From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Sometimes transliterated as: Itikartavyata, ItikartavyatA, Itikartavyataa

Itikartavyatā literally means ‘mode of performing a duty’.

It is a technical term used in the Purvamimāmsā Sutras.[1] and answers the question as to how a thing is to be accomplished.

When someone is hungry, he has to prepare food and eat it. For this he has to cook the raw rice which again needs the necessary vessels and fire using fuel sticks. Similarly, if a person wants to perform a Vedic sacrifice, he must be given detailed instructions. This is called ‘itikartavyatā’.


  1. Purvamimāmsā Sutras 11.2.8