History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.235.1

v7.c91.235.1

Supreme importance is attached to Vedic mantras and also Paurāṇika mantras. They will have to be dealt with at some length in the sections on Tantras and on Pūrvamīmāṁsā. But some treatment of mantras, particularly vedic, may be given here as well. The word *mantra* occurs about twenty-five times in the Ṛgveda Only once does the word *mantrakṛt* occur in the Ṛgveda¹⁶⁰⁶ (IX 114. 2) 'O sage Kaśyapa! offer obeisance to king Soma Lord of plants with the chants of the composers (or authors) of mantras, thereby sending forth your own voice &c'. Mr. Kapali Sastry is inaccurate when he states (on p. 67 of the translation of his 'Ṛgbhāsya-bhūmikā in English) 'we see *frequent* mention made in the Ṛik Saṃhitā of the rishi as the author of the mantra' and he cites only Ṛg. IX 114. 2 and I. 67. 2. The latter contains no word like mantrakṛt. Ṛg. I. 67. 2 (addressed to Agni) runs 'holding in his hand all powers (or riches), sitting in a cave (i. e. concealed) he placed the gods in fright, heroes (men or gods) that place (offer) prayers know him (Agni) to be here when they recite mantras formed in the heart'.