Ashvalayana

Vedic teacher
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Quick Facts
Flourished:
400 bce?
Flourished:
c.400 BCE -

Ashvalayana (flourished 400 bce?) was the author of the Ashvalayana-shrauta-sutra, a Vedic manual of sacrificial ceremonies composed for the use of the class of priests called hotar, or hotri, whose main function was to invoke the gods. Belonging to the “forest tradition” of hermits and wandering holy men yet still a member of the Vedic priesthood, Ashvalayana is mentioned as a teacher as well as a sage in Vedic litanies. He is said to have been a student of the great grammarian Shaunaka.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.