Book Reviewed: A Dictionary of the Vedic Rituals – Based on the Srauta and Grhya Sutras by Chitrabhanu Sen

A dictionary of Vedic terms

One of the disadvantages of a dictionary such as this is that the words and terms of a Vedic ritual are dispersed owing to its alphabetic arrangement. However, the author has to make the meaning intelligible and usable by both Vedic students and scholars alike. He has to draw a distinction between the sacrificial and the non-sacrificial terms, and the dictionary has to show how an object is used in a sacrifice or how an action took place during the sacrifice. The author has done his best to take these arguments in his consideration in compiling this book. This is by no means an exhaustive dictionary but all significant terms of the ritual have been included. To a certain extent this work is based on the earlier work of Louis Renou’s “Vacabulaire du ritual Vedique.” All terms have been explained with references to Vedic and post-Vedic literature. This is very useful book for both Vedic students and ritual practitioners.