An Outline of the Religious Literature of India c7.s2.22

c7.s2.22

§ 43. The appearance during this period of the sūtra-texts on Magic shows that the practice of the old methods of magic was still a very living part of the religion; but we must notice that these ceremonies did not form part of the obligatory ceremonial law (kalpa), but are extra and voluntary. The chief text, the Kauśika-sūtra which belongs to the Atharvaveda, is first of all a Gṛihya-sūtra, but also gives a great deal of detailed information about magical ceremonies, and makes much that is far from clear in the Atharvan quite comprehensible. The *Rigvidhāna* describes the magical effects produced by the recitation of hymns or single verses of the *Rigveda*; while the *Sāmavidhāna Brāhmaṇa* shows how the chants of the *Sāmaveda* may be used for superstitious practices.¹ The *Adbhuta Brāhmaṇa* also belongs to the *Sāmaveda*, and deals with portents and the means to avert their evil influence. We may also mention here the *Gopatha Brāhmaṇa* of the *Atharvaveda*, which is a late text of very varied character, depending on the *Vaitāna-sūtra*.