The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c5.7

c5.7

Since *Śulbasūtras* form part of the *Śrautasūtras*, inspite of their separate classification under the *Kalpasūtras*, one would expect a *śulba* section attached to each *Śrautasūtra*. And there are *Śrautasūtras* belonging to all the four *Saṃhitās*. But what we possess today are a small number of *Śulbasūtras* attached to the *śrautas* belonging only to the various schools of the *Yajurveda*. Of them the Black Yajurvedins of the *Taittirīya* school were the most active and prolific producers of the *sūtra* text, and it is no wonder that the most comprehensive, as also the largest number of, *Śulbasūtras* were produced by the scholars of this school, such as Baudhāyana, Āpastamba, Vādhula and Hiraṇyakeśin. Of the *Maitrāyaṇī* school, Mānava and Vārāha are known to have written works on the *śulba*. In this subject *Kāṭhaka-Kapiṣṭhala* school is represented by Laugākṣi. Of the White Yajurvedins, Kātyāyana, another prolific writer of the *sūtras* is credited with a small but scientifically executed *śulba* work. Maśaka, the *sūtrakāra* of the *Sāmaveda* school probably also compiled a *śulba* text attached to the *Śrautasūtras* of that school. The initiative of the Yajurvedins in producing works of this kind is not surprising when we bear in mind that they were the principal custodians of the knowledge of sacrificial formulas and specialized in sacrificial performances.