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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 Sütras. as it is quite natural, generally provide important data about the gotra and pravara system among the Viśvāmitras. They have devoted a considerably large portion for the Viśvāmitras who occupy a significant place in our national and cultural history.
The SŚs, however, appear to be an exception in this connection. It devotes a major portion to the legend of Sunaśśepa's sacrifice and the important role played by Viśvāmitra 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. Viśvāmitra officiated as a Hoty priest in the said sacrifice (where Sunaśśepa was offered as a victim), Jamadagni, Vasistha and Ayāsya being the other prominent priests. Sunaśśepa could not be sacrificed partly due to good offices of Viśvāmitra. He adopted him as his own son and accorded to him the highest place among his sons. He was called Devarāta after this and became a famous Kuśika.
The Sūtras deal in detail with the gotra and the pravara systems of the family of the Viśvāmitras. These are as follows
1. The Kuśikas have three rşi-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra, Daivaräta and Audala.
2. Viśvāmitra, Devaśravas nnd Devataras--these are sraumata-Kāma.
1. ŚŚS XV. 17-57. Cf. also AB VII, 13-18. 2. According to the Bauss() 31, the following are mentioned as the Kuśikas
Kuśikas, Párnajanghas, Vārak yas, Audaris, Māņis, Bșhadagnis, Alavis, Aghattis, Apadyapas, Antakas, Kamantakas, Vāşpakis, Cikitas, Lāmakayanas, Salankāyanas, Sankāyanas, Laukas, Gauras, Saugantis, Yamadūtas, Anabhimlātas, Tárakāyanas, Cauvalas, Jabalis, Yajñavalkyas. Vidandas. Bhauvanis, Saubabhravis. Aupadahanis, Audum baris, Bhārisţikis, Syameyas, Caitreya 3, Sālāvatas, Mayüras, Saumatyas, Citratantus, Manutantus, Mantus, others
denoting the word 'Tantus' in the end, Bābhrvyas, Kalāpas and Utsaris. 3. BauśS(P) 31, ĀDSS XXIV. 9. 2, HirśS XXI. 3. 12.
१३
इतिहास और पुरातत्त्व : ९७
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kayanas. They have the following three şi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Daivaśravas and Daivataras.1
3. The Katas also have three fi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Katya and
Atkila."
4. The Dhananjayas1 have these three rşi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Madhucchandas, and Dhananjaya.
5. The Aghamarṣaṇa-Kusikas have the following three rşi-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra, Aghamarṣaṇa and Kausika.5
6. The Purana-Viridhipayantas have two şi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra and
7. The Ajas also have three şi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Madhucchandas and
8, The Astaka-Lohitas have three ri-pravaras Vaisvamitra, Astaka and
9. The Raukşaka-Rainavas have three fi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Rauksaka and Rainava."
Paurana.
Ajya.7
Lauhita.
10. The Indra-Kausikas also have three rşi-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Aindra and Kausika 10
11. The Rauhiņas have three ri-pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Madhucchandas and
Rauhina."1
12. The Śalankayanas also have three rsi pravaras-Vaisvamitra, Śalankayana
and Kausika.12
1. BauSS(P) 33, ApsS XXIV. 9. 3, ISS XII. 14. 3.
2. Katas, Sairindhas, Karabhas, Vajayanas, Saibhiteyas, Kaukṛtyas. Šaisireyas, Audumbarayanas, Pindagrivas, Narayanas and Naratyas-these are the Katas. 3. Bauss(P) 35, Após XX. 9. 11, HSS XXI. 3. 12, viss XII. 14. 6.
4. The Dhananjayas are Kärtsis, Asvavatas, Tulabhyas. Saindhavayanas, Uṣṭrākṣas
and Mahaksas.
5. BausS(P) 36, ApSS XXIV. 9. 6, HirSS XXI. 3. 12, ASS XII. 14. 4.
6. Bauss 36, Apss XXIV. 9. 13, HirŚS XXI. 3. 12, ASS XII. 14. 6.
7. BauSS(P) 40, ApsS XXIV. 9. 9-10, HirSS XXI. 3. 12, The AISS XII. 14. 5 and Daivarata to this list.
8. BauS(P) 37. ApsS XXIV. 14. 4.
9. Bauss(P) 34. According to 7pès XXIV. 9. 7-8 and HirSS XXI. 3. 12, only two are there-Vaisvamitra and Aṣṭaka. According to ASS XII. 14. 4. the three pravaras are Vaiśvāmitra, Madhucchandas and Aṣṭaka.
