Changes

* पुरोहितः ॥ Purohita (Kalpadruma), आग्नीध्रः, याजकः (amarakosha) are synonyms for Rtvik.  

* पुरोहितः ॥ Purohita (Kalpadruma), आग्नीध्रः, याजकः (amarakosha) are synonyms for Rtvik.  

* As members of a social class, they belong to the class of '''विप्रः ॥ vipra'''.  <blockquote>जन्मना ब्राह्मणो ज्ञेयः संस्कारैर्द्विज उच्यते विद्यया याति विप्रत्वं त्रिभिः श्रोत्रियलक्षणम् .. इति प्रायश्चित्तविवेकः (Shabdakalpadruma).</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : One who is born as a brahmana, who after upanayana samskara is a divja and is after (veda) abhyasam is termed as vipra, these are the three lakshanas of a Srotriya according to Prayaschittaviveka as given in Shabdakalpadruma.</blockquote>

* As members of a social class, they belong to the class of '''विप्रः ॥ vipra'''.  <blockquote>जन्मना ब्राह्मणो ज्ञेयः संस्कारैर्द्विज उच्यते विद्यया याति विप्रत्वं त्रिभिः श्रोत्रियलक्षणम् .. इति प्रायश्चित्तविवेकः (Shabdakalpadruma).</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : One who is born as a brahmana, who after upanayana samskara is a divja and is after (veda) abhyasam is termed as vipra, these are the three lakshanas of a Srotriya according to Prayaschittaviveka as given in Shabdakalpadruma.</blockquote>

* Satapatha Brahmana (3.5.3.12) ye vai braahmanaah susrubamsoanucanaste viprah. They are also called as the protectors of yagna Satapatha brahmana (1.5.1.12) yagnasya praavitaraah  

* Satapatha Brahmana defines vipra as follows

<blockquote>ये वै ब्राह्मणाः शुश्रुवांसोऽनूचानास्ते विप्रास्तानेवैतदभ्याह.. (Shat. Brah. 3.5.3.12)</blockquote>

* Rtviks are also called as the protectors of yagna according to Satapatha brahmana (1.5.1.12) yagnasya praavitaraah  

==चातुर्होत्र || Chief Priests of Yagna==

==चातुर्होत्र || Chief Priests of Yagna==

In Srauta yagnas rtviks play a very important role. They are called as Hota, Adhvaryu, Udgaata, and Brahma.   

In Srauta yagnas rtviks play a very important role. They are called as Hota, Adhvaryu, Udgaata, and Brahma.