A History of Sanskrit Literature c12.18

c12.18

Of the seven Gṛihya Sūtras of the *Black Yajurveda* only three have as yet been published. The Gṛihya of Āpastamba forms two books (26–27) of his Kalpa Sūtra. The first of these two books is the *Mantrapāṭha*, which is a collection of the formulas accompanying the ceremonies. The Gṛihya Sūtra, in the strict sense, is the second book, which presupposes the *Mantrapāṭha*. Books XIX. and XX. of Hiraṇyakecin's Kalpa Sūtra form his Gṛihya Sūtra. About Baudhāyana's Gṛihya not much is known, still less about that of Bhāradvāja. The *Mānava Gṛihya Sūtra* is closely connected with the Çrauta, repeating many of the statements of the latter verbally. It is interesting as containing a ceremony unknown to other Gṛihya Sūtras, the worship of the Vināyakas. The passage reappears in a versified form in Yājñavalkya's law-book, where the four Vināyakas are transformed into the one Vināyaka, the god Gaṇeça. With the *Mānava* is clearly connected the *Kāṭhaka Gṛihya Sūtra*, not only in the principle of its arrangement, but even in the wording of many passages. It is nearly related to the law-book of Vishṇu. The *Vaikhānasa Gṛihya Sūtra* is an extensive work bearing traces of a late origin, and partly treating of subjects otherwise relegated to works of a supplementary character.