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A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
activities of the Brāhmaṇa teachers given by Yuan Chwang also points towards the same.
The knowledge of the science of sacrifice (homa, yajña) was a must for the Brāhmaṇas who not only performed sacrifices for themselves (yajana) but also for others, for the security of the king as well as the subjects (yajana). As priests they were employed by kings, while the Sottiyas (Śrotriya) were a class of the house-holder Brāhmaṇa sacrificers who usually performed sacrifices for the public. The Brāhmapas have been held in contempt for sacrificing goats. This evidently shows that grand sacrifices must have been in vogue in which the animals were sacrificed.
The ideal extolled before the Brāhmaṇas was that of poverty and chastity. The Brāhmanas must have displayed their charity (anugraha) towards the people by helping them in various religious ceremonies held for self-purification, and also during the birth and death ceremonies. Receiving gifts (pratigraha) was a proud privilege of the Brāhmaṇas. Once the theory of the divine origin of the Brāhmaṇas was accepted, imparting gifts to them was considered to bring great spiritual merit to the donor. The king as well as the public was eager to secure their favours. The kings used to feed the Brāhmaṇas before launching a campaign to conquer the enemy (paravijaya) and for acquiring victory and maintaining peace in the State.? A king is shown as giving donations to the Brāh1. Watters, op. cit. 1, p. 160. 2. NC. 2, p. 267. 3. NC. 3, p. 343, also p. 413. 4. TO SET TOT Toasta falfament–NG. 3, p. 429.
In the Paumacariya of Vimalasūri also Parvataka is mentioned as preaching that goats should be killed in sacrifices—Chandra, K. R., A Critical Study of the Paumacariya (unpublished thesis), p.-598; Manusmrti (3. 268-70) also refers to offering of the meat of goat for
the liberation of the manes on the occasion of monthly Śräddha. 5. grisaat-sahlazurs --ETTHEUTATU, Ayeg e ta EATUI–NC.
3, p. 415. 6. Ibid, 7. FITË T RUE stoot me HIIT Affari faaetuisterdim-NC. 2, p. 461.
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