The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c10.13

v1.c10.13

Beside the Çrauta and the Gṛhya Sūtras stand the Dharma Sūtras, which are more specially devoted to customary law, but which frequently contain references to religion: of these the oldest and most important are those of Gautama, Baudhāyana, Āpastamba, and Vasiṣṭha,² but with them and still more with the later law books we pass from the ideas of Vedic religion to those of Hinduism, though the change is of course gradual and without any sharp break. The Gṛhya and Dharma Sūtras, however, are of special value as preserving for us the more domestic side of the religion practised by the ordinary householder, as opposed to the great sacrifices which were confided to the hands of the priests.