The Grihya Sutras

Dharma Sastras

Translated by Hermann Oldenberg

The Grihya Sutras are sacred Hindu texts containing information regarding Vedic domestic rites and rituals meant for the householders. They were rendered into compositions probably during the same period when the Dharmashastras or the Hindu law books were composed. The Grihya Sutras as their name suggests deal with domestic rituals such as conception, birth, initiation (upanayanam), marriage, death etc. The following translations by Hermann Oldenberg (1886) cover four Grihya Sutras, namely Sankhyayana-Grihya-sutra, Asvalayana-Grihya-sutra, Paraskara Grihya-sutra and Khadia Grihya sutra.

Suggestions for Further Reading

Source: The Grihya Sutras, Part 1 translation by Hermann Oldenberg, from the Sacred Books of the East, Volume 29,  Clarendon: Oxford University Press [1886]. This text is in the public domain in the United States because it was published prior to January 1st, 1923. These files may be used for any non-commercial purpose, provided this notice of attribution is left intact in all copies.

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