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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).  

== कल्पः ॥ Kalpa ==

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 mostly 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). {{#evt:

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”.     

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

Texts of [[Kalpa Vedanga (कल्पवेदाङ्गम्)|Kalpa Vedanga (कल्पः)]] mainly deal with elaborating the Vedic Yajna procedures and are 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”.     

Kalpa Vedanga deals with four types of sutras namely,  

The first set of sutra literature in the [[Kalpa Vedanga (कल्पवेदाङ्गम्)|Kalpa Vedanga]] namely, Shrautasutras provide guidance for the performance of Vaidika Yajnas. The performance of Vedic rituals is being continued even in the modern period especially in South India.<ref name=":022">Radhakrishna Bhat, N. ''[http://vedicheritage.gov.in/pdf/Vedic_tradition_karnataka.pdf Vedic Ritual Tradition of Karnataka]'', Vedic Heritage Portal.</ref>  

* '''Shrautasutras''' : Contain procedures for performing great Yajnas (sacrifices) lasting for many days. 

The ‘Sulbasutras’ and ‘Srautasutras’ directly deal with the performance of Vedic rituals. These texts provide guidance for the performance of Vedic sacrifices. The performance of Vedic rituals is being continued even in the modern period especially in South India.<ref name=":022" />

Shrauta, as the name suggest, refers to the texts which have been derived from the Shruti or the Vedas. The Shrauta sutras contain a very detailed, meticulously accurate and vivid description of the several sacrifices that were performed in ancient times. These works were manuals compiled for the practical purpose of giving directions to those who engaged in such sacrifices. They are based on ancient Brahmana texts, which they quote at every step, many individual sutras being couched in the very language of the Brahmanas.<ref name=":0">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1941) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law) Volume 2, Part 2.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref>

The Shrauta rituals cover a whole gamut of rituals from the simplest to the most complicated. Most of them are no more practiced, but their study is useful for historical reasons. According to Prof. Radhakrishna Bhat,  <blockquote>"Most of the ‘Haviryajnas’, ‘Agnihotra’, ‘Darsapurnamasa’ and ‘Caturmasya’ sacrifices, the basic ‘Somayajnas’, ‘Agnistomas’ and its varieties, and some culturally and historically important sacrifices like ‘Vajapeya’, “Asvamedha’, ‘Sarvamedha’ etc are found in ‘Yajurveda’ (Adhvaryuveda). Later in ‘Puranas’ the references to Vedic rituals and practices are found. In classical Sanskrit literature some references to Vedic rituals and practices are mentioned. This shows that the Vedic ritual tradition is continued to modern period too without any interruption". <ref name=":022">Radhakrishna Bhat, N. ''[http://vedicheritage.gov.in/pdf/Vedic_tradition_karnataka.pdf Vedic Ritual Tradition of Karnataka]'', Vedic Heritage Portal.</ref></blockquote>The procedures for Shrauta karmas are compiled in Shrauta Sutras as given in the Kalpa Vedanga. Some of the Shrauta Sutras associated with particular vedas are as follows<ref name=":1222222222" />

The present article is based on the references of Shrauta sutras of Asvalayana, Apastamba, Katyayana, Baudhayana with occasional references to Samhitas and Brahmanas.  

{| class="wikitable"

== Classification of Shrauta Yajnas ==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="300" caption="Yajna Upakarnas; Courtesy: Vaidik Samshodhan Mandal, Pune">

File:Rauhin kapal.JPG

|Asvalayana, Sankhyayana

File:YUP-CHATURASHRI.JPG

File:SHAMA-GADAKAR.JPG

|Krishna Yajurveda : Taittriya

|-

File:IDAPATRA-CHATURASTRA.JPG

|Krishna Yajurveda : Maitrayani

</gallery>Shrauta 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>.   

|-

|-

|}Besides these above mentioned Srautasutras, there are many others but their texts are not available at present. The present article is based on the references of Shrauta sutras of Asvalayana, Apastamba, Katyayana, Baudhayana with occasional references to Samhitas and Brahmanas.  

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>.   

'''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>

'''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>

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|+Srauta Yajnas According to Shabdakalpadruma

|+Shrauta Yajnas According to Shabdakalpadruma

!Haviryajnas

!Haviryajnas

!Somayajnas

!Somayajnas

# Pasu  

# Pasu  

# Soma  

# Soma  

'''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.

'''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">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1941) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law) Volume 2, Part 2.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref> <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.

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.   

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.   

Some of the general rules applicable in all shrauta karmas, from the Asvalayana Srautasutras (1.1.8 to 22) summarized in pages 982 - 983 of reference<ref name=":0" /> are given below.<blockquote>तस्य नित्याः प्राञ्चश्चेष्टाः ८ अङ्कधारणा च ९ यज्ञोपवीतशौचे च १० विहारादव्यावृत्तिश्च तत्र चेत् कर्म ११ एकाङ्गवचने दक्षिणं प्रतीयात् १२ अनादेशे १३ कर्मचोदनायां होतारं १४ ददातीति यजमानं १५ जुहोति-जपतीति प्रायश्चित्ते ब्रह्माणं १६ ऋचं पादग्रहणे १७ सूक्तं सूक्तादौ हीने पादे १८ अधिके तृचं सर्व्वत्र १९ जपानुमन्त्रणाप्यायनोपस्थानान्युपांशु २० मन्त्राश्च कर्म्मकरणाः २१ प्रसङ्गादपवादो बलीयान् २२ (Asva. Shra. 1.1.8 to 22)<ref>Asvalayana Shrautasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8_%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote>

Some of the general rules applicable in all shrauta karmas, from the Asvalayana Srautasutras (1.1.8 to 22) summarized in pages 982 - 983 of reference<ref name=":0" /> are given below.<blockquote>तस्य नित्याः प्राञ्चश्चेष्टाः ८ अङ्कधारणा च ९ यज्ञोपवीतशौचे च १० विहारादव्यावृत्तिश्च तत्र चेत् कर्म ११ एकाङ्गवचने दक्षिणं प्रतीयात् १२ अनादेशे १३ कर्मचोदनायां होतारं १४ ददातीति यजमानं १५ जुहोति-जपतीति प्रायश्चित्ते ब्रह्माणं १६ ऋचं पादग्रहणे १७ सूक्तं सूक्तादौ हीने पादे १८ अधिके तृचं सर्व्वत्र १९ जपानुमन्त्रणाप्यायनोपस्थानान्युपांशु २० मन्त्राश्च कर्म्मकरणाः २१ प्रसङ्गादपवादो बलीयान् २२ (Asva. Shra. 1.1.8 to 22)<ref>Asvalayana Shrautasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8_%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote>

# Unless expressly stated, the yajamana should always face the north direction and sit cross-legged.

# Unless expressly stated, the yajamana should always face the north direction and sit cross-legged.

# The sacrificial materials (kusa etc) should have their ends pointed towards the east direction.

# The yajnika materials (kusa etc) should have their ends pointed towards the east direction.

# The sacred thread (yajnopavitam) should be worn in all activities, in the upavita form, except where the nivita or prachinaviti form is expressly ordained.

# The sacred thread (yajnopavitam) should be worn in all activities, in the upavita form, except where the nivita or prachinaviti form is expressly ordained.

# Whenever a limb (anga) is mentioned, or no particular limb is mentioned, the right limb (hand, foot, finger) is meant.

# Whenever a limb (anga) is mentioned, or no particular limb is mentioned, the right limb (hand, foot, finger) is meant.

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Yajnas]]

[[Category:Yajnas]]