Changes

* अग्न्याधेयं पाकयज्ञानग्निष्टोमादिकान्मखान् .यः करोति वृतो यस्य स तस्यर्त्विगिहोच्यते - one who is selected to perform Agnaayadheya, paakayagnas, Agnistoma and other yagnas he is termed as Rtvik (Manava Kosha 2.143)  

* अग्न्याधेयं पाकयज्ञानग्निष्टोमादिकान्मखान् .यः करोति वृतो यस्य स तस्यर्त्विगिहोच्यते - one who is selected to perform Agnaayadheya, paakayagnas, Agnistoma and other yagnas he is termed as Rtvik (Manava Kosha 2.143)  

* 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'''.

* Satapatha Brahmana defines vipra as follows  

<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><blockquote>Satapatha Brahmana gives the definition vipra as follows</blockquote><blockquote>ये वै ब्राह्मणाः शुश्रुवांसोऽनूचानास्ते विप्रास्तानेवैतदभ्याह.. (Shat. Brah. 3.5.3.12)<ref>Satapatha Brahmana [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%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%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB/%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%A5%A9 Kanda 3]</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>ये वै ब्राह्मणाः शुश्रुवांसोऽनूचानास्ते विप्रास्तानेवैतदभ्याह.. (Shat. Brah. 3.5.3.12)<ref>Satapatha Brahmana [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%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%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB/%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%A5%A9 Kanda 3]</ref></blockquote>

 

==चातुर्होत्र || Four Rtviks for Yagna==

==चातुर्होत्र || Chief Priests of Yagna==

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

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

The '''Rig-Veda Samhita''' is the oldest text of Sanaatana Dharma. Its rtvik is called the '''<u>Hotri</u>'''. The '''Yajur-Veda Samhita''' is mostly in prose and is meant to be used by the '''<u>Adhvaryu</u>''', the Yajur-Vedic rtvik for explanations of the rites, supplementing the Rig-Vedic Mantras. The '''Sama-Veda Samhita''' is mostly borrowed from Rig-Vedic Samhita and is meant to be sung by the '''<u>Udgatri</u>'''. The '''Atharva-Veda Samhita''' is meant to be used by the '''<u>Brahma</u>''', the Atharva-Vedic rtvik, to correct the mispronunciations and wrong performances that may accidentally be committed by the other three rtviks<ref>Swami Sivananda, All about Hinduism, Page 32</ref>.   

The '''Rig-Veda Samhita''' is the oldest text of Sanaatana Dharma. Its rtvik is called the '''<u>Hotri</u>'''. The '''Yajur-Veda Samhita''' is mostly in prose and is meant to be used by the '''<u>Adhvaryu</u>''', the Yajur-Vedic rtvik for explanations of the rites, supplementing the Rig-Vedic Mantras. The '''Sama-Veda Samhita''' is mostly borrowed from Rig-Vedic Samhita and is meant to be sung by the '''<u>Udgatri</u>'''. The '''Atharva-Veda Samhita''' is meant to be used by the '''<u>Brahma</u>''', the Atharva-Vedic rtvik, to correct the mispronunciations and wrong performances that may accidentally be committed by the other three rtviks<ref>Swami Sivananda, All about Hinduism, Page 32</ref>.   

The '''hotṛ''' is the reciter of invocations or mantras. These could consist of single mantras (''ṛca''), pair of them (''pragātha'') or in triplets ( ''tṛca''), or entire set of mantras (''suktas''), belonging to the [[Rigveda|''ṛgveda'']].   

The '''hotṛ''' is the reciter of invocations or mantras. These could consist of single mantras (''ṛca''), pair of them (''pragātha'') or in triplets ( ''tṛca''), or entire set of mantras (''suktas''), belonging to the [[Rigveda|''ṛgveda'']].   

Hota's duties include reciting the Anuvaakya and Yaajya mantras. He pronounces "vashatkaara" at the time of placing the aahuti in the agnihotram. In the Darsapurnamaasa yaaga he recites saamidheni mantras and in Somayaaga he recites Shastra with his assistants<ref name=":0">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>. Thus his role as an invoker of devatas by reciting the appropriate propitiatory mantras is clearly significant.

