Pāraskara Gṛhyasutras
By Swami Harshananda
The gṛhyasutras are one of the earliest phases of the dharmaśāstra literature. The Pāraskara Grhyasutras is a well-known work, assigned to the Śukla Yajurveda tradition and followed mostly in North India.
Author of Pāraskara Gṛhyasutras[edit]
Nothing is known about the sage Pāraskara except that he was a disciple of the sage Kātyāyana who was the author of the Śrautasutras bearing his name. According to one view, Pāraskara might have lived during the period 900-800 B. C. However it is difficult to prove it conclusively.
Overview of Pāraskara Gṛhyasutras[edit]
The work is in three kāṇḍas or chapters. The following table gives an idea of the work:
| Kāṇda (Chapter) | Kaṇdikas (Subsections) | Sutras |
| First | 19 | 197 |
| Second | 17 | 294 |
| Third | 16 | 219 |
| Total:3 | 52 | 710 |
Content of Pāraskara Gṛhyasutras[edit]
The topics dealt with are briefly as follows:
- On Vedic sacrifices in general
- The sanskāra or the sacrament of vivāha or marriage
- Darśapurṇamāsa and Vaiśva-deva sacrifices
- Some more sanskāras generally included in the group of sixteen[1] on eating flesh
- Upanayāna and the duties of brahmacārin
- A special sacrifice called Sītāyajña to be performed in the spring season
- The sacrifice called Āgrayaṇī to be performed with the newly harvested crop
- Cure for headaches
- Controlling one’s employees
- Few prāyaścittas or expiations for sins
- Modes of getting into a chariot
- Entering an assembly where many people have gathered
Commentaries on Pāraskara Gṛhyasutras[edit]
Five commentaries on this Grhyasutras have been discovered by:
There is one gloss called Amrtavyākhyā quoted by other unknown writers.
References[edit]
- ↑ It is ṣoḍaśasanskāras.
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore