The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c19.s3.14

c19.s3.14

14. See *ĀpŚS* 22. 1. 11–16, which deals with the twelve-day ritual, celebrated either as an ahīna or as a sattra. Though the ahīna, according to classical theory, is performed by one yajamāna assisted by sixteen officiants, it is striking that the *Āpastamba Dharmasūtra* and *Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā* consider the execution by a group of dīkṣitas assisted by non-dīkṣita officiants as the proper characteristic of the ahīna (cf. also *MānŚS* 7. 2. 1. 3). For the invited brahmin’s question whether or not it is an ahīna, see *ĀpŚS* 10. 1. 3 with Caland’s note and W. Caland and V. Henry, *L’Agniṣṭoma* (Paris, 1906–7), 4. See also Heesterman, “Vrātya and Sacrifice”, 31–34.