Dear Indologists,

In H. P. Sastri's English translation of Anandabhatta's Vallalacarita added to GRETIL by Reinhold Gruenendahl, on pp. 3-4, we find the following sentence. (See http://gretil.sub.uni-goettingen.de/gretil.htm#AnVallcar)

"The nine distinguishing criteria of kula of the Kulinas are achára (cleanliness of conduct), vinaya (discipline), vidyá (learning), pratisthá (social position). tirthadarsana (pilgrimage), nishta (following the precepts of the Shastras), avritti (giving and taking girls to and from families of equal rank), tapa (austerities), and dána (gifts)."

I am interested in learning for how long the meaning 'giving and taking girls to and from families of equal rank' is associated with 'avritti'. Also is this concept of avritti considered an essential component of describing the lineage of brahmins and for how long?

Thanks in advance

Regards,

Palaniappan