A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c10.62

c10.62

priests was only wanted for certain grand sacrifices. In the Gautama-sûtra-bhashya (p. 30.) we are told that for the Agnihotra and Aupâsana one priest, the Adhvaryu, was sufficient; for the Darśapûrṇamâsa, four; for the Châturmâsyas five; for the Paśubandha six; for the Jyotishṭoma sixteen. Âśvalâyana prescribes the sixteen priests for the sacrifices called Ahîna (sacrifices lasting from two to eleven days), and Ekâha (sacrifices of one day), and restricts the seventeen priests to the Sattras (sacrifices lasting from thirteen to one hundred days). Each of the four classes of these priests had peculiar duties to perform. These duties were prescribed in the Brâhmaṇas. The duties of the Hotṛi are laid down in the Brâhmaṇas of the Bahvṛichas, such as the Kaushîtaki and Aitareya-brâhmaṇas; those of the Adhvaryu in the Brâhmaṇas of the Charakas (the Taittirîyaka) and in the Brâhmaṇas of the Vâjasaneyins (the Śatapatha); those of the Udgâtṛi in the Brâhmaṇas of the Chhandogas (the Tâṇḍya.) Âpastamba, who describes the sacrifice in his Paribhâshâ-sûtras¹, says that it is prescribed by the three Vedas, the Rig-veda, Yajur-veda and Sâma-veda.² “The Hotṛi,” he says,