The Vedas and the Sutras.

Grihya Sutra.

any of the Hindu religious manuals detailing the domestic (grhya) religious ceremonies performed by the householder over his own fire. They make up, together with the Shrauta-sutras (which deal with the grand Vedic sacrifices) and the Dharma-sutras (which deal with rules of conduct), the Kalpa-sutras--collections of brief aphoristic texts that emerged within the different schools of the Veda (the earliest sacred literature of India). The Grhya-sutras describe the ceremonies (samskaras) that mark each stage of a man's life, from the moment of his conception to his final death rites; the five daily sacrifices (mahayajña); seasonal ceremonies; and those observed on special occasions, such as house-building or cattle-breeding.

Kalpa Sutra.

manual of Hindu religious practice, a number of which emerged within the different schools of the Veda, the earliest sacred literature of India. Each manual explains the procedures (kalpa) of its school as it applies to three different categories: the sacrificial ritual (the Shrauta-sutras; see Shrauta-sutra), the domestic ritual (the Grhya-sutras; see Grhya-sutra), and the conduct of life (the Dharma-sutras; see dharmashastra). They are written in the short aphoristic style of the sutra (literally "thread") so that they could be committed easily to memory. Kalpa is one of six fields of scholarly discipline known as vedangas ("accessories to the Vedas"). As they are regarded to be of human origin, they are considered Smrti ("tradition") as distinct from the earlier Vedic literature, which is Shruti ("revelation).

Shraut Sutra.

any of a number of Hindu ritual manuals used by priests engaged in the performance of the grander Vedic sacrifices, those requiring three fires and the services of many specialized priests. The manuals are called shrauta (from Sanskrit shruti, "revelation") because they are based directly on the older Vedic literature considered as a class to be Shruti, or revealed. The Shrauta-sutras, together with the Grhya-sutras (dealing with domestic ceremonies) and the Dharma-sutras (dealing with rules of conduct), make up the Kalpa-sutras, collections of brief aphoristic texts that emerged within the different schools of the Veda. Each Shrauta-sutra guides the priests of its own particular Vedic school in the performance of specialized functions. The texts deal with such subjects as the laying of the three fires, the full and new moon ceremonies, and the various animal and soma sacrifices.