Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.7

c12.7

**Classes of Sūtra Works: New Subjects of Study.** In the first place, it gives us an idea of the number and variety of the *subjects of study* then existing. The *Śrauta Sūtras* are a continuation of the *Brāhmaṇas* on their ritual side, as the Upanishads are on their speculative side. The rites they deal with are never congregational but are always performed on behalf of a single individual called *Yajamāna* (sacrificer). The second branch of ritual Sūtras are the *Gṛihya Sūtras* treating of numerous ceremonies applicable to the domestic life of a man and his family from birth to death. Since these lay outside the scope of the *Brāhmaṇas*, the authors of the *Gṛihya Sūtras* had to rely on popular tradition in dealing with observances of daily life. The third branch of the Sūtra literature, based on tradition or Smṛiti, are the *Dharma Sūtras* which deal with the customs of daily life (*Sāmayāchārika*) and are thus our earliest legal literature. There is lastly a division of the Sūtras called the *Sulva Sūtras* connected with religious practice; they are practical manuals giving the measurements necessary for the construction of the *vedi*, of the altars and so forth. They show quite an advanced knowledge of geometry and constitute the oldest Indian mathematical works [Macdonell, *Sans. Lit.*, p. 264].