Word

Udgatri

Sanskrit

उद्गातृ

IAST

udgātṛ

In General

One of the four officiating priest in Vedic sacrifice, the other three being hotri, adhvaryu and Brahma. Udgatri is an expert in Sama Veda. Udgatri along with Hotri chant the mantras.

Veda

Udgatri got three assistants. They are Prastota, Pratiharta, Subrahmanya. These three assistants are respectively called dvitiyi or ardhi, tritiyi and padi. Their duties as well as fees that they get are in the declining order. For instance, the dvitiyi get half, the trtiyi one third and the padi one forth of the fees that is paid to Udgatri. Only in large sacrifices like Somayaga these many priests take part. In other Yajnas, the number of priest is reduced according to the needs and circumstances.