History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c24.s1.489

v2.c24.s1.489

Yāj. ( I. 148-151 ) speaks of 37 *tātkālika anadhyāyas* ( i. e. where Veda study is suspended only as long as the occasion or disturbance stated lasts ). They are : when there is noise created by a dog, jackal, ass, owl, singing of *sāman*, playing on a flute and the cries of the distressed ( these are 7 ); in the vicinity or presence of impure things, of a corpse, or a śūdra or antya ( i. e. one of the untouchables ), cemetery, a patita ( one guilty of mahāpātaka ) ; when the place ( of study ) has become impure or when the man himself is impure ; when there is continuous flashing of lightning or continuous peals of thunder ; while one's hands are wet after taking one's meals ; in the midst of water ; at midnight ; when a violent wind is blowing ; when there is a rainfall of dust, when the quarters are lit up by sudden ( and strange ) lights ; at the two twilights ; when there is fog; when there is a fright ( caused by robbers &c. ) ; when one is running ; when the smell of something rotten or impure spreads ; when a distinguished visitor comes to the house ; when one rides an ass, a camel, a conveyance ( like a chariot ), an elephant, a horse, a boat, or climbs a tree or is in a desert ( or barren ) place. A few explanatory words may be added. According to Āp. Dh. S. I. 3. 10. 19 when wolves howl, or when there is the sound of any musical instrument, or of weeping, singing or of the recitation of a Sāman there is anadhyāya. Gaut. 16. 7 mentions the sound of bāṇa (a kind of vīṇā), bherī (a drum), mṛdaṅga, *garta* (a chariot) and the distressed. Manu (IV. 123-124) explains that when a sāman is heard, one should not study any portion of the Ṛgveda or Yajurveda, because the gods are the devatās of Ṛgveda, the Yajurveda deals with men (it enjoins actions to be done by men), Sāmaveda has the pitṛs as its deities; hence its sound has something of the impure or uncanny about it. Āp. Dh. S. I. 3. 11. 27 prescribes ⁹⁴⁵ that there should be no Vedic study as long as there are clouds when it is not the season for clouds, when there is a halo round the sun or moon, when there is a rainbow, or when there is parhelion or a star with a tail (like a fish). Gaut. 16. 19, Āp. Dh. I. 3. 9. 14-15, Vas. 13. 11 say that there is anadhyāya as long as a corpse or a cāṇḍāla is in the village or town. Gaut. 16. 45 states the view of some that the Veda can never be studied in a city; there is no Veda study as long as there is an assembly of people (Manu IV. 108) or while the student is lying down or has stretched his feet or placed them on a cot or stool, or while he sits on his haunches winding round his knees and hips a piece of cloth (Manu IV. 112., Vas. Dh. S. 13. 23, Viṣṇu Dh. S. 30. 17). There is to be anadhyāya when one is answering the calls of nature (Manu IV. 109), or when one has not yet sipped water (ācamana) after taking food, or after partaking of meat (Manu IV. 112), when there is wordy argument or there is an affray or a fight or when one is wounded or when blood flows from the body (Manu IV. 122) or when one suffers from indigestion or vomits or has sour eructations (Manu IV. 121).