Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra

by C. G. Kashikar | 1964 | 166,530 words

The English translation of the Bharadvaja-Srauta-Sutra, representing some of the oldest texts on Hindu rituals and rites of passages, dating to at least the 1st millennium BCE. The term Srautasutra refers to a class of Sanskrit Sutra literature dealing with ceremonies based on the Brahmana divisions of the Veda (Sruti). They include Vedic rituals r...

Praśna 8, Kaṇḍikā 15

1. (Also except) the two āmikṣās and the southern sanctuary.

2. The rites up to the pouring out of grains should be similar.[1]

3. After having poured out grains for the normal five saṃcara oblations beginning with the cake on eight potsherds for Agni, (the Adhvaryu should pour out grains for) a cake on eleven potsherds to Indra-Agni cooked rice to Indra,[2] and a cake on one potsherd to Viśvakarman.

4. The rites up to the āghāra-libation by means of the ladle should be similar.[3]

5. He should offer the āghāra-libation by means of the ladle with the... formulas, “O Agni, thou hast received the Hotra; thou bast received the messenger-hood; thou hast stood erect for the sacrifice; may Dyāvāpṛthivī guard thee in this sacrifice; do thou guard Dyāvāpṛthivī in this sacrifice; do thou become Sviṣṭakṛt for Indra and gods. Rejoicing, do thou receive this oblation of ghee.”[4]

6. After having offered the cake on one potsherd (to Viśvakarman) following the procedure prescribed for offering a cake on one potsherd,[5] he should offer oblations with the next four of the formulas representing the Month-names, namely, “To Sahas svāhā,” “To Sahasya svāhā,” “To Tapas svāhā,” “To Tapasya svāhā.”[6]

7. The sacrificer should murmur the formula, “I invoke the grace lasting for the Idāvatsara [Iḍāvatsara],” in connection with the benediction for Iḍā.

8. He should give away as dakṣiṇā a calf first born in the season.

9. To the Sūktavāka the Hotṛ should add, “He invokes the grace lasting for the Idāvatsara; he invokes the celestial splendour.”[7]

10. The Iṣṭi should come to an end in the prescribed manner.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VIII.54-6.7

[2]:

Or to vṛtrahan Indra, according to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra VIII.12.4.

[3]:

II.13.10.

[5]:

VIII.3.3

[6]:

cf. Taittirīya-saṃhitā IV.4.11.1.

[7]:

Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra VIII. 12.6 adds that in place of the Avabhṛtha the Adhvaryu should throw into water the busks of the grains poured out for the cake to Indra-Agni.

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