Somasaṃsthā (4): Ṣoḍaśī

[Full title: Forms (Saṃsthās) of Somayāga (4): Ṣoḍaśī]

It is another Somasaṃsthā which derives its name from the last stotra i.e., ṣoḍaśī sung here. Generally, the word comes from the number ṣoḍaśa (sixteen)^[1] and accordingly, the saṃsthā Ṣoḍaśī refers to that Soma sacrifice where sixteen Stotras and sixteen Śastras are employed.^[2] The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa states that the name Ṣoḍaśī refers to the ṣoḍaśi cup, ṣoḍaśistotra, ṣoḍaśiśastra.^[3] The Taittirīya Saṃhitā puts it that there is no distinct sacrifice by the name Ṣoḍaśī. It is called Ṣoḍaśī due to its sixteen Stotras and Śastras.^[4]

Sāyaṇa too comments as follows—

agniṣṭomokthyādisaṃsthāviśeṣaḥ svatantraḥ kratutvāt yathāpṛthaganuṣṭhātuṃ yogyastathā ṣoḍaśī na svatantraḥ kratuḥ /^[5]

This saṃsthā contains one more stotra and one more śastra than the Ukthyasaṃsthā. Kātyāyana too has stated this in his Śrautasūtra.^[6] The first and second soma pressings are same with the preceding saṃsthā. In the third pressing, it includes the extra stotra and śastra and other relevant rites. As found in the Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra, in the third pressing after having completed the rites related to the ukthya cup, the rites of ṣodaśī cup are performed. Kātyāyana states that while the Unnetṛ fills up goblets the Adhvaryu proceeds to the ṣodaśī cup and in standing position worships the cup uttering a prescribed yajuṣ formula—yasmānna...etc. and performs the rites related to the ṣoḍaśī cup.

It is stated as follows—

ukthyānte ṣodaśicaraṇamupasthāyainaṃ yasmānna jātā iti camasānunnīya /^[7].

This saṃsthā mainly belongs to the god Indra. As stated in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, in the Ṣoḍaśisaṃsthā, as third offering an animal is offered to Indra. Because, Indra is equalled with the Ṣoḍaśisaṃsthā.^[8] The Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra makes it clear that the animal to be offered to Indra is ram being it as the third.^[9] Cinnasvami clearly states that the animal is additional along with the preceding animal^[10]. It is to be noted here that he deals with this saṃsthā as the third of the seven Saṃsthās. According to Āpastamba, if one desires power, he should perform the Ṣoḍaśisaṃsthā. Moreover, in this saṃsthā, the dakṣiṇā should be a reddish brown horse or a female mule.^[11]

Thus, the Ṣoḍaśisaṃsthā contains sixteen Stotras and sixteen Śastras and its four Stomas are:

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

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

cf.,ṣoḍaśasaṃkhyāyuktvatvāt ṣoḍaśitvam/ Sāyaṇa on Aitareya Brāhmaṇa , 4.1.1

[2]:

cf., ṣoḍaśaḥ stotrānām,ṣoḍaśaḥśastrānām /, Aitareya Brāhmaṇa , 4.1.1; cf.ṣoḍaśaṃ stotramayastīti ṣoḍaśī/ Mahīdhara on Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā , 8.33

[