The Kausikasūtra is a unique sūtra as it reflects both the gryha as well as the śrauta characteristics. As the literature is the mirror of the society it has a rich treasure of cultural element in it. The present study is an effort to investigate the cultural element found in it through various rites and charms and the application of the Atharvanic mantras in multiple activities of human life. The study shows the different cultural faces of the society that existed in the post Vedic times.
The KS is the Samhita Vidhi of the AV. This sūtra is a pretty strict adherent of the school tradition of which it is a direct heir. It belongs to the school of saunakins and there is a close verbal relation between the sūtra and samhita. Both are definitely and drastically practical. There are extremely few Atharvan hymns of which original practical purpose will not be found in this sutra. Very often in the KS provides us with more than one or two quite different rites. The süträ has proved its value for the exegesis of the AV but it is more valuable for the ritualistic understanding of the Atharvan hymns. No doubt the sutra deals with something of the Srauta (e.g. Darśapūrņamāsa) but its terminology is not of the Srauta sūtras. Nor it is purely a Grhya sutra though it deals with Samskäras such as Jätakarma 27.7-8, Namakaraņa 58,14ff, Upanayana 58.3 ff, Vivaha 75.6 ff etc,
The present study is an effort to describe the ritualistic approach of the KS and through that an direct or indirect peep into the culture of the people who flourished at the time of Kausikasūtra. The KS is a ritual text and it is samhitāvidhi, as has been said above, It differs from the other Grhyasūtras because it differs in the material treated. The subject matter of the Gthyasūtras such as samskäras, Madhuparka etc. has been secondary here, Nor it is like Srauta sūtras for though it discusses such ceremonies as Darśapūrņamāsa yet the Śrauta terminology is wanting here. It is, therefore a mixture of two. In other words, it may be called as Atharvan sūtra. It adheres mainly to the AV of the Saunakins or AV of the Saunaka school as both Keśava and Sayana have also agreed in their introductions at the same time it can also be said that it is also acquainted with the other Sakhas of the AV. Vide KS 85.7-8 where Devadarśin has been mentioned and the Paipplāde mantras are quoted in Sakalapa tha. Its main aim is to record all the practices connected with the recitation of the charms and hymns of the AV. Thus through all these practices the culture and civilization of the people of that time has also been depicted. The practices shown and performed in the KS are a mirror of the society as prevalent at the time of KS.
All the elements of culture, as reflected have been shown in the last of this monogram.
Vedas (1294)
Upanishads (481)
Puranas (611)
Ramayana (837)
Mahabharata (331)
Dharmasastras (163)
Goddess (474)
Bhakti (240)
Saints (1302)
Gods (1269)
Shiva (341)
Journal (145)
Fiction (52)
Vedanta (333)
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