Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c6.4

v1.c6.4

These teachers kept up the Vedic tradition and were mainly engaged in reciting the Vedic hymns and performing the sacrifices. They are referred to in Tevijja and other Suttas in these terms: there were the ṛṣis, e.g. Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamataggi, Aṅgirasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa and Bhagu,¹ who are said to be the ancestors of the present-day Brāhmaṇas, and composers of hymns (mantā-nam kattāro). From them have been handed down mantras which are being recited at present (etarahi) by Brāhmaṇas, proficient in the three Vedas. According to the Tevijja sutta, they were not only reciters of Vedic hymns but were also students and teachers of the sacrificial literature. From the accounts of Brāhmaṇic sacrifices found in the Kūṭadanta and other suttas, it becomes apparent how much, at the time of the rise of Buddhism, the ancient system of Brāhmaṇic sacrifices was in vogue. In these elaborate sacrifices, services of learned Brāhmaṇas had to be requisitioned. In a passage of the Kūṭadanta sutta it is stated that Brāhmaṇas of pure origin, well-versed in the Vedas and the subsidiary literature, were only engaged for the performance of sacrifices. So evidently there was a class of Brāhmaṇas who studied mainly the sacrificial literature and earned their livelihood by officiating at sacrifices.