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________________ Visvamitra in the Kalpasutras Dr. Umesh Chandra Sharma, M, A., Ph, D., Senior Research Fellow, Centre of Advanced Study in Sanskrit, University of Poona, Poona-7. The Sutras, as it is quite natural, generally provide important data about the gotra and pravara system among the Visvamitras. They have devoted a considerably large portion for the Visvamitras who occupy a significant place in our national and cultural history. The SSS, however, appear to be an exception in this connection. It devotes a major portion to the legend of Sunassepa's sacrifice and the important role played by Visvamitra in it. The narration runs parallel to that of the AB. The language and the style are also the same. It is certainly a repetition from the latter except minor verbal differences here and there which are of no importance. Visvamitra officiated as a Hoty priest in the said sacrifice (where Sunassepa was offered as a victim), Jamadagni, Vasistha and Ayasya being the other prominent priests. Sunascepa could not be sacrificed partly due to good offices of Visvamitra. He adopted him as his own son and accorded to him the highest place among his sons. He was called Devarata after this and became a famous Kusika. The Sutras deal in detail with the gotra and the pravara systems of the family of the Visvamitras. These are as follows 1. The Kusikashave three rsi-pravaras-Vaisva mitra, Daivarata and Audala. 2. Visvamitra, Devasravas nnd Devataras-these are Sraumata-Kama 1. SSS XV. 17-57. Cf. also AB VII. 13-18. 2. According to the BauSS(p) 31, the following are mentioned as the Kusikas Kusikas, Parnajanghas, Varak yas, Audaris, Manis, Bshadagnis, Alavis, Aghattis, Apadyapas, Antakas, Kamantakas, Vaspakis, Cikitas, Lamakayanas, Salankayanas, Sankayanas, Laukas, Gauras, Saugantis, Yamadutas, Anabhimlatas, Tarakayanas, Cauvalas, Jabalis, Yajnavalk yas, Vidandas. Bhauvanis, Saubabhravis. Aupadahanis, Audum baris, Bharistikis, Syameyas, Caitreyas, Salavatas, Mayuras, Saumatyas, Citratantus, Manutantus, Mantus, others denoting the word 'Tantus' in the end, Babhfvyas, Kalapas and Utsaris. 3. Bauss(P) 31, ApSS XXIV. 9, 2, HirsS XXI. 3. 12. itihAsa aura purAtattva : 97
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________________ kayanas. They have the following three rsi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Daivasravas and Daivataras,1 3. The Katas2 also have three rsi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Katya and Atkila. 4. The Dhananjayas have these three fi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Madhucchandas, and Dhananjaya. 5. The Aghamarsana-Kusikas have the following three rsi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Aghamarsana and Kausika." 6. The Purana-Varidhapayantas have two Ti-pravaras-Vaisvamitra and Paurana." 7. The Ajas also have three ri-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Madhucchandas and Ajya." 8, The Astaka-Lohitas have three si-pravaras Vaisvamitra, Astaka and Lauhita. 9. The Rauksaka-Raipavas have three fi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Rauksaka and Rainava." 10. The Indra-Kausikas also have three rsi-bravaras-Vaisvamitra, Aindra and Kausika.10 11. The Rauhinas have three rsi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Madhucchandas and Rauhina.11 12. The Silankayanas also have three si-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Salankayana and Kausika.12 1. BauSS(P) 33, ApsS XXIV. 9. 3, ASS XII. 14. 3. 2. Katas, Sairindhas, Karabhas, Vajayanas, Sahhiteyas, Kaukrtyas. Saisireyas, Audumbarayanas, Pindagrivas, Narayanas and Naratyas-these are the Katas. 3. BauSS(P) 35, Apos XX. 9, 11, HstSS XXI. 3. 12, viss XII. 14. 6. 4. The Dhananjayas are Kartsis, Asvavatas, Tulabhyas. Saindhavayanas. Ustraksas and Mahaksas. 5. BauSS(P) 36, ApsS XXIV. 9. 6, Hirds XXI. 3. 12, AISS XII. 14. 4. 6. Bauss 36, Apss XXIV. 9. 13, HirSS XXI. 3. 12, ASS XII. 14. 6. 7. BauS(P) 40, 7pss XXIV. 9. 9-10, HirSS XXI. 3. 12, The AISS XII. 14. 5 and Daivarata to this list. 8. BauSS(P) 37. Apss XXIV. 14. 4. 9. BauS(P) 34. According to ApSS XXIV. 9. 7-8 and HirSS XXI. 3. 12, only two are there-Vaisvamitra and Astaka. According to AISS XII. 14. 4. the three pravaras are Vaisvamitra, Madhucchandas and Astaka. 10. BauS(P) 34. According to AsSS LII. 14. 6., the Repus have three pravarasVaisvamitra, Gahina and Rainava. 11. BauSS(P) 39. 12. ASS XII. 14. 4. 98 : agaracanda nAhaTA abhinandana-grantha
