Dear Prof. Deshpande, 

What I observed with the few Brāhmaṇas of Maharashtra that learned more than one Veda is that they usually affiliate to the first Veda they learned as their svaśākhā (which should be the Veda of their family, thus determined by birth, although this is often not the case). The additional Vedas learned after their own Veda (usually portions thereof or the Saṃhitā of the next Veda at the most) are usually considered secondary. In some cases the second Veda learned is more important for their ritual activities. For example I witnessed that some Yajurvedins had learned the Sāmaveda and thus were known and hired often for their expertise in chanting the second Veda (as there are fewer Sāmavedins in Maharashtra), yet still considered Taittirīya their svaśākhā and Āpastambha or Hiraṇyakeśī their Sūtra.

I hope this anecdotal information helps. If I remember correctly Scharfe in his Education in Ancient India (2002) collected some of the textual references on the rules of first learning one's svaśākhā and then proceeding to the next Veda, but unfortunately, I do not have the book at hand right now.

Best, 
Borayin Larios  



On Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 1:37 PM, Madhav Deshpande <mmdesh@umich.edu> wrote:
Dear Colleagues,

     We know that each Brahmin is affiliated traditionally with a particular Veda/Shakha and a particular Sūtra.  However, what is the ritual affiliation for those Brahmins who are traditionally called Dvivedi, Trivedi and Chaturvedi?  Do they have concurrent multiple Vedic/Sutra affiliations?  I was told by the Ratate family in Banaras that their personal Vedic affiliation is with Ṛgveda, and yet academically/professionally they became Atharvavedins.  I am wondering if the situation with Dvivedis, Trivedis and Chaturvedis is similar, in the sense that they academically study two, three or four Vedas, and yet have a particular one Veda as their family affiliation.  Any information, including textual references, would be helpful.  With best wishes,

Madhav Deshpande
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

--
Madhav M. Deshpande
Professor of Sanskrit and Linguistics
Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
202 South Thayer Street, Suite 6111
The University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1608, USA

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