The Sacrifices of Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha (study)
by Aparna Dhar | 2016 | 61,606 words
This page relates ‘Summary of the Shodashin sacrifice’ of the study dealing with the Sacrifices such as Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha including their ritualistic and monarchial strata with reference to the Shatapatha-Brahmana. These Brahmanas represent a category of ancient Sanskrit texts dealing with ancient Vedic rituals and ceremonies based on the Vedas.
Summary of the Ṣoḍaśin sacrifice
[Full title: A Brief note on the sacrifices of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (6): Ṣoḍaśin]
In this yajña, a sixteen stotra (sodāsa) is used and above the 15 stotras is Ukthya. It is not an independent sacrifice like Agniṣṭoma; rather it is only the part of the Atirātra sacrifice. The Atirātra sacrifice is performed over night, therefore it is known as Atirātra yajña. In the night ritual, three repetitions of a group of stotras are done and at the end of each cycle an oblation of soma is offered. The ritual is ended before dawn. In all, 29 stotras are chanted in Atirātra sacrifice.