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ĀPASTAMBA DHARMA-SŪTRA AND
ITS PREDECESSORS
Surabhi Sheth
The Dharma Sutras were written to systematise the customs and usages prevalent in the society and to legitimise certain traditions to regulate the daily life of an individual according to his age and station in life and to determine the aspirations and expectations of individual and society mutually so as to ensure the fulfilment of the rights and privileges which an individual can have by serving the socity through performance of his duties.
In studying the Dhama-sūtras, one is particularly impressed by the several references wherein mention is made of existing literature prior to the composition of the Dharma-sūtras and opinions of various authors in different contexts. Though complete works of these authors are not available, it proves the existence of a long tradition and the vast complexity of change that took place in the observance of various customs during that period.
Here an attempt is made to study predecessors of Apastamba from the various references occurring in the Apatamba-Dharma-Sutra (ĀP. Dh.S. or ĀP.). The ĀP. Dh. S. refers to Vedas, Brāhmaṇas, Smộtis, Purāņas, and quotes many opinions of individual authors either by their special mention or generally by words like 'iti eke', 'athāpyudāharanti' 'iti upadisanti' etc.
Apastamba and the Vedas :
The ĀP.Dh.S. refers to Vedas as authoritative sources of Dharma.l Many a time it refers to the use of several mantras on different occasions.
Thus it says that if the ancestors of a brahmacarin were deprived of upanayana ceremony, then the Prāyaścitta be performed by the brahmacarin by touching water reciting the seven Pavamāna mantras, the Yajus Pavi. tra, 3 the sāman of Vamadevao and the angirasa of Taittiriya samhita5 or along with the above mantras, he may sprinkle water while reciting the Vyährtis. The Pāvamāni mantras are again referred to when it is said that if the upanayana ceremony is not performed of any of his ancestors, he might perform the Prayascitta prescribed for it, and then he should perform the upanayana ceremony and take bath with Pavamāna and other mantras. (ĀP. 1. 26)7
The ĀP. Dh. S. mentions that the vedas have six angas8 and enumerates Chhanda, Kalpa, Vyakarana. Jyotis, Nirukta, Śikṣā and Chhandoviciti
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