Somasaṃsthā (3): Ukthya

[Full title: Forms (Saṃsthās) of Somayāga (3): Ukthya]

Out of the seven Somasaṃsthās, the Ukthyasaṃsthā is third as stated by Kātyāyana. This saṃsthā is named after the name of the last stotra sung here. It is performed on the model of the Agniṣṭoma.But, its main peculiarity is that it contains three additional Stotras and Śastras than the Agniṣṭoma.The three extra Stotras are known by the name ukthya.^[1]

On the other hand, the three Śastras are:

1. maitrāvaruṇa-śastra,
2. brāhmaṇācchaṃsi-śastra, and
3. acchāvāka-śastra.

Thus, the total number of Stotras and Śastras in Ukthyasaṃsthā is fifteen.^[2]

Moreover, it contains four Stomas viz.,

1. trivṛt,
2. pañcadaśa,
3. saptadaśa and
4. ekaviṃśa.

The saṃsthā bears affinity to Agniṣṭoma in the first and second soma pressings and it differs from the Agniṣṭoma in the third somapressing because of the access Stotras and Śastras applied in the third soma pressing of this particular Soma sacrifice. In the third soma pressing of this saṃsthā, the Adhvaryu offers the ukthya cup in the āhavanīya fire three times to three deities. The deity of the first ukthya cup is Indra and Varuṇa, the second is offered to Indra and Bṛhaspati and the third is to Indra and Viṣṇu.^[3] It is to be noted here that at the first and second pressing, the ukthya cup is offered to Mitra and Varuṇa.^[4]

The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa states that in the Ukthyasaṃsthā, an animal i.e., as second offering is offered to Indra and Agni as the Ukthyaśastras belong to Indra and Agni.^[5]

Kātyāyana states as follows

…aindrāgnaścokthye dvitīyaḥ/^[6]

Chitrabhanu states that in the Ukthyasaṃsthā a goat is offered to Indra and Agni apart from that of the animal of the Agniṣṭoma^[7]. The animal is a he goat and it is offered after the offering of an animal to Agni in Agniṣṭoma^[8]. The animal is offered on the soma pressing day.

According Āpastamba, the Ukthyasaṃsthā is performed in order to get animal.^[9]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Sāyaṇa on ibid., 3.4.3.

[2]:

cf., pañcadaśokthyasyastotrāṇi, pañcadaśaśastrāṇi/, Aitareya Brāhmaṇa ,3.4.3

[3]:

Cinnasvamishastri, Pattabhiramashastri(ed.), op.cit., p.72

[4]:

Chitrabhanu Sen, op.cit., p.51

[5]:

cf.,yadukthyaḥ syād aindrāgnaṃ dvitīyamalabheta / aindrāgni hyukthyāni / Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, 4.2.5.14, 4.6.4.3

[6]:

Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra , 9.8.2

[7]:

Chitrabhanu Sen, op.cit.,p.51

[8]:

Ram Gopal, India of Vedic Kalpasūtras,p.548

[9]:

cf., ukthyena paśukāmo yajeta / Āpastamba Śrautasūtra ,14.1.2