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Shrautasutras (Samskrit:  श्रौतसूत्राणि), 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 yajnas that were performed in the very ancient times. These works were manuals compiled for the practical purpose of giving directions to those who engaged in such yajnas. They are based on ancient Brahmana texts, which they quote at every step, many individual sutras being couched in the very language of the Brahmana texts.<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>

Shrautasutras (Samskrit:  श्रौतसूत्राणि), 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 yajnas that were performed in the very ancient times. These works were manuals compiled for the practical purpose of giving directions to those who engaged in such yajnas. They are based on ancient Brahmana texts, which they quote at every step, many individual sutras being couched in the very language of the Brahmana texts.<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>

== Subject matter of Shrautasutras ==

== Subject matter of Shrautasutras ==

It is well known that Vedas are divided into three based on their subject matter; Karmakanda, Jnanakanda and Upasanakanda. The Vedas and vedic literature  primarily describe the Karmakanda, manifesting as the innumerable activities of the Yajna system. Yajnas are the integral part of Karmakanda in the Vedas. The Veda-mantras are recited and used to perform Yajnas, clearly showing the complete dependence on each other.<ref>Pt. Shriveniram Sharma Gauda (2018) ''Yajna Mimamsa.'' Varanasi: Chaukhamba Vidyabhavan </ref>

It is well known that Vedas are divided into three based on their subject matter; Karmakanda, Jnanakanda and Upasanakanda. The Vedas and vedic literature  primarily describe the Karmakanda, manifesting as the innumerable activities of the Yajna system (यज्ञसंस्थाः). Yajnas are the integral part of Karmakanda in the Vedas. The Veda-mantras are recited and used to perform Yajnas, clearly showing the complete dependence on each other.<ref name=":2">Pt. Shriveniram Sharma Gauda (2018) ''Yajna Mimamsa.'' Varanasi: Chaukhamba Vidyabhavan </ref> It is amply evident that without veda-mantras there are no yajnas and without yajnas there is no usage of veda-mantras. Manusmrti and Vishnudharmottara Purana reiterate that Vedas have originated for the conduct of Yajnas<blockquote>दुदोह यज्ञसिद्ध्यर्थम्... (Manu. Smrt. 1.23)<ref>Manusmrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>वेदास्तु यज्ञार्थमभिप्रवृत्ताः... (Vishnudharmmottara. Pura. 2.174)<ref>Vishnudharmottara Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/_%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5 Khanda 2 Adhyaya 174])</ref></blockquote>In these vaidika vangmaya texts, the composite social life and cultural activities centrally revolved around Yajnas. Yajnas formed the central theme of life in that ancient period of time and without the fundamental knowledge of the system of yajnas, vaidika dharmas, philosophies of darshana shastras and the socio-economic lifestyle of the people cannot be understood. These texts proclaim that Yajnas, decisively, were the best of Karmas (यज्ञो वै श्रेष्ठतमं कर्म।) extending their influence on all spheres of life.<ref name=":1">Pt. Baldev Upadhyaya (1997) ''Samskrit Vangmay ka Brhad Itihas, Dvitiya Khand - Vedang.'' Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Samskrit Sansthan (Pages 112-121)</ref>

 

In these vaidika vangmaya texts, the composite social life and cultural activities centrally revolved around Yajnas. Yajnas formed the central theme of life in that ancient period of time and without the fundamental knowledge of the system of yajnas, vaidika dharmas, philosophies of darshana shastras and the socio-economic lifestyle of the people cannot be understood. These texts proclaim that Yajnas, decisively, were the best of Karmas (यज्ञो वै श्रेष्ठतमं कर्म।) extending their influence on all spheres of life.<ref name=":1">Pt. Baldev Upadhyaya (1997) ''Samskrit Vangmay ka Brhad Itihas, Dvitiya Khand - Vedang.'' Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Samskrit Sansthan (Pages 112-121)</ref>

=== यज्ञाङ्ग स्वरूपम् ॥ Yajnaangas ===

=== यज्ञाङ्ग स्वरूपम् ॥ Yajna-angas ===

An interesting concept Yajna-angas (यज्ञाङ्ग स्वरूपम्) may be considered, where the yajna-angas are equated to a person's physical and mental angas (शरीरादि अङ्गानि । body and other parts)  representing the holistic role of each physical entity in the yajna purusha.<ref name=":1" />

An interesting concept Yajna-angas (यज्ञाङ्ग स्वरूपम्) may be considered, where the yajna-angas are equated to a person's physical and mental angas (शरीरादि अङ्गानि । body and other parts)  representing the holistic role of each physical entity in the yajna purusha.<ref name=":1" />

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

=== यज्ञः ॥ Yajna ===

=== यज्ञः ॥ Yajna ===

Yajnas involve various activities of a human being as a part of his lifestyle as described in the Vaidika and Laukika sahitya.  

[[Yajna (यज्ञः)]] involves various activities of a human being as a part of his lifestyle as described in the Vaidika and Laukika sahitya. While there are many definitions about what constitutes Yajna, most commonly, it is characterized by the features of Devapuja, Yachana (याचना । requesting, asking, praying) for food and rains and utterance of Mantras (mostly of Yajurveda). Here Yachana (याचना) is of three kinds - people, in general, seeking food and other essentials from the Yajamana (one who does the yajna); yajamana praying to devatas for welfare of people, say, for good rains; devatas in turn asking that havis (food for devatas) be offered them from mankind. All these activities constitute Yajna. Nirukta explains above mentioned aspects clearly <blockquote>यज्ञः कस्मात् । प्रख्यातं यजतिकर्म इति नैरुक्ताः । याच्ञः भवति इति वा । यजुरुन्नः भवति इति वा । बहुकृष्णाजिनः इति औपमन्यवः । यजूंषि एनं नयन्ति इति वा ।(Niru. 3.4.19)<ref>Nirukta Shastra ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4% Adhyaya 3])</ref></blockquote>Matsyapurana (145.44)<ref>Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%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%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 145])</ref>and Brahmandapurana summarizes the five lakshanas of Yajna as follows<blockquote>पशूनां द्रव्यहविषामृक्‌सामयजुषां तथा। ऋत्विजां दक्षिणायाश्च संयोगो यज्ञ उच्यते।। (Brahmanda. Pura. Purvabhaga. 32.47)<ref>Brahmanda Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4% Purvabhaga, Adhyaya 32])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : That activity which involves a coordination (of five activities) of collection of materials (pashu and others) for yajnas, Havis (ghee and others) offerings, Rk, Sama and Yajus mantras, Rtviks (priests), Dakshinas (fees given during yajnas) is called Yajna.<ref>Tagare, G. V. (1958 First Edition) ''Brahmanda Purana. Part 1.'' Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass (Page 318)</ref>

 

 

== References ==

== References ==

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[[Category:Vedangas]]

[[Category:Vedangas]]