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________________ 13. The Hiranyaretases have three rsi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Hiranya and Retas. 14. The Suvarnaretases also have three isi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Sauvarna and Retas. 15. The Kapotaretases have three rsi-pravaras-Vaisva mitra Kapota and Retas. 16. The Ghita-kausikas also have three rsi-pravaras-Vaisva mitra. Gharta and Kausika.4 17. The Sathara-matharas also have three si-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Sathara and Mathara.5 18. The Sahula.mahulas have three rsi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Sahula and Mahula.6 This is the picture of the pravara system of the Vaisvamitra in the Sutra literature. The Sutras refer to Vaisvamitra in other connections also. In the AgGS, he is mentioned among the Saptarsis, the others being Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasistha and Kasyapa. The context is the Adhyaya-Utsarjanam (leave after completion of studies). In this rite seats are prepared by the student for the above-metioned Rsis? The BausS refers to the selection of the priests. It enjoins that Adhvaryu priest should be an Angiras, the Brahma priest should be a Vasistha, the Hot! should be a Vaisva mitra and the Udgaty should be an Ayasya.8 Again, in the context of the Rsi-stoma, Visvamitra is connected with the seventeenth stoma. It has been prescribed in the Sutra texts that a person desiring victory over enemies should perform the rite known as "Sanjaya' of Visvamitra.10, It has been stated in the TNB (XXI. 12. 1-4) that Visyamitra performed this four-day rite, defeated his rivals with its grace and got kingdom. The Vaiss mentions that four chief priests should be descendants of Vasistha, Bhrgu, Angiras and Ayasya respectively, remaining twelve priests can 1. lbid, XII. 14. 6. 2. MasS XI. 8. 5. 17. 3. lbid. XI. 8. 5. 18. 4. Ibid. XI, 8. 5. 19. 5. Ibid. XI. 8. 5. 20. 6. Ibid. XI, 8. 5. 31. 7. lbid. XI. 8. 5. 22, 23. For the exhaustive list of the pravaras of the Visvamitras, see JOHN BROUGH, Early Brahmanical System of Gotra and Pravara. Camb ridge, 1953, p. 35. 8. AgGS. 1. 2. 2. 9. Bauss. II. 3. 10. Ibid XVIII. 22. itihAsa aura purAtattva : 19
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________________ be selected from among the Kasyapas, Bharadvajas, Bhrgus Angirases. One authority says that Hoty should be a descendant of Visvamitra. A tarpana should be made to Visyamitra after daily bath according to the VaiGS and VaiDS.2 In connection with the upakarana-visarjana, Visvamitra is prayed. 3 The MiDa mentions that because a Vaisvamitra should necessarily be a Hotu priest, therefore, the descendants of Bhrgu, thunaka and Vasistha do not have the right to be appointed as Hotu priests.4 Thus, it can be said in conclusion, that the Visva mitra family is one of the most important families of ancient India. There were several gotras and pravaras among the Visvamitras. It has been prescribed in the Kalpa sutras that a descendant of Visvamitra should officiate as Hotr priest in the sacrifices. Some of the gotras and pravaras of Visvamitra pravara system are followed among the Brahmana families of the present day India also. For instance the surname 'Kausika' is applied by some of north Indian Brahmanas. Abbreviations AB Aitareya Brahmana. AgGS Agnivesya Grhya Sutra. Apos Apastamba Srauta Sutra. ASSs Asvalayana Srauta Sutra. Bauss Baudhayana Srauta Sutra. Bauss (p) Baudhayana Srauta Sutra (pravara-Khanda) Hirss Hiranyakesi Srauta Sutra. Mass Manava Srauta Sutra. Mida Mimaisa Darsana. SSS Sankhayana Srauta Sutra. TMB Tandya Maha Brahmani. Vaids Vaikhanasa Dharma Sutra. VaiGS Vaikhanusa Gyhya Sutra. 1. ADAS. XXII. 20. 2, ASSS X. 2. 25, HirsS XVII. 7. 12. 2. Vaiss XII. 1. 3. VaiGS I. 4, VaiDS II. 13. 4. BhGS, III. 10. 5. MiDa VI. 6. 26. * I am grateful to Dr, V. G. Rahurkar, my supervisor, for useful suggestions in writing this paper. 100 : agaracanda nAhaTA abhinandana-grantha