Articles - Sutras

 Sutras

by Dr.V.C. Govindarajan

            After Vedas the Indian Literature developed into Sutras.  Teachings of great sages were in the form of Sutras.   Sutras were teachings in brief.  Vedangas like Nirukta, Astaadyaayi of Panini (Vyakarana) and Yoga sutras, Srauta Sutras, Grhya Sutras, Dharam Sutras and Bhakti sutras were composed.  The Grhya sutras deal with domestic sacrifices and rites to be performed.  The Dharma Sutras refer to customary law and practice.  These were assigned to the period between 7^th and 2^nd BC.  Some of the sages like Gauthama, Baudhayana, Apasthamba and Vasishta.

1)      Grhya Sutras:  The Grhya Sutras deal with the domestic lives of the people.  Reference is made to the duties of the people from their birth to their death.  People are required to perform many Samskara (rituals) right from the arrangement of child’s birth (marriage of parents).

My opinion: So we can understand that getting child is a part of life.  In Taitiriya Upanishad it is told that the teacher at the time of convocation advices his disciple as follow: “My dear student offer anything what is liked by the teacher and don’t cut the thread of Praja (child).”  So marriage and producing children (Dharma Santhathi – virtuous children) are parts of life.  Also it is said “Prajayaahi Manushyah Poornah” – A man completes only by child.  So the origin of Grhya Sutra is found in the Vedas and Upanishads.

People should follow the Asrama Dharamas (Brahmacharya, Grhastha,  Vanaprastha and Sanyasa, Varnasrama Dharama, marriages as adviced (8 kinds), Pancha Mahayajnas (Brahma, Pitr, Deva, Bhuta and Athithi) daily karmas etc.

2)      Dharma sutras:  They are the part of Grhya Stutras and called as Smritis.  The Dharmas in sutra form available in Vedanga Kalpa Sutra.  Then it is developed and composed in Sloka form.  Mahabharatham contains lots of discussion on Dharma.  Manusmriti or Maanava Dharma Sastram during unknown period was very famous and in practice till 12^th Century AD.  Kalidasa of 1 BC, Medhathithi of 9^th AD and Kullooka Bhatta of 12^th AD had mentioned about Manu Dharama.   After Manusmriti, Yajyavalkya, Narada, Paraasara, Brhaspati are some of the authors of Dharma Sastras and they are pre-historian works. It includes law also.  Yajyavalkya Smriti has the influence in the rules of Indian Penal Code.  There are also a large number of digests on law, which are highly valuable and authoritative.

3)      Bhakti Sutras:  The concept of Bhakti is part of Sanskrit Literature.  Sage Narada advised it in Sutra form.  Sage Sandilya also composed Bhakti Sutras.  This concept is also discussed in Bhagavad Gita.  But eight fold of Bhakti is adviced by Sage Narada and they are:"Shravanam, Keertanam, Vishnoho Smaranam, Padasevanam, Archanam, Vandanam, Dasyam, Sakhyam, Atmanivedanam".  (SrimadBhagavata.7-5-23-24).    (18-11-2003).

next: The great Epics of India and 18 Puranas.