10. BauSS(P) 34. According to ASSS LII. 14. 6., the Renus have three pravarasVaisvamitra, Gahina and Rainava.
11. BauSS(P) 39.
12. ASS XII. 14. 4.
९८ : अगरचन्द नाहटा अभिनन्दन ग्रन्थ
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13. The Hiranyaretases have three rși-pravaras-- Vaišvāmitra, Hiranya and Retas.
17. The Suvarṇaretases also have three rși-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra, Sauvarņa and Retas. 2
15. The Kapotaretases have three rşi-pravaras-Vaišvă mitra Kāpota and Retas.3
16. The Ghịta-kauśikas also have three rși-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra. Ghārta and Kausika.
17. The Sathara-mātharas also have three si-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra, Sathara and Mathara.5
18. The Sahula.mahulas have three rși-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra, Sāhula and Māhula.
This is the picture of the pravara system of the Vaiśvāmitra in the Sūtra literature. The Sätras refer to Vaiśvāmitra in other connections also. In the AgGS, he is mentioned among the Saptarsis, the others being Jamadagni, Bharadvāja, Gautama, Atri, Vasiștha and Kaśyapa. The context is the Adhyāya-Utsarjanam (leave after completion of studies). In this rite seats are prepared by the student for the above-metioned Rşis?
The BauŚS refers to the selection of the priests. It enjoins that Adhvaryu priest should be an Angiras, the Brahmā priest should be a Vásiştha, the Hot! should be a Vaiśvāmitra and the Udgāt? should be an Ayāsya. Again, in the context of the Rși-stoma, Viśvāmitra is connected with the seventeenth stoma.'
It has been prescribed in the Sūtra texts that a person desiring victory over enemies should perform the rite known as “Sanjaya' of Viśvāmitra.10, It has been stated in the TNB (XXI. 12. 1-4) that Viśvāmitra 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 Vasiştha, Bhỉgu, Angiras and Ayāsya respectively, remaining twelve priests can
1. Ibid, XII. 14. 6. 2. Mass XI. 8. 5. 17. 3. Ibid. XI. 8. 5. 18. 4. Ibid. XI. 8. 5. 19. 5. Ibid. XI. 8. 5. 20. 6. Ibid. XI, 8. 5. 31. 7. Ibid. XI. 8. 5. 22, 23. For the exhaustive list of the pravaras of the Viśvamitras,
see OHN BROUGH, Early Brahmanical System of Gotra and Pravara. Camb
ridge, 1953, p. 35. 8. ĀgGS. 1. 2. 2. 9. Bauss. II. 3. 10. Ibid XVIII. 22.
इतिहास और पुरातत्त्व : ९९
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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 Visvamitra after daily bath according to the VaiGS and Vaids.2 In connection with the upakarana-visarjana, Visvamitra is prayed. S The MiDa mentions that because a Vaisvamitra should necessarily be a Hote priest, therefore, the descendants of Bhrgu, sunaka and Vasistha do not have the right to be appointed as Hot! priests. 4 Thus, it can be said in conclusion, that the Visvamitra 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 Kalpasutras 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. ADAS Apastamba Srauta Sutra. ASSsS Asvalayana Sgrauta Sutra. Bauss Baudhayana Sgrauta Sutra. Bauss (p) Baudhayana thrauta Sutra (pravara-Khanda) HirSs Hiranyakest Srauta Sutra. Mass Manava Srauta Sutra. MiDa Mimainsa Darsana. SSS Sankhayana Srauta Sutra. TMB Tandya Maha Brahman. VaiDS Vaikhanasa Dharma Sutra. VaiGS Vaikhanusa Gihya Sutra. 1. ApsS. 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. 400 : 312 FG ATECT BEHAGF-TFT