Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s8.2

c12.s8.2

The references to the Vedic lore and ritualism in the canonical Buddhist texts clearly bring out their importance in the Nanda-Maurya period. The Vedic Ṛṣis such as Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamataggi, Aṅgirasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa and Bhagu were popularly claimed to be the ancestors of the Brahmins and the seers of the Vedic mantras (*mantānām kattā*). Some of these Ṛṣis were actually composers of the hymns. Vāmadeva was the composer of the hymns of the fourth Maṇḍala of the Ṛgveda, Bhāradvāja of the sixth maṇḍala, and Vāseṭṭha (Vasiṣṭha) of the hymns of the seventh maṇḍala. The sage Aṭṭhaka (Aṣṭaka) is mentioned in the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa* (VII, 17) and the *Śāṅkhāyana Śrauta Sūtra* (XV, 26) as one of the sons of Viśvāmitra. Vāmaka and Bhagu (Bhṛgu) appear as teachers and sages in the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa* (X. 6. 5. 9; VII, 2, 1, 11). Yamataggi (Jamadagni) was a rival of the famous sage Vasiṣṭha. Aṅgirasa is mentioned as a famous teacher in the *Taittirīya-saṃhitā* (III, 1. 7. 3; VII, 1.4.1). It is further said in the Buddhist texts that the Brahmins of the period not only claimed descent from those ancient teachers but also were capable of reciting the ancient mantras. They were serious students and teachers of the sacrificial literature and were proficient in the three Vedas. Those who were engaged for the performance of sacrifices were famous for their knowledge of the Vedic lore and purity of origin. Purity implied purity in descent up to the seventh generation both on the father's and the mother's side, and proficiency in the Vedic lore not only meant proficiency in the three Vedas but also in the Nighaṇḍu (etymology), the Keṭubha (ritual), Itihāsa, Veyyākaraṇa (grammar), Lokāyata etc. (*Vedānaṃ pāragū sanighaṇḍu-keṭubhānaṃ sākkharappabadhānaṃ itihāsa-pañcamānaṃ padako veyyākaraṇo lokāyata-mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu anavayo*—Majjhima II, p. 210; Digha I, p. 128.)