Hota's duties include reciting the अनुवाक्य || Anuvaakya and याज्य || Yaajya mantras. He pronounces "वशट्कारः || vashatkaara" at the time of placing the aahuti in the agnihotram. In the Darsapurnamaasa yaaga he recites सामिधेनि || saamidheni mantras and in Somayaaga he recites शास्त्र || Shastra with his assistants<ref name=":0">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>. Thus his role as an invoker of devatas by reciting the appropriate propitiatory mantras is clearly significant.

=== Adhvaryu ===

=== Adhvaryu ===

The '''adhvaryu''' is in charge of the physical details of the sacrifice. In particular the term ''adhvara'' is defined by Maharshi Yaska in Nirukta as - Adhvarasya netaa (Nirukta 1.8.1) adhvaram yunakti iti adhvaryuh - one who relates to the yagna completes all works of the yagna, he is the leader of the yagna<ref name=":0" />.   

The '''adhvaryu''' is in charge of the physical details of the sacrifice. In particular the term अध्वर || is defined by Maharshi Yaska in Nirukta as - Adhvarasya netaa (Nirukta 1.8.1) adhvaram yunakti iti adhvaryuh - one who relates to the yagna, completes all works of the yagna, he is the leader of the yagna<ref name=":0" />.   

The ''adhvaryu's'' duties include measuring the ground, to build the yagnavedi, homakunda, prepare the yagna patras (vessels and tools), fetch samidhas (wood) and water, light the fire, arrange for dravyas (milk, honey, tila etc), cook the required havirdravyas (purodasa, odhanam, animal parts in case of Pasuyaaga) and offer the aahutidravyas in the fire<ref name=":0" />.

The ''adhvaryu's'' duties include measuring the ground, to build the yagnavedi, homakunda, prepare the yagna patras (vessels and tools), fetch samidhas (wood) and water, light the fire, arrange for dravyas (milk, honey, tila etc), cook the required havirdravyas (purodasa, odhanam, animal parts in case of Pasuyaaga) and offer the aahutidravyas in the fire<ref name=":0" />.

There presence of Udgaata and his assistants is necessary only in the Somayaaga. He plays a specialized role in the Somayaaga -  a characteristic function of the ''udgātṛ'' is to sing saamagaana in praise of the invigorating properties of ''soma pavamāna'', the freshly pressed juice of the soma plant.<ref name=":0" />

There presence of Udgaata and his assistants is necessary only in the Somayaaga. He plays a specialized role in the Somayaaga -  a characteristic function of the ''udgātṛ'' is to sing saamagaana in praise of the invigorating properties of ''soma pavamāna'', the freshly pressed juice of the soma plant.<ref name=":0" />

=== Brahma ===

=== Brahma ===

The Brahma is the protector and supervisor of the yagna. He is knowledgeable in the three Vedas, so he is called Trivedavid. In the Satapata Brahmana it is clearly mentioned that one who has the knowledge of the three vedas may take the charge of Brahma. ()

The Brahma is the protector and supervisor of the yagna. He is knowledgeable in the three Vedas, so he is called Trivedavid. In the Satapata Brahmana it is clearly mentioned that one who has the knowledge of the three vedas may take the charge of Brahma.<ref name=":0" />

Brahma's position is said to be high in the yagnas and it was believed that only silent sitting of Brahma and observation of the procedures makes the yagna successful. He uses Atharvaveda mantras to 'heal' it when mistakes have been made.<ref name=":0" /> In the Aitereya Brahmana it is mentioned that half the portion of yaaga Dakshina should be given to Brahma and remaining half to be paid to other priests.

Brahma's position is said to be high in the yagnas and it was believed that only silent sitting of Brahma and observation of the procedures makes the yagna successful. He uses Atharvaveda mantras to 'heal' it when mistakes have been made.<ref name=":0" /> In the Aitereya Brahmana it is mentioned that half the portion of yaaga Dakshina should be given to Brahma and remaining half to be paid to other priests.