The History of Indian Literature c8.454

c8.454

To this Sútra belong further five so-called *Kalpas*: the *Nakshatra-Kalpa*, an astrological compendium relating to the lunar mansions, in fifty *kaṇḍikás*; the *Śánti-Kalpa*, in twenty-five *kaṇḍikás*, which treats likewise of the adoration of the lunar mansions,¹⁷⁰ and contains prayers addressed to them; the *Vitána-Kalpa*, the *Saṃhitá-Kalpa*, and the *Abhichára-Kalpa*. The Vishṇu-Puráṇa and the Charaṇavyúha, to be presently mentioned, name, instead of the last, the *Áṅgirasa-Kalpa*. Further, seventy-four smaller Pariśishṭas¹⁷¹ also belong to it, mostly composed in *ślokas*, and in the form of dialogues, like the Puráṇas. The contents are Gṛihya-subjects of various kinds; astrology,¹⁷² magic, and the doctrine concerning omens and portents are most largely represented. Some sections correspond almost literally to passages of a like nature in the astrological Saṃhitás. Among these Pariśishṭas, there is also a *Charaṇa-vyúha*, which states the number of the *ṛichas* in the Atharva-Saṃhitá at 12,380, that of the *paryáyas* (hymns) at 2000; but the number of the *Kauśikoktáni pariśishṭáni* only at 70. Of teachers who are mentioned the following are the chief: first, Bṛihaspati Atharvan, Bhagavant Atharvan himself, Bhṛigu, Bhárgava, Aṅgiras, Áṅgirasa, Kávya (or Kavi) Uśanas; then Śaunaka, Nárada, Gautama, Kámkáyana, Karmagha, Pippaláda, Máhaki, Garga, Gárgya, Vṛiddhagarga, Átreya, Padmayoni, Kraushṭuki. We meet with many of these names again in the astrological literature proper.