Aapasthambha Gruhya Soothram of Yajur vEdis , Ahnikam and Dharma Saasthram : Part I ( Introduction)

[Guest guest]

 

Sri:

 

Dear Dharma Rakshakaas and anushtAthAs of SamskArams :

 

Sriman Vaasu VaadhyAr of VaishNava Kendhram

in Chennai is the moderator of an exceptional

group web site named Vaideekam , where this scholar

in Vaideekam matters helps tirelessly to present

anushtAna prayOgams for various SamskArams .

There are very many treasures at his web site :

http://www.ahobilam.com

 

Please become members of Sriman Vaasu VaadhyAr's

Vaideekam e-group by sending mail to him :

 

vaideekam-

 

I have learnt a lot from this web site and

recommend it to you .

 

Those of you who really want to learn about

our Vaidhika KarmAs and their prayOgams

would benefit from Membership . Sri Vaasu

VaadhyAr Swamy has alrady 700 plus Members

community to interact with .

 

Please volunteer to help him with your IT and

Muktimedia skills to lighten his load . We will

all benefit .

 

Here are some introductory remarks on

Gruhya Sutrams :

 

1. SutrAs are aphorisms written in a terse manner

and commentators ( BhAshyAkArAs ) elaborate on

their deep menaings . In the case of VedAntha

Soothrams of Sage BadarAyanaa , individual

commentators ( Bhagavath RaamAnuaa , Adhi

Sankara and MadhvAchArya et al) have come

commented profoundly to draw suuport for their

darsanams . Similarly the individual Gruhya SutrAs

have more than one commentators and more than

one interpretation .There is bound to be abhiprAya

bhEdhams . Please follow your Bruhaspathy's

directions in such cases .

 

2. There are Sroutha and SmArtha SutrAs. Sroutha

SthOthrams has direct links to the VedAs and focus on

Yaagams and PrayOgams . SmArtha Soothrams on

the other hand are done at gruhams ( individual households)

and hence are known as Gruhya SutrAs ; latter deal with

the prayOgams of these SmArtha sutrAs .

 

3. Gruhya sutrAs are for married man ( Gruhasthan) .

He does not need to know about Kalpa sutrAs defined

by Veda BhAgams ( Sroutha SutrAs) to perform

Gruhya sutrA related samskArams . A widower is not

eligible to perform these samskArAs . These gruhya

sutrAs are extensive in scope and cover all activities of

a Grahasthan . Gruham refers to the House and the wife ,

The Lord's Consort is therefore called "Gruha mEdhini "

by Swamy Desikan .

 

4. These gruhya KarmAs use the Agni lit at the time of

VivAham ( SmArthAgni) . " Tayaa sahithasya yaani karmANi

gruhya karmANi " says the Sutra KarthA .

 

5. Although one does not need to know about the Yaagams

and Kalpa sutrAs ( how to construct different fire altars ) as

in the case of Sroutha KarmAs , gruhya sutrAs also have their

links to different Veda SamhithAs and Saakhais :

 

6. There are SIX Gruhya SutrAs linked to

KrishNa Yajur Vedam and ONE linked to

Sukla Yajur Vedam .

 

7. Saama Vedam has THREE Gruhya SutrAs .

 

8. Rg Vedam has THREE Gruhya SutrAs

 

9. Atharva Vedam has ONE Gruhya Sutra .

 

10. Thus there are 14 gruhya SutrAs linked

to the various Veda SamhithAs . Let us

comment on them briefly now .

 

11. The Three Rg vedam linked Gruhya Sutrams (GS) are:11.1 : AaSvakAyana GS : It has 4 chapters

and many KaaNDams under them .

The third chapter deals with SrArddam'

Garkar, JayarAmar , Hariharar ,

GadhAdharar & ViswanAthar are

the FIVE Commentators for this GS .

 

11.2: SaankhyAyana GS : Suyajn~ar is the author

of this GS and this has 6 chapters dealing with

descriptions of samskArams and

Construction of New Houses and

noothana gruha PravEsam

 

11.3: Kousheetakee GS: Saambhvyar is the author .

Although some consider this the same as

SaankhyAyana GS , it has significant differences

from it. The first 4 chapters however are similar

in thrust like SaankhyAyanam .

 

12. The Seven GS ( Six KrishNa Yajur Vedam and

One Sukla Yajur Veda GS) starting with KrishNa

Yajur Vedam are :

 

12.1: Aapasthambha GS : This is linked to Taitthareeya

samhithai .

 

12.2: HiraNyakESi GS: It is also known as SathyAshADa

Sutram . Links are to Taittiriya Saakhai ,

 

12.3: BhAradhwAja GS is the third one connected to

Taittiriyam .

 

12.4: BhOdhAyana GS has the links to Taittitiyam and

is connected to Kalpa sutrams and Sroutham as well .

 

12.5: Maanava GS is linked to the MaithrAyaNi Saakhai of

KrishNa Yajur Vedam and has been commented on by

AshtAvakrar .

 

12.6: KaaDaka ( KaaThaka) GS: This is linked to KaTha

Saakhai of KrishNa Yajur Vedam .

 

13.0: BhAskara GS : This is a famous GS associated with

Sukla Yajur Vedam .There are three KaaNDams

and the First KaaNDam the Aadhanam of

the AavasthyAgni , GarbhA DhAanm and Anna

prASanam . The second chapter covers a variety

of KarmAs including ChUDAkaraNam , Upanayanam,

SamAvartanam , Pancha Mahaa Yaj~nam and

SrAvaNa Karmaa .

 

14.0: Saama Vedam has Three Gruhya SutrAs : gObilam ,

KhAdhiram and Jaimineeyam .

 

14.1: Gobhila GS: This is the most ancient and imortant.

It takes its PramANams directly from Saama Vedam

and its Mantra BrAhmaNams .

 

14.2: KhAdhira GS : It has overlaps with Gobhila GS but

its links are to the RaaNayaneeya SaakhA of Saama

Vedam .

 

14.3: Jaimineeya GS : It has 33 divisions ( KaNDikais)

and has examples quoted from Saama Vedam itself .

 

15.0: The one and only GS associate with the Atarva Vedam

is KouSika GS . Haarilar and KeSavar have commented

on this GS with 14 chapters . Mantra-Tantra KriyA

varNanam ( AabhichArika PrayOgams) as well as

links to Vaidhya Saastrams are found here .

 

It is no surprise that Yajur Vedam has the largest number

of Gruhya SutrAs because it is connected with many sadangus.

KrishNa Yajur Vedam is recited mostly in Tamil Naadu

and Aandhra PradEsh and hence one finds many linked to

Aapastambha and BhOdhAyana gruhya sutrams in these

two states . Atarva Vedam and its Gruhya Sutram are found

in northern part of India . Rg Veda GS are used in the western

states of India and parts of Andhra PradEsh .

 

We will continue with the Text and commentary on

Aapastambha Sutrams next . Since it is going to be

bulky and will take some time , I will release the postings

in Oppilyappan , SaraNAgathy and Malolan Lists . I wanted to

share this introduction however in a larger number of Lists .

 

NamO Veda PurushAya ,

Daasan , Oppiliyappan Koil V.Sadagopan