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Rtvik or Rtvij (Samskrit : ऋत्विक् ऋत्विज् ) are professional priests who play an important role in conducting yagnas (usually Srauta yagnas) and establish the connection between the devatas of the yagna and the yajamaana. Well versed in vedic procedures by studying different Kalpas and qualified to conduct ''[[Yagya (यज्ञ)|yagnas]]'' they conduct appropriate rituals while reciting mantras. Rtviks are trained in the particular vedic kalpas and they attain proficiency by practice.

Rtvik or Rtvij (Samskrit : ऋत्विक् ऋत्विज् ) are professional priests who play an important role in conducting yagnas (usually Srauta yagnas) and establish the connection between the devatas of the yagna and the yajamaana. Well versed in vedic procedures by studying different Kalpas and qualified to conduct ''[[Yajna (यज्ञः)|yagnas]]'' they conduct appropriate rituals while reciting mantras. Rtviks are trained in the particular vedic kalpas and they attain proficiency by practice.

All homas and yagnas do not require the appointment of Ritviks. For Smarta karmas and nityakarmas such as sandhyavandana, agnihotras, panchamahayagnas, devata pujas at home, rtviks are not required.

All homas and yagnas do not require the appointment of Ritviks. For Smarta karmas and nityakarmas such as sandhyavandana, agnihotras, panchamahayagnas, devata pujas at home, rtviks are not required.

* As members of a social class, they belong to the class of '''विप्रः ॥ vipra'''.

* 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><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>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>

==चातुर्होत्र || Four Rtviks for Yagna==

==चातुर्होत्र || Four Rtviks for Yagna==

Each action is accompanied by ''yajus'' belonging to the ''[[yajurveda]]''.   

Each action is accompanied by ''yajus'' belonging to the ''[[yajurveda]]''.   

=== Udgaata ===

=== Udgaata ===

The '''udgātṛ''' was a chanter of mantras set to melodies (''sāman'') taken from the [[Samaveda|''sāmaveda'']].   

The '''udgātṛ''' was a chanter of mantras set to melodies (''sāman'') taken from the ''[[Samaveda (सामवेद)|sāmaveda]]''.   

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" />

Mantra 2.1.2 of Rigveda states:     

Mantra 2.1.2 of Rigveda states:     

तवाग्ने <nowiki>''होत्रं''</nowiki> तव पोत्रमृत्वियं तवनेष्ट्रं त्वमग्निदृतायतः । तव <nowiki>'''प्रशास्त्रं''' त्व'''मध्वरीय'''</nowiki>सि ब्रह्मा चासि गृहपतिश्च नो दमे ॥

तवाग्ने होत्रं तव पोत्रमृत्वियं तव नेष्ट्रं त्वमग्निदृतायतः । तव प्रशास्त्रं त्वमध्वरीयसि ब्रह्मा चासि गृहपतिश्च नो दमे ॥<ref>Rig veda [http://ignca.nic.in/Vedic_portal_rigveda_shakala_Samhita_m02.htm mantra] </ref>

The above mantra enumerates the rtviks as the ''hotṛ'', ''potṛ'', ''neṣṭṛ'', ''agnīdh'', ''prashāstṛ'' (meaning the ''maitrāvaruna'') and ''adhvaryu''.

The above mantra enumerates the rtviks as the ''hotṛ'', ''potṛ'', ''neṣṭṛ'', ''agnīdh'', ''prashāstṛ'' (meaning the ''maitrāvaruna'') and ''adhvaryu''.

According to Asvalaayana Srauta sutras (4.1.16) the following assistants are listed in each gana of the rtviks. In the systematic expositions of the ''[[shrauta sutra]]s'',<ref>''Shānkhāyana SS'' 13.4.1, ''Āsvalāyana SS'' 4.1.4-6.</ref> the assistants are classified into four groups associated with each of the four rtviks.   

According to Asvalaayana Srauta sutras (4.1.16) the following assistants are listed in each gana of the rtviks. In the systematic expositions of the ''shrauta sutras'',<ref>''Shānkhāyana SS'' 13.4.1, ''Āsvalāyana SS'' 4.1.4-6.</ref> the assistants are classified into four groups associated with each of the four rtviks.   

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!Veda

!Veda

यजतीति स यजमानः - One who performs yagnas is yajamanaha (Shabdakalpadruma).   

यजतीति स यजमानः - One who performs yagnas is yajamanaha (Shabdakalpadruma).   

It is the Yajamaana, who intents to conduct, takes the diksha and starts a yaaga or isthi with the ceremony Rtvikvarana and ends it with the Dakshinadaana ceremony. In the middle though it is done by the rtviks the yajamana is also mandated to recite mantras and perform some ceremonies. He takes part in offering the havis into the agnihotra and consumption of the havis during havishbhakshana by the rtviks. Thus, the yajamana who is the intended beneficiary of the yaaga, is a direct participant with others take his stead in situations when he is unable to participate. The Agnihotra homa is performed by the yajamaana only. Only if he falls ill, in his place a rtvik conducts it.  

It is the Yajamaana, who intents to conduct, takes the diksha and starts a yaaga or isthi with the ceremony Rtvikvarana and ends it with the Dakshinadaana ceremony. In the middle though it is done by the rtviks the yajamana is also mandated to recite mantras and perform some ceremonies. He takes part in offering the havis into the agnihotra and consumption of the havis during havirhbhakshana by the rtviks. Thus, the yajamana who is the intended beneficiary of the yaaga, is a direct participant with others take his stead in situations when he is unable to participate. The Agnihotra homa is performed by the yajamaana only. Only if he falls ill, in his place a rtvik conducts it.  

Yajnapatni is also has a role to play in many yaagas. Any yagna or yaaga is to be performed only by a sapatnika yajamaana. When yajamaana is unable to perform his role, his wife, son, brother-in-law and ultimately the rtviks are authorized to take his role.

Yajnapatni also has a role to play in many yaagas. Any yagna or yaaga is to be performed only by a sapatnika yajamaana. When yajamaana is unable to perform his role, his wife, son, brother-in-law and ultimately the rtviks are authorized to take his role.

The requirements of the fully developed yaagas like Somayaaga and Satrayaaga are rigorous and professional rtviks only can guide and perform them adequately without mistakes<ref name=":0" />.

The requirements of the fully developed yaagas like Somayaaga and Satrayaaga are rigorous and professional rtviks only can guide and perform them adequately without mistakes<ref name=":0" />.

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्रम्)|Agnihotra]]

*[[Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्रम्)|Agnihotra]]

*[[Agnistoma]]

*Agnistoma

==Notes==

==References==