The Grhya-sutras contain rules for customs, ceremonies and sacrifices through which the life of an Indian attains purification. They record a number of popular customs and manners connected with conception, birth, name-giving, first-outing, first-eating by the child.
The Grhya-sutra belongs to the Jaimini School of Samaveda. It is divided into 2 parts. Part I opens with details of regular sacrifices in which cooked food is offered to the deities. The work proceeds with the description of a ceremony to secure the birth of a male child, description of the nandimukha sraddha preceding every sacrament, of parting the hair, ceremony for the new-born child, ceremony of giving name, the first feeding of the babe with solid food, the tonsure of childÃs head, initiation of the student to the study, twilight devotion, opening of the annual course of study, ending of the term of study, observance of vows, his return home after finishing the course of study, ceremony of marriage, evening and morning sacrifices and the sacrifice of first fruits.
Part II opens with the rite of sraddha and proceeds with the description of astakas, funeral ceremonies, libations of water, and the collection of bones. It is followed by the detailed account of rites of the house, allaying of prodigies, recitation of the Veda during a fast. It ends with the appeasing of planets malefic to the householder. |
