Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Apastambha Grihya Sutras - Part 2 - Prasna I - Khanda 2

Rules regarding initiating a student and dress for students

1. For as many years as there are uninitiated persons, reckoning (one year) for each ancestor (and the person to be initiated himself),

2. They should bathe daily reciting the seven Pâvamânîs, beginning with 'If near or far,' the Yagushpavitra, ('May the waters, the mothers purify us,' &c.) the Sâmapavitra, ('With what help assists,' &c.), and the Ângirasapavitra ('A swan, dwelling in purity'),

3. Or also reciting the Vyâhritis (om, bhûh, bhuvah, suvah).

4. After that (such a person) may be taught (the Veda).

5. But those whose great-grandfather's (grandfather's and father's) initiation is not remembered, are called 'burial-grounds.'

6. Intercourse, dining, and intermarriage with them should be avoided. For them, if they like, the (following) penance (is prescribed). (Such a man) shall keep for twelve years the rules prescribed for a student who is studying the three Vedas. Afterwards he may be initiated. Then he shall bathe, reciting the Pâvamânîs and the other (texts mentioned above, I, 1, 2, 2).

7. Then he may be instructed in the duties of a householder.

8. He shall not be taught (the whole Veda), but only the sacred formulas required for the domestic ceremonies.

9. When he has finished this (study of the Grihya-mantras), he may be initiated (after having performed the penance prescribed) for the first neglect (I, 1, 1, 28).

10. Afterwards (everything is performed) as in the case of a regular initiation.

11.He who has been initiated shall dwell as a religious student in the house of his teacher,

12. For forty-eight years (if he learns all the four Vedas),

13. (Or) a quarter less (i.e. for thirty-six years),

14. (Or) less by half (i.e. for twenty-four years),

15. (Or) three quarters less (i.e. for twelve years),

16. Twelve years (should be) the shortest time (for his residence with his teacher).

17. A student who studies the sacred science shall not dwell with anybody else (than his teacher).

18. Now (follow) the rules for the studentship.

19. He shall obey his teacher, except (when ordered to commit) crimes which cause loss of caste.

20. He shall do what is serviceable to his teacher, he shall not contradict him.

21. He shall always occupy a couch or seat lower (than that of his teacher).

22. He shall not eat food offered (at a sacrifice to the gods or the Manes),

23. Nor pungent condiments, salt, honey, or meat.

24. He shall not sleep in the day-time.

25. He shall not use perfumes.

26. He shall preserve chastity.

27. He shall not embellish himself (by using ointments and the like).

28. He shall not wash his body (with hot water for pleasure).

29. But, if it is soiled by unclean things, he shall clean it (with earth or water), in a place where he is not seen by a Guru.

30. Let him not sport in the water whilst bathing; let him swim (motionless) like a stick.

31. He shall wear all his hair tied in one braid.

32. Or let him make a braid of the lock on the crown of the head, and shave the rest of the hair.


33. The girdle of a Brâhmana shall be made of Muñga grass, and consist of three strings; if possible, (the strings) should be twisted to the right.

34. A bowstring (should be the girdle) of a Kshatriya,

35. Or a string of Muñga grass in which pieces of iron have been tied.

36. A wool thread (shall be the girdle) of a Vaisya,

37. Or a rope used for yoking the oxen to the plough, or a stringy made of Tamala-bark.

38. The staff worn by a Brâhmana should be made of Palâsa wood, that of a Kshatriya of a branch of the Banian tree, which grows downwards, that of a Vaisya of Bâdara or Udumbara wood. Some declare, without any reference to caste, that the staff of a student should be made of the wood of a tree (that is fit to be used at the sacrifice).

39. (He shall wear) a cloth (to cover his nakedness).

40. (It shall be made) of hemp for a Brâhmana, of flax (for a Kshatriya), of the skin of a (clean) animal (for a Vaisya).

41. Some declare that the (upper) garment (of a Brâhmana) should be dyed with red Lodh,

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Paraphrase by KVSSNRao


The person whose father or grandfather or both were not initiated, has to recite seven pavamanis, the Yagushpavitra, the Samapavitra, Angirasapavitra, and the vyahritis for as many years as there are uninitiated persons and the person to be initiated. After this initiation he may be taught veda. If a person’s great-grand father was also not initiated, then the person has to be follow the rules prescribed for a student of veda for twelve years and then only can be initiated and taught that portion which is useful in domestic ceremonies. After successful completion of this course, he may be given instruction in complete veda. Students have to dwell in the house of their teacher for forty-eight years to learn all the four Vedas, thirty-six years to learn three, twenty-four years to learn two, and twelve years to learn one. Twelve years should be the shortest time for residence with teacher. A student who studies the sacred science shall not reside with anybody else than his teacher

The rules for the studentship:

The student shall obey his teacher, except when ordered to commit crimes which cause loss of caste. He shall do service according to his teacher’s instructions and he shall not contradict him. He shall always occupy a couch or seat lower than that of his teacher.

He shall not eat food offered at a sacrifice to the gods or the Manes, nor pungent condiments, salt, honey, or meat. He shall not sleep in the day-time and he shall not use perfumes and he shall not embellish himself (by using ointments and the like). He shall preserve chastity. He shall not wash his body with hot water for pleasure.

If he is soiled by unclean things, he shall clean it (with earth or water), in a place where he is not seen by a Guru. He should not play in water while bathing and should swim like a stick. He shall wear all his hair tied in one braid or he can make a braid of the lock on the crown of the head, and shave the rest of the hair.

The girdle of a Brâhmana shall be made of Muñga grass, and consist of three strings; if possible, (the strings) should be twisted to the right. A bowstring (should be the girdle) of a Kshatriya,or a string of Muñga grass in which pieces of iron have been tied. A wool thread (shall be the girdle) of a Vaisya, or a rope used for yoking the oxen to the plough, or a string made of Tamala-bark.

The staff worn by a Brâhmana should be made of Palâsa wood, that of a Kshatriya of a branch of the Banian tree, which grows downwards, that of a Vaisya of Bâdara or Udumbara wood. Some declare, without any reference to caste, that the staff of a student should be made of the wood of a tree (that is fit to be used at the sacrifice).

The angavastra (a cloth to cover nakedness) shall be made of hemp for a Brâhmana, of flax (for a Kshatriya), of the skin of a (clean) animal (for a Vaisya). Some declare that the (upper) garment (of a Brâhmana) should be dyed with red Lodh.

For Part 3
http://grihyasutras.blogspot.com/2007/08/apastambha-sutra-part-3-prasna-i-khanda.html

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