________________
be selected from among the Kasyapas, Bharadvajas, Bhrgus Angirases. One authority says that Hotṛ should be a descendant of Visvamitra.1
A tarpana should be made to Visvamitra after daily bath according to the VaiGS and VaiDS.2 In connection with the upakarana-visarjana, Viśvāmitra is prayed.$
The MiDa mentions that because a Vaisvamitra should necessarily be a Hot priest, therefore, the descendants of Bhrgu, Šunaka and Vasistha do not have the right to be appointed as Hot priests.
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 Viśvämitras. It has been prescribed in the Kalpasitras 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 Brahmapas.
Abbreviations
AB
AgGS
Apss
AśŚS
Bauss
BauSS (p) Hirss
Mass
MIDa
$$$
TMB
VaiDS
VaiGS
Aitareya Brahmaṇa. Agnivelya Grhya Sutra. Apastamba Srauta Sutra. Asvalayana Srauta Sutra. Baudhayana Srauta Sutra.
Baudhayana Śrauta Sutra (pravara-Khanda)
Hiranyakest Srauta Sutra. Manava Srauta Sutra.
Mimam sa Darsana. Sankhayana Śrauta Sutra. Tandya Maha Brahman. Vaikhanasa Dharma Sutra. Vaikhanasa Grhya Sutra.
1. ApέS. XXII. 20. 2, ASS X. 2. 25, HirŚS 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.
१०० : अगरचन्द नाहटा अभिनन्दन ग्रन्थ
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