||    Apasthambha & other Kalpa Sutras    ||

The Sixth limb (Anga) of the Vedas is Known as Kalpam. It is considered as the Hands of the Vedas, since it deals with doing Karmas prescribed by the Vedas. Those Karmas and the fruits thereof should be offered to the Supreme being at the end of their performance.

The Kalpams provide details on who should do what and at what stage of one's life. They elaborate on the mantras to be recited, the Samagriyas to be assembled, the Rtviks to officiate at these rituals and prescribed functions.

The Kalpa Sutrams have been given to us by various Sages. In the south, Krishna Yajur Vedam is dominant or popular. Six rishis -- Aapasthambhar, BodhAyanar, VaigAnasar, SatyAshaadar,Bharadvajar and Agnivesar-- have written Sutras for the practioners of Krishna Yajur Veda Saakhaa. These Rishis have written both the Sroutha and Gruhya Sutrams for the Saakaas.

Two sages have written Sutras for Rg Vedam. The popular one is by Asvlaayanar.The other not so prevalent is that by SaankAyanar.

Sage Kaatyayanar has written Sutras for Sukla Yajur Vedam

For Sama Veda Saakas, Laatyayanar has written for Kouthuma Saakaa. For RaaNaaaneeya Saakaa, Diraahyayanar has written Sroutha Sutrams. The Grihya Sutrams for this Saakaa has been written by Gopilar. Sage Jaimini has written sutrams for the Talavakaara Saaka of Sama Vedam.

Atharva Vedam is not so prevalent. No Kalpa Sutram is available today.

From Garbha Dhanam (placement of the seed) to Antimeshti (Ultimate Ishti or Yaga, the cremation ceremony in which the body is offered as Havis in the Sacred fire), there are 40 Samskaras for a Hindu. There is a subset for women among the 40. For instance, they do not have the Upanayanam ceremony. Either the Sroutha or the Gruhya Sutra covers these 40 ceremonies. Among the 21 Yajnas -- 7 Paka, 7 Soma, 7 Havir Yajnas--, Sroutha Sutras cover the 7 Soma and 7 Havir Yajnas. The Gruhya Sutras cover the 7 Paka Yajnas and the rest of the 19 Samskaraas.

Gruhya Yajnas/Samskaaraas are smaller in scope than the Sroutha Yajnas, which need major effort. The former are done at home mostly (Gruham). The others are done at special sites outside the home. When we say Abhivaadhanam, we referer to the Sroutha Sutram associated with one's Veda Saakaa.Aapasthabhar has written Sroutha and Gruhya Sutras.Hence we recite Aapasthambha sutra: Yajussaakaadhyaayi, there is nocomplication. In contrast, One who belongs to RaaNaaneeya Saakaa of Sama Veda can not quote Gopilar in his Abhivaadhanam, but has to mention the sage Diraahyayanar alone. Latter wrote the Sroutha Sutram and Gopilar wrote only the Gruhya Sutrams for this Saakaa.

There is a subdivision of Sroutha Sutras known as Sulpa Sutras. These deal with More details on Yajnas. Kaatyayanar, Hiranyakesar and Bodhaayanar have given us these Sulpa Sutras.

In addition to the ways of conductance of the Samskaras and Yajnas, these Kalpa Sutras also decribe the Sikhai (Urdhva Sikhaior Poorva Sikhai), Pundram to be worn and other details on Karmaanushtaanam.

My father was an expert on Apasthambha Sutras and I have some moth eaten remnants of Apaasthambha Prayogas that are interesting to say the least to study. Kaanchi Periyavaal has commented extensively on Kalpa Sutras in the chapters on Vedas and their Six Angaas.

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