Shad Vedangas]]. The very name itself means ‘Kalpyate Samarthyate Yaga Prayogo Atra’ which means “The practice of Vedic ritual traditions are explained here”. | | Kalpas (कल्पः) mainly deal with elaborating the Vedic Yajna procedures and is classified under [[Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)|Shad Vedangas]]. The very name itself means ‘Kalpyate Samarthyate Yaga Prayogo Atra’ which means “The practice of Vedic ritual traditions are explained here”. |
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| Srauta Yajnas are 14 in number. They are divided into two main groups of seven each : Haviryajnas and Somayajnas<ref name=":1222222222" /><ref>Introduction to Rituals ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/rituals/# Vedic Heritage Portal])</ref>. | | Srauta Yajnas are 14 in number. They are divided into two main groups of seven each : Haviryajnas and Somayajnas<ref name=":1222222222" /><ref>Introduction to Rituals ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/rituals/# Vedic Heritage Portal])</ref>. |
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− | '''Gopatha Brahmana''' (1.5.23)<ref>Gopatha Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A5_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7_(%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB Purvabhara Prapathaka 5])</ref> describes the Haviryajnas and Somayajnas as follows<blockquote>अग्न्याधेयम् अग्निहोत्रं पौर्णमास्यमावास्ये । नवेष्टिश् चातुर्मास्यानि पशुबन्धो ऽत्र सप्तमः ॥ इत्य् एते हविर्यज्ञाः </blockquote><blockquote>अग्निष्टोमो ऽत्यग्निष्टोम उक्थ्यः षोडशिमांस् ततः । वाजपेयो ऽतिरात्रश् चाप्तोर्यामात्र सप्तमः ॥ इत्य् एते सुत्याः</blockquote>Agnyadheyam and Navesti are given Gopatha Brahmana as one of the Haviryajnas.
| + | '''Shabdakalpadruma'''<ref>Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83 See Haviryajnas under Yaga])</ref> describes the following list of Haviryajnas and Somayajnas.<blockquote>तत्र श्रौताग्निकृत्य- हविर्यज्ञाः सप्त । यथा । आग्न्याधानं तदेवाग्निहोत्रम् १ दर्शपौर्णमासौ २ पिण्डपितृ-यज्ञः ३ आग्रयणम् ४ चातुर्म्मास्यः ५ निरूढ-पशुबन्धः ६ सौत्रामणिः ७ ।</blockquote><blockquote>श्रौताग्निसप्तसंस्थाः । यथा । सोमयागः स एवाग्निष्टोमः १ अत्यग्निष्टोमः २ उक्थ्यः ३ षोडशी ४ वाजपेयः ५ स द्बिविधः संस्था कुरुश्च । अतिरात्रः ६ अप्तूर्य्यामः ७ ।</blockquote> |
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− | '''Shabdakalpadruma'''<ref>Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83 See Haviryajnas under Yaga])</ref> however, describes the following list of Haviryajnas. <blockquote>तत्र श्रौताग्निकृत्य- हविर्यज्ञाः सप्त । यथा । आग्न्याधानं तदेवाग्निहोत्रम् १ दर्शपौर्णमासौ २ पिण्डपितृ-यज्ञः ३ आग्रयणम् ४ चातुर्म्मास्यः ५ निरूढ-पशुबन्धः ६ सौत्रामणिः ७ ।</blockquote><blockquote>श्रौताग्निसप्तसंस्थाः । यथा । सोमयागः स एवाग्निष्टोमः १ अत्यग्निष्टोमः २ उक्थ्यः ३ षोडशी ४ वाजपेयः ५ स द्बिविधः संस्था कुरुश्च । अतिरात्रः ६ अप्तूर्य्यामः ७ ।</blockquote> | |
| {| class="wikitable" | | {| class="wikitable" |
| |+Srauta Yajnas According to Shabdakalpadruma | | |+Srauta Yajnas According to Shabdakalpadruma |
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| !Somayajnas | | !Somayajnas |
| |- | | |- |
− | |अग्निहोत्रम् ॥ Agnihotra or (आग्न्याधानं ॥ Agnyadhana) | + | |अग्निहोत्रम् ॥ [[Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्रम्)|Agnihotra]] or (आग्न्याधानं ॥ Agnyadhana) |
| |अग्निष्टोमः ॥ Agnistoma | | |अग्निष्टोमः ॥ Agnistoma |
| |- | | |- |
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| |सौत्रामणिः ॥ Sautramani | | |सौत्रामणिः ॥ Sautramani |
| |आप्तोर्यामः ॥ Aptoryam | | |आप्तोर्यामः ॥ Aptoryam |
− | |}'''Gautama Dharmasutras''' also enumerate the seven haviyajnas and seven somasamsthas. Agnyadhana is also a haviryajna according to Gautama Dharmasutras (1.8.20) <blockquote>अग्न्याधेयमग्निहोत्रं दर्शपूर्णमासावाग्रयणं चातुर्मास्यानि निरूढपशुबन्धः सौत्रामणीति सप्तहविर्यज्ञसम्स्थाः ॥</blockquote>Here we see instead of Pindapitryajna, Agnyadheya (also called Agnyadhana) is described as one of the seven Haviryajnas. | + | |}Different Brahmanas and Sutras, however, mention different Haviryajnas though the Somayajnas remain fairly same. |
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− | '''Aitreya Aranyakam''' (2.3.3) (belonging to Rig veda) describes five categories of srauta yagnas as follows | + | '''Gopatha Brahmana''' (1.5.23)<ref>Gopatha Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A5_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7_(%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB Purvabhara Prapathaka 5])</ref> describes the Haviryajnas and Somayajnas as follows <blockquote>अग्न्याधेयम् अग्निहोत्रं पौर्णमास्यमावास्ये । नवेष्टिश् चातुर्मास्यानि पशुबन्धोऽत्र सप्तमः ॥ इत्य् एते हविर्यज्ञाः </blockquote><blockquote>अग्निष्टोमोऽत्यग्निष्टोम उक्थ्यः षोडशिमांस् ततः । वाजपेयोऽतिरात्रश्चाप्तोर्यामात्र सप्तमः ॥ इत्य् एते सुत्याः</blockquote>Agnyadheyam and Navesti are given Gopatha Brahmana as one of the Haviryajnas. |
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− | sa esha yajnah panchavidho agnihotram darsapurnamaasau chaturmasyaani pasu somah | + | '''Aitreya Aranyakam''' (2.3.3) (belonging to Rig veda) describes five categories of srauta yagnas as follows <blockquote>स एष यज्ञः पञ्चविधोऽग्निहोत्रं दर्शपूर्णमासौ चातुर्मास्यानि पशुः सोमः (Aitr. Aran. 2.3.3)<ref>Aitreya Aranyakam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A5%A8 Aranyakam 2])</ref></blockquote> |
| # Agnihotra | | # Agnihotra |
| # Darsapurnamaasa | | # Darsapurnamaasa |
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| # Pasu | | # Pasu |
| # Soma | | # Soma |
− | As per tradition, the Srauta Shastras identify the following six types of sacrifices (yajnas).
| + | '''Gautama Dharmasutras''' also enumerate the seven haviyajnas and seven somasamsthas. Agnyadhana is also a haviryajna according to Gautama Dharmasutras (1.8.20)<ref name=":0" /> <blockquote>अग्न्याधेयमग्निहोत्रं दर्शपूर्णमासावाग्रयणं चातुर्मास्यानि निरूढपशुबन्धः सौत्रामणीति सप्तहविर्यज्ञसम्स्थाः ॥</blockquote>Here we see instead of Pindapitryajna, Agnyadheya (also called Agnyadhana) is described as one of the seven Haviryajnas. |
− | === हविर्यज्ञाः ॥ Haviryajnas ===
| + | |
− | There are seven Haviryajnas as given below.
| + | The most common of these yajnas is the Agnihotra, where daily havis of milk is given in the three fires, every morning and evening. Apart from Agnihotra, Darsapurnamasa (performed on New and Full Moon days) and Chaturmasya (performed at the beginning of three seasons) are also important and conducted by few people even in the present days. |
− | * [[Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्रम्)|अग्निहोत्रम् ॥ Agnihotra]]
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− | * दर्शपूर्णमास ॥ Darsapurnamasa
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− | * आग्रयण ॥ Agrayana
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− | * पिण्डपितृयज्ञ ॥ Pindapitryajna
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− | * चातुर्मास्य ॥ Chaturmasya
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− | * निरूढपशुबन्ध ॥ Nirudha Pashubandha
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− | * सौत्रामणी ॥ Sautramani
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− | === सोमयज्ञाः ॥ Somayajnas ===
| + | https://www.advaita-vedanta.org//archives/advaita-l/1999-November/011030.html |
− | There are seven Somayajnas as given below.
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− | * अग्निष्टोम ॥ Agnistoma
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− | * अत्यग्निष्टोम ॥ Atyagnistoma
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− | * उक्थ्य ॥ Ukthya
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− | * षोडशी ॥ Sodashi
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− | * वाजपेय ॥ Vajapeya
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− | * अतिरात्र ॥ Atiratra
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− | * आप्तोर्याम ॥ Aptoryam
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− | The most common of these yajnas is the Agnihotra, where daily havis of milk is given in the three fires, every morning and evening. Apart from Agnihotra, Darsapurnamasa (performed on New and Full Moon days) and Chaturmasya (performed at the beginning of three seasons) are also important.
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| == General Rules in Shrauta Yajnas == | | == General Rules in Shrauta Yajnas == |