Consider the following statements regarding the Vedic sacrificial system and ritual priests: 1. The Hotri was the priest responsible for reciting hymns from the Rig Veda. 2. The Udgatri chanted musical hymns originating from the Sama Veda during rituals. 3. The Adhvaryu supervised the actual performance of the sacrifice and physical layout of the altar according to the Atharva Veda. Which of the statements given above are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Hotri priest recited the invocations and liturgical verses of the Rig Veda, while the Udgatri was charged with the musical chanting of the Saman hymns from the Sama Veda. The third statement is incorrect because the Adhvaryu performed the manual sacrifices and altar preparations using the formulas of the Yajur Veda, not the Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda contained charms, spells, and domestic rituals presided over by the Brahman priest. Detailed ritual duties are codified in the Brahmana texts of the later Vedic literature.