Visvamitra in the Kalpasutra

Author(s): Umeshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Z_Nahta_Bandhu_Abhinandan_Granth_012007.pdf

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13. The Hiranyaretases have three rşi-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra, Hiranya and Retas.
14. The Suvarnaretases also have three îşi-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra, Sauvarna and Retas.
15. The Kapotaretases have three rşi-pravaras-Vaišvå mitra Kāpota and Retas.
16. The Ghịta-kausikas also have three rși-pravaras-Vaišvā mitra. Gharta and Kausika.4
17. The Sathara-mātharas also have three si-pravaras–Vaišvámitra, Sathara and Mathara.5
18. The Sahula.mahulas have three rşi-pravaras-Vaiśvāmitra, Sāhula and Mahula.6
This is the picture of the pravara system of the Vaiśvāmitra in the Sūtra literature. The Sütras refer to Vaiśvāmitra in other connections also. In the AgGS, he is mentioned among the Saptarsis, the others being Jamadagni, Bharadvāja, Gautama, Atri, Vasiştha 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 Vaišvā mitra and the Udgaty should be an Ayāsya.8 Again, in the context of the Rşi-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 Viśyāmitra 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, Bhrgu, Angiras and Ayāsya respectively, remaining twelve priests can
1. lbid, XII. 14. 6. 2. MaśS XI. 8. 5. 17. 3. lbid. XI. 8. 5. 18. 4. Ibid. XI, 8. 5. 19. 5. Ibid. XI. 8. 5. 20. 6. Ibid. XI, 8. 5. 31. 7. lbid. XI. 8. 5. 22, 23. For the exhaustive list of the pravaras of the Visvamitras,
see JOHN BROUGH, Early Brahmanical System of Gotra and Pravara. Camb
ridge, 1953, p. 35. 8. AgGS. 1. 2. 2. 9. Bauss. II. 3. 10. Ibid XVIII. 22.
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