Indian Antiquary Vol 61

SR No.: 032553
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 94

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(MAY, 1932
The klokas under reference are :1. Yat putra pô(pau)tr(a) Vatavo Vâra gôshțishu Vágminah | Panchavári(m) sama payya sampájyantë mahajanaih || (8)
(Ep. Ind., V, 16 E.) 2. Yat putra pautrâh pațvô vatavô våra gôshțishu Agraragra(p1)/(âm)âm apnaventi paramparầm (6).
(8.1.1., I, No. 37.) The two ślokas, notwithstanding variety in expression, seem intended to convey the same meaning, and to refer to the same ceremonial excellence, which the particular family of Brahmans had attained by their extraordinary ability. While in the one record (the British Museum plates) occurs the expression Panchavárim samapayya sampújyantê mahajanaih. in the corresponding place in the other sloka occurs the expression Agrahara agrapájanám ápnavanti paramparām. The latter would simply mean that they became entitled to reve. rential treatment as the best, or the first, by the inhabitants of the Brahman settlements. The sense of the former passage where the term pañchavári occurs must be exactly the same. Panchavari therefore seems to mean water given for five purposes : (1) water for washing one's hands, (2) water for washing one's feet, (3) water given after the guest had been seated to clean his hands, (4) water for the guest to sprinkle over himself, and (5) water to sip, a ceremonial presentation of water usually for very highly respected guests. This would be a kind of treatment included in the term agra pūja, respectful treatment as the first among the Brâhmang. Therefore pañchavári would mean merely water given for the five ablutions, and may be dismissed as having no analogy to the panchavaram.
The other term to which Kielhorn's note makes reference is vára-gôshti. It occurs in the context where the persons concerned exhibited capacity for expression, while yet they were bachelors undergoing education, in the vära-gôshļi. Vara-gôshti may, therefore, simply mean an assembly of learned Brahmans. The exhibition of elocution is not made in mere general assemblies of Brahmans. They must have been made in assemblies of people who were acknowledged experts in the chanting and recital of the Veda and Vaidic texts. Vára-gôshti probably there means the assembly of learned Brahmans for reciting the Vedas, where these young men exhibited excellence as the best reciters among them all. They had shown such proficiency that they were accorded the deferential treatment indicated in the following passage :
Yad grihá(thi ?) ti-puja(yám páda pra)-kshálanámbasá Ajiram karddhamibhútam punáty asaptamam kulam !
(Ep. Ind., V, 16 E, p. 137.) [ Kielhorn's translation of slokas 6-8 is given below for comparative reference -
" His son, again, is Viddamayya, a student of the kramapata, eminent in religious learning and full of manliness; whose hospitality purifies the family to the seventh generation; whose sons and grandsons, youths eloquent at committee assemblies,
are honoured by the chief people who have made them serve on the committee of five." ]
That this was the actual meaning appears again from an analogous expression, though in an entirely secular context. The word varam occurs in the sense of singing by turns. In Indian music, when an expert renders music, he goes a certain way in the performance, when an assistant or a collaborator takes it up by way of relief, and carries on for a considerable time. Then the expert takes it up again, to be again followed by the other. This method of affording relief to the principal performer is more necessary in the case of a dancing woman who sings while performing the dance. For this purpose dancing women, who were experts in their days, but who have grown too old for the work, are generally employed; and these women take up the refrain and continue the singing. This practice is called in Tamil raram