Striving for a Share and Concord: The Saṁjñānī in the Black Yajurveda Tradition

Baudhāyana-Śrautasūtra 18.25 mentions some oblations to Saṁjñānī (saṁjñānyai haviṁṣi), which are able to make those who act discordantly live in harmony. Both in this passage and other Black Yajurveda texts, the same name occurs and is associated with the need for concord among human beings and even among the gods. In particular, in Kaṭha-Saṁhitā 11.3 and Maitrāyaṇī-Saṁhitā 2.2.6, the latter fight for their share of the spoils because no one is willing to acknowledge the other’s pre-eminence (śraiṣṭhya). Human beings are generally desirous of [becoming] a village [head] (grāmakāma), and the Maruts are identified with this village, while the one who becomes a grāmin, ‘owner of a village’, is identified with Indra (Tatittirīya-Saṁhitā 2.2.11.2–6; Baudhāyana- -Śrautasūtra 13.20; 18.25). Furthermore, the saṁjñānī is listed as one of the kāmyeṣṭis in several other Śrautasūtras, such as Āśvalāyana-Śrautasūtra 2.11.10, Mānava-Śrautasūtra 5.1.10.1, and Āpastamba-Śrautasūtra 19.20.3; 20.1.4, where the struggle for peace is definitely more vague. The purpose of this article is to reconstruct the history of this ritual institution with its interesting implications for the political balance it seems to aim for. Special attention will be paid to the dynamics between a leader and his community and especially between the leader and his peers.