ASVALAYANA

flourished 400 BC? author of the Asvalayana-srauta-sutra, Vedic manual of sacrificial ceremonies composed for the use of the class of priests called hotar, or hotr, whose main function was to invoke the gods. Belonging to the forest tradition of hermits and wandering holy men rather than to that of the priesthood, Asvalayana is mentioned as a teacher as well as a sage in Vedic litanies and in the one text is invoked along with Indra and the sons of Brahma. He is described as a student of Saunaka, who composed many texts.