Word

Apasthamba

Sanskrit

आपस्तम्ब

IAST

āpastamba

In General

Apasthamba is famous for his contribution in Sulabh sutra which is the fundamental text on altar construction for Yajna. He wrote this work for religious purpose but it turned to be a great mathematical work in geometry, trigonometry and algebra. His Grihya-sutras and Dharma-sutra deals with general rule of studentship and customs to follow while studying Veda and performing householder duties. All these works are part of his Work on Kalpa sutra he wrote for Krishna Yajurveda. In Grihya Sutra he gives detailed account of sixteen samskaras.

Veda

Apasthamba was a teacher of Krishna Yajurveda, particularly Taittiriya subdivision, and have run a Vedic school for the purpose. He was a student of Vysambayana, the disciple of Vyasa. The fact that Taitiriya section of Yajurveda also called as Apasthamba samhita and Taitiriya brahmana was also called as Apasthamba brahmana, shows the unparallel position he was holding as a teacher of Taitiriya section. Apasthamba was considered junior to Sage Baudhayana (another Yejurvedi) as his Sulabh sutra was an exposition of Boudayana’s work and there is considerable number of sutras in common with the works of Baudayana.

Purana

Purana describe him as have the power to stay underwater for long. There is a story that we was once caught in a fishermans net while doing meditation in under water and king Nabhaga freed him