Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas
by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words
This page relates 鈥楽acrifices Related to the Sun-god Dealt with in the Puranas鈥� of the study on the Vedic influence of Sun-worship in the Puranas, conducted by Goswami Mitali in 2018. The tradition of observing Agnihotra sacrifice and the Sandhya, etc., is frequently observed among the Hindus. Another important innovation of the Sun-worship in the Puranas is the installation of the images of the Sun in the temples.鈥擳his section belongs to the series 鈥淩ituals Related to the Sun-Worship in the Puranas鈥�.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 2 - The Sacrifices Related to the Sun-god Dealt with in the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉
The Pur膩峁噄c texts do not have thoroughly dealt with the rites and customs of any Vedic sacrifices. But they refer to the performance of the sacrifices following the Vedic order. The sacrifices devoted to the Sun-worship, mentioned here and there in the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉, are briefly noted here鈥�
The 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 contain the references of the performance of the Agnihotra.[1] The householders are directed to perform it.[2] In Agnihotra, in the morning period, the oblation of milk is given in honour to the Sun, and, after that to 笔谤补箩腻辫补迟颈. Again, in the evening, Agni and 笔谤补箩腻辫补迟颈 are worshipped. The 膧艣惫补濒腻测补苍补驳峁沨测补蝉奴迟谤补 contains the reference of worshipping the Sun in the morning sacrifice.[3] The performer of Agnihotra, consuming purified eatables, only once in a day performs homa.[4]
The Agnihotra is personified as one of the sons of deity 厂补惫颈迟峁� by his wife in the 叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补辫耻谤腻峁嘺:
p峁浥沶istu patn墨 蝉补惫颈迟耻岣� 蝉腻惫颈迟谤墨峁� 惫测腻丑峁泃颈峁� 迟谤补测墨尘/
补驳苍颈丑辞迟谤补峁� 辫补艣耻峁� 蝉辞尘补峁� 肠腻迟耻谤尘腻蝉测补峁� 尘补丑腻尘补办丑腻苍//[5]
厂腻惫颈迟谤墨, 痴测腻丑峁泃颈, 罢谤补测墨, Agnihotra, 笔补艣耻, Soma, etc., are mentioned in the relevant context as the offspring of 厂补惫颈迟腻 and 笔峁浥沶颈.
The Mitravaru峁嘺yori峁ａ弓i was performed in the Pur膩峁噄c period, in worship of the two Vedic solar deities, Mitra and 痴补谤耻峁嘺.[6] With a view to achieving progeny, the worshipper worships Mitra and 痴补谤耻峁嘺, the two forms of the Sun-god, offering a sacrifice.[7]
With a view to achieving son, Manu performed the 惭颈迟谤腻惫补谤耻峁嘺 sacrifice:
i峁ａ弓i艣ca mitr膩varu峁嘺yormmanu putrak膩ma艣cak膩ra/[8]
But due to the occurrences of some irregularities in the performance, a daughter Il膩 was born, as a result of the sacrifice.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 5.7.5; 惭补迟蝉测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 25.34;107.16
[2]:
cf., vait膩nikena vidhin膩 agnihotr膩din膩 yajed// 叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 7.14.16
[4]:
cf., hutv膩gni峁� vidhivatsamyakpavitr墨k峁泃abhojan膩/ agnihotrakrame峁嘺iva s膩 su峁膩pa mah膩vrat膩// 惭补迟蝉测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 50.18
[5]:
叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 6.18.1
[6]:
痴腻测耻辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 85.6,7
[7]:
叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 9.1.13
[8]:
痴颈峁ａ箛耻辫耻谤腻峁嘺, 4.1.6