Part 2.6: The performance of the 鲍辫补蝉补诲颈峁ａ弓颈

The Agnistoma Somayaga in the Shukla Yajurveda

by Madan Haloi | 2018 | 109,416 words

This page relates 鈥楶art 2.6: The performance of the Upasadishti鈥� of the study on the Agnistoma Somayaga as described in the Shukla Yajurveda (dealing with Vedic Rituals). The Agnistoma sacrifice (lit. 鈥減raise of Agni鈥�) connects god with men and is performed in the spring season. It is the model of all the Soma sacrifices and forms a large and complicated ceremony preceded by four preliminary ritualistic days. This thesis deals with all the details involved in the Agnistoma sacrifice.

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Part 2.6: The performance of the 鲍辫补蝉补诲颈峁ａ弓颈

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[Full title: Rites Performed on the Second Day: (f) 鲍辫补蝉补诲颈峁ａ弓颈]

In addition to the Pravargya rite comes the Upasad 滨峁ａ弓颈. This is an 滨峁ａ弓颈 to be performed on the 2^nd, 3^rd and the 4^th day of the 础驳苍颈峁ａ弓辞尘补 omitting some rites such as agnyanv膩dh膩na, brahmavara峁嘺 etc. which are essential parts of the model sacrifice.^[1] Moreover, the 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 as well as the 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 mention that the 滨峁ａ弓颈 is performed twice a day i.e., morning and evening^[2]. The 础驳苍颈峁ａ弓辞尘补厂辞尘补测腻驳补 has three upasad days and thus, here the number of Upasad rite becomes six.^[3] The 滨峁ａ弓颈 starts from the rite of bringing forward the 辫谤补峁嚹玹腻 water forward.^[4] Then having placed the vessels of 辫谤补峁嚹玹腻 water in the northern part of the 驳腻谤丑补辫补迟测补 fire, the Adhvaryu seeks permission from the 叠谤补丑尘腻 for bringing the vessel further forward. Being ordered by the 叠谤补丑尘腻 priest, the Adhvaryu carries the vessel and places it in the northern side of the 腻丑补惫补苍墨测补.^[5] The name upasad has been derived from the root sad (to shatter) with the prefix upa and thus the word means 鈥榯hat by which the allied cities became shattered.^[6]

The 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 states that when the asuras made a fortified house on the earth, in the middle region and in heaven, the gods besieged them by the Upasads , hence it is called upasad.^[7]

厂腻测补峁嘺 makes it clear that the gods destroyed the castles of the asuras by the rites called Upasads i.e., by the three offerings offered to Agni, Soma and 痴颈峁ａ箛耻.Thus, these offerings being the means of besieging are called Upasads.^[8] Then the related rites such as spreading out the sacrificial grass on all sides of the fire, placing the sacrificial vessels, sprinkling the holy water on the utensils, the act of pouring ghee as well as the heating of the offering materials on the fire and taking of the sacrificial sword(sphya) etc. are performed by the Adhvaryu. Moreover, he brings a few cuttings of sacrificial grass which have been cut during the rite called 蝉迟补尘产补测补箩耻谤丑补谤补峁嘺.^[9] The word stambayajur refers to a 测补箩耻峁� formula connected with the act of cutting the grass with a sphya and the word 蝉迟补尘产补测补箩耻谤丑补谤补峁嘺 refers to the rite of throwing the bunch of grass outside the altar.^[10] The Adhvaryu orders to put the either 辫谤辞办峁峁嚹� or 尘补诲补苍迟墨 water on the altar.^[11] The kindling sticks and the 产补谤丑颈峁� should not be more than what is required. The Adhvaryu cleans the offering ladles by rubbing them. Before cleaning the sruva he cleans the 箩耻丑奴 and the 耻辫补产丑峁泃.^[12]

The 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 states that the oblation consists of clarified butter. While the Adhvaryu pours 腻箩测补 which has been taken in eight scoops into 箩耻丑奴, he fills up the 耻辫补产丑峁泃 with 腻箩测补 which is taken in four scoops.The Adhvaryu may also fill up the ladles reversely.^[13] Here the 产补谤丑颈峁� are laid in one row. Moreover, it should have a 腻箩测补sth膩l墨 for the dhruva ladle.^[14]

As stated by Eggeling, there are two 腻驳丑腻谤补 libations of ghee. Of these two, one is made by the sruva in the north of the fire and the other with the 箩耻丑奴 in the south of the fire respectively.^[15] Chitrabhanu states that these libations are made by the Adhvaryu on the 腻丑补惫补苍墨测补 fire always to the east.^[16] But, in the 鲍辫补蝉补诲颈峁ａ弓颈, as stated in the 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, the Adhvaryu makes only one 腻驳丑腻谤补 libation by the sruva.^[17] After the 腻驳丑腻谤补 libation, the 贬辞迟峁� takes his seat. The Adhvaryu takes the two offering ladles viz., the 箩耻丑奴 and 耻辫补产丑峁泃. The Adhvaryu directs the 贬辞迟峁� to recite the invitatory verse and the offering verse for Agni . While the 贬辞迟峁� utters the word 惫补峁峁�, the Adhvaryu makes the libation. He does it being permitted by the 贬辞迟峁�.^[18]

碍腻迟测腻测补苍补 adds here that the Adhvaryu does it having crossed the 惫别诲墨 in order to reach the southern part of the 腻丑补惫补苍墨测补 fire.^[19]

Moreover, he states this sentence鈥�

补谤诲丑补峁� hutv膩 som膩ya鈥�/^[20]

From this, it is clear that the first libation is made by 箩耻丑奴 into which 腻箩测补 has been poured in eight scoops. After the first libation, the Adhvaryu makes the second libation to soma. For this, he directs the 贬辞迟峁� for reciting the invitatory verse and the offering verse for Soma.As soon as the 贬辞迟峁� utters these verses along with the word 惫补峁峁�, at the end the Adhvaryu makes the libation.^[21] From the above mentioned 蝉奴迟谤补 of 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补 it is clear that having completed the first libation to

Agni,the Adhvaryu offers the second half to Soma . Again for the third libation to be offered to 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, the Adhvaryu mixes the ghee of the 耻辫补产丑峁泃 with the remnant of the 箩耻丑奴 and then he orders the 贬辞迟峁� to recite the invitatory and the offering verses for 痴颈峁ａ箛耻. When the 贬辞迟峁� utters the word 惫补峁峁�, the Adhvaryu makes the libation to 痴颈峁ａ箛耻.^[22] Apart from these, the Adhvaryu extends his duty to the related rites such as putting of the offering ladles on the 惫别诲墨, strengthening of the soma by touching it and the rites upto directing the 厂耻产谤补丑尘补峁噛补 priests to sing the 蝉耻产谤补丑尘补峁噛腻 litany etc.^[23] Karka adds here that all these are to be done like the 膧迟颈迟丑测别峁ａ弓颈.^[24]

Then comes the Upasadhoma. The 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 states that the Adhvaryu performs the first Upasadhoma(which is to be performed twice on a day) with the prescribed 测补箩耻峁� formula viz., y膩 te agne鈥� etc.^[25] 厂腻测补峁嘺 states that like the 鲍辫补蝉补诲颈峁ａ弓颈, the Upasadhoma is also performed twice on a day.^[26] Thus the number of Upasadhoma becomes six in total. As stated in the 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补, before making the first libation, the Adhvaryu smears the handful of darbha blades (prastara) in the 腻箩测补 and then makes the libation by the sruva while he is being touched from behind by the sacrificer.^[27] Vidyadhar states that the prastara is smeared in the 腻箩测补 contained in the 箩耻丑奴, 耻辫补产丑峁泃, 腻箩测补sth膩l墨 etc.^[28] It means that it is the remnant of the former libation. The Adhvaryu makes this libation with the y膩 te鈥� etc.formula.

The formula of the V膩jasaney墨厂补峁僪颈迟腻 runs as follows鈥�

y膩 te agne鈥檡a岣ヅ沘y膩 tan奴rvar峁峁ａ弓h膩 gahvare峁ａ弓h膩/ 耻驳谤补峁� vaco ap膩vadh墨ttve峁峁� vaco ap膩vadh墨tsv膩h膩/^[29]

This first libation is called 补测补岣ヅ沘测腻.^[30] It is to be noted here that if it is the first upasadhoma then he has to perform the second upasadhoma in the evening. Because, it has been said in the 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 as well as in the 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 that the libation occurs twice on a day.^[31] After the first libation, the Adhvaryu makes the other libations with prescribed formulae.^[32]

The formula for the second libation runs as follows鈥�

y膩 te agne 谤补箩补岣ヅ沘测腻 tan奴rvar峁峁ａ弓h膩 gahvare峁ａ弓h膩/ 耻驳谤补峁� vaco ap膩vad墨ttve峁峁� vaco ap膩vadh墨tsv膩h膩/^[33]

The third formula for the third libation runs as follows鈥�

ya te鈥檃gne 丑补谤颈艣补测腻 tan奴rvar峁峁ａ弓h膩 gahvare峁ａ弓h膩 / 耻驳谤补峁� vaco ap膩vad墨ttve峁峁� vaco ap膩vadh墨tsv膩h膩/^[34]

碍腻迟测腻测补苍补 too mentions that the latter two offerings viz., 谤补箩补岣ヅ沘测腻 and 丑补谤颈艣补测腻 respectively are to be performed twice on each of the third and fourth days with mantra after the first two libations of the first day of the upasadhoma.^[35] The words 补测补岣ヅ沘测腻, 谤补箩补岣ヅ沘测腻 and 丑补谤颈艣补测腻 imply the connection of the libations with the destruction of iron, silver and gold castles made by the Asuras, through these Homas.^[36]

It is to be noted here that in the 鲍辫补蝉补诲颈峁ａ弓颈, there are no 膧箩测补产丑腻驳补蝉, no Pray膩jas, Anuy膩jas and 蝉惫颈峁ａ弓补办峁泃 offering^[37]

Moreover, the outstanding features of this 滨峁ａ弓颈 is that the 补苍耻惫腻办测腻 or puro鈥档耻惫腻办测腻 of morning Upasad becomes the 测腻箩测腻 and the 测腻箩测腻 of the morning Upasad becomes the 补苍耻惫腻办测腻 in the evening Upasad鈥�

tad y膩岣� p奴rv膩h峁噀鈥档耻惫腻办测腻 bhavanti; t膩 aparah峁噀测腻箩测腻岣�/ y膩测腻箩测腻st膩补苍耻惫腻办测腻岣�/^[38]

The process of milking of the cow for the fast-milk is also a noteworthy feature of the Upasad rite.

The 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 as well as the 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 mention this process. The 础驳苍颈峁ａ弓辞尘补 being an 贰办腻丑补 contains three upasad days. On the first day, according to the 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, one udder (i.e.,one cow)is used to milk, on the second day, two udders (i.e., two cows)are used to milk,on the third day, the milk from three udders (i.e.three cows) is used. It has also been stated that one may do the milking in reverse order.^[39] 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补 is also of the same opinion, but, he has stated the latter option of the 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 at the first.^[40]

Again he states that the process of milking from one udder on the first day, two on the second day and three on the third day, should be done in the sacrifice where there is no rite of preparing the fire altar鈥�

viparyasya v膩鈥�nagnicitye/^[41]

As stated in the 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 in case of twelve upasad days, the days are to be divided in three groups where each group contains four days and on each four days, one Upasad rite is to be performed.^[42] 厂腻测补峁嘺 makes it clear that on the first group of four days, the first Upasadhoma known as 补测补岣ヅ沘测腻 should be performed. On the next four days, 谤补箩补岣ヅ沘测腻 should be performed and on the next four days 丑补谤颈艣补测腻 should be performed.^[43] Again, it is to be noted here that in case of twelve Upasads,on the first four days, three udders are used daily, on the second four days, two and on the last four days, one udder is used daily.^[44] This process is followed in case of three upasad days. 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补 states that in case of more than three upasad days, the days are to be divided equally^[45] in to three groups as the udders to be milked are three in number. 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补 simply states that if the Upasad rite takes for many days, the increase of their numbers is to be done without breaking the initial order of the 补测补岣ヅ沘测腻, 谤补箩补岣ヅ沘测腻 and 丑补谤颈艣补测补 offferings.^[46]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

cf., 补驳苍测补苍惫腻诲丑腻苍补产谤补丑尘补惫补谤补峁嘺测辞谤补辫谤补蝉补办迟补迟惫腻迟/ Karka on 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 8.2.15.

[2]:

cf., dvirekay膩 pracarati dvirekay膩/,sa yat 蝉腻测补峁� 辫谤腻迟补岣� pracarati鈥�/ 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 ,3.4.4.17,21;碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 , 8.2.32

[3]:

cf., t膩岣メ梗a峁� sampadyante/ 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 , 3.4.4.18

[4]:

cf., 辫谤补峁嚹玹腻dyupasat/ 碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 , 8.2.15;This rite is known as 笔谤补峁嚹玹腻辫谤补峁嘺测补苍补, 膧辫补蝉迟补尘产补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 , 1.15.7,16.3-5

[5]:

碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 ,2.3.1-3.

[6]:

P.V. Kane, op.cit., Vol.2, Part. 2, p.1151, fn. 2561

[7]:

艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, 3.4.4.3-4

[8]:

cf.,...te 诲别惫腻 yasm膩t et膩bhi岣� tr墨bhir膩gney膩d墨峁ａ弓ikarmabhi岣モ€p膩s墨dan asuranirgamanapratibandh膩t tr墨峁噄 pur膩峁噛膩v峁泃ya nyavasannityartha岣�/ata upasadanas膩dhanatv膩d膩s膩mupasann膩ma sampannam/ 厂腻测补峁嘺 on 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, 3.4.4.4.

[9]:

Ibid.,8.2.19-20.

[10]:

膧辫补蝉迟补尘产补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 , 2.1.4; Chitrabhanu Sen, op.cit.,p.121.

[11]:

碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 ,8.2.21.

[12]:

Ibid.,8.1.22-23.

[13]:

艢补迟补辫补迟丑补叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 , 3.4.4.6-8.

[14]:

碍腻迟测腻测补苍补艢谤补耻迟补蝉奴迟谤补 ,8.2.25-26.