History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.843

v4.c63.t2.843

11. 'The initiation for a *sattra*' (l. 8). Sattras were sacrificial sessions the duration of which varied from 12 days to a year, 12 years or even more. Only brāhmaṇas could perform them (Jai. VI. 6. 16-23). Acc. to Śabara on Jai. VI. 2. 1 persons who engaged in them must not be less than 17 nor more than 24. All of them were both sacrificers (*yajamāna*) as well as priests. Vide H. of Dh. vol. II pp. 1239-1246 for sattras. The prohibition against engaging in sattras is a clear indication that people had become tired of the ancient Vedic sacrifices, of the great demands they made on time and wealth and had begun to prefer other and easier modes of worship.