Katyayana Sulba Sutra (With English Translation, Explanatory Notes, Diagrams and Articles)

His Holiness Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji.

take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt gratitude at the holy feet of His Holiness Sri Sri Bharathl Theertha Mahaswamijj.

This Katyayana Sulba Sutra (text with En~fish Translation) was not available for past few years. We could bring out this second edition because of the substantial financial help which we received timely from Sanganur Subramania Iyer Trust, Coimbatore - Sole Trustee: Sri Sringeri Math - as per the direction of His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji.

I acknowledge the sincere efforts taken by Ms. Vaijayanti Dhole-Patil and Ms. Surekha Wagle, Step in Services, Pune - 11, for perfect and prompt printing of this book.

Long before Dr. C. G. Kashikar suggested to me to take up the study of the Sulba Sutras, when I had all opportunity to discuss with him certain problems relating to the Vedic sacrificial system. In course of time• I prepared the Marathi translation of the Katyayana SuJba Sutra with the help of Dr. M. R. Bondre from Baroda.. Thereupon I revised it with the help of Prof. Patwardhan of Dapoli Later on, it was examined by Dr. Kashikar. But I thought if desirable to, prepare an English Version of the same and the present work is the outcome of my studies.

Shri Dixit, Shri Haribhau Desai and Shri Pade Sastri, all from Baroda helped me in solving my difficulties. In compiling this Monograph, many people helped me in various other ways. I am thankful to all of them. I must also the Executive Council of the Vaidika Samsodhana Mapdala, Poona, for publishing this dissertation.

My hearty thanks are due to Shri N. S. Sontakke for undertaking this publication.

My sincere thanks are also due to Dr. T. N. Dharmadhikari who bore a large share of the burden in the matter of the printing of this volume.

I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the proprietors of the Veda-Yidya Mudranalaya who carried out the intricate printing of this volume with great care.

The Sulba Sutras

The Sulba Sutras, which form a part of the Sutra literature are intended to lay down the rules of demarcation of the various sacrificial altars, pandals, and places for sacred fire etc.. provided as per directions quoted by the authors of Samhitas Brahmanas and Srauta Sutras, for performing the various sacrifices, both Nitya and Ktamya.

It should be noted that the procedure to be followed. while performing various Vedic sacrifices is' scattered over the Brahmana and Samhita literature of Yajurveda. But the rules pertaining to the Mathematical side of it, especially the Geometrical portion involved, which is required for constructing the various forms of altars, which are either a square, a triangle, a trapezium or a circle in shape and the construction of various citis, which have the shape of birds, with spread out wings and tail etc. are given only in the Sulba Sutras.

The Sulba Sutras generally occur as one or more chapters of the Kalp a or Srauta Sutras or are separate. The system of measurement of the various sacrificial places was being carried out by means of 'Sulba' or a measuring cord and.

the word 'Sutra' denotes rules in concise and short forms and therefore, these are termed as Sulba Sutras.

The duty of measuring and preparing the various sacrificial places was, assigned to Adhvaryu and his assistants, who belonged to the Yajurveda, which abounds different schools. These schools are represented by different Srauta Sutras. So each of the Srauta Sutra belonging to Yajurveda was entitled to have its own Sulba Sutra.