A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c10.77

c10.77

There is no Sanhitâ for the Hotris corresponding to the Sanhitâs of the Adhvaryus and Udgâtris. The Hotri learnt from the Brâhmaṇa, or in later times, from the Sûtra, what special duties he had to perform. He knew from those sources the beginnings or the names of the hymns which he had to recite at every part of the service. But in order to be able to use these indications, he had previously to know the whole body of Vedic poetry, so as to be ready to produce from the vast store of his memory whatever hymn or verse was called for at the sacrifice. There exists among the MSS. of Walker’s Collection a work entitled, Âśvalâyana-śâkhoktamantra-sanhitâ, a collection of hymns of the Âśvalâyana-śâkhâ, which contains the hymns as required according to the Gṛihya-sûtras of Âśvalâyana. It would have been easy to construct a similar collection for the Śrauta-sûtras, but such a collection was never made, and it is never alluded to in the ancient literature of the Brahmans.¹