The Domestic Sutras of Gobhila

...these are also called "Shrauta" Shrauta Rituals derived directly from the Shruti (revelation), typically involving the three sacred fires and specialized priests.. In the same way, the rituals performed using the sacred fire designated for marriage and other domestic duties—as well as the entire sequence of those acts and the texts that prescribe their methods—are called "Grihya" Grihya Literally "belonging to the home"; rituals performed by the householder himself using a single domestic fire.. Although there is more than one "Shrauta Sutra" for each Veda, there is no strict rule that a specific Shrauta Sutra must be followed by a specific branch (shakha). Therefore, the great commentator Sayanacharya states: "The performance of any ritual is common across all branches." original: "सर्वशाखा प्रत्येकमेकं कर्म" (sarvashākha pratyekamekaṃ karma) *

This means that the performance of the ritual prescribed for all branches is essentially the same. Jaimini, the master of the Mimamsa school The philosophical tradition focused on the correct interpretation and execution of Vedic ritual., also established this same system (Mimamsa, Chapter 2, Part 4), and this point is reiterated in works like the Adhikarana Mala. However, the Grihya Sutras vary according to the different branches of the Veda. Consequently, one must accept as many Grihya Sutras as there are branches of that Veda. For the Samaveda, the author of the Shrauta Sutra is Latyayana, and the author of the Grihya text for his Kauthumi branch is the teacher Gobhila. All the life-cycle rituals, such as marriage, for the Brahmins who study this particular branch are performed according to the arrangements found in the Sutras composed by this very Gobhila. Furthermore, based on the authority of this text, the great scholar Mahamahopadhyaya Bhavadeva Bhatta popularized the procedures for marriage and other rituals in the region of Bengal original: "वङ्गदेश" (Vangadesh). Other regions follow different systems. This teacher Gobhila is the author of four texts: the Grihya Sutra, the Sandhya Sutra Daily twilight devotions., the Snana Sutra Ritual bathing., and the Shraddha Sutra Rites for ancestors.. If there is interest from our patrons, we shall publish these texts along with translations as well.

Although a commentary (vritti) by Narayanopadhyaya exists for this Gobhila Grihya Sutra, it contains so many errors due to the scribe's inattention that correcting it for printing would require as much effort as writing a brand new commentary. For this reason, it was set aside. Another Sanskrit commentary on this Grihya Sutra was written by Pandit Chandrakanta Tarkalankar. This commentary was composed by harmonizing the views of the Grihya Sutras of various other branches, which has made it extremely voluminous. In our view, the commentary on a specific branch’s Grihya Sutra should stay true to that specific branch, because the duties prescribed in one's own Grihya Sutra are written specifically according to one's own branch of study.

Such a Sanskrit commentary on this Grihya Sutra has been written by Pandit Satyavrata Samashrami, and we have provided this current translation in the common language following that Sanskrit commentary.

• See his introduction to the Rigveda commentary original: "तदीय ऋग्भाष्यभूमिका द्रष्टव्य" (tadiya rigbhashyabhumika drashtavya).