Cooperative Undertakings

Cooperative undertakings mentions that the priests who are cooperating in the sacrifice shall divide their earning either equally or as agreed upon or excepting what is especially due to each or any of them. Arthashastra specifies that if a priest employed in such sacrifice as Agnishtoma, etc., dies after the ceremony of consecration (his claimant) shall get 1/5th of the promised of prescribed present (dakshina); after the ceremony consecrating the purchase of Soma, shall receive 1/4th of the present (dakshina); after the ceremony called Madhyamopasad, or Pravargyodvasana, 1/3 of the present and while after the ceremony called Maya, 1/2 of the share. If in the sacrifice called Sutya, the same thing happens after the ceremony called Pratassavana, 3/4th of the share shall be paid; after the ceremony called Madhyandina, the present shall be paid in full; for by that time the payment of presents shall be over. In every sacrifice except the one called Brihaspatisavana, it is usual to pay presents. The same rule shall apply to the present payable in Aharganas, sacrifices so called.

Cooperative undertaking also mentions that when the surviving priests carrying the balance of presents or any other relative of the dead priests shall perform all the funeral ceremony for next ten days and ten nights. And if the sacrificer himself dies then the priests shall complete the sacrifice and carry along with them all the presents. If the sacrifice sends any of the priests before completing the sacrifice shall be punished or if the sacrificer sends some priests out who has not kept a fire for sacrifice or is a preceptor or one who has already performed the sacrifice shall be fined for 100, 1000 and 1000 panas.

Cooperative undertaking further mentions that as these sacrifices add to the value or virtue of the sacrificer so any negligence in maintain its purity shall affect its purity. Thus it prohibits the participation of all those who are either drunkard or have committed any kinds of misdeeds from participating in the sacrifice.

Thus, cooperative undertakings shall include the activities particularly performance of all the social sacrifices which has been performed in collective basis for the benefit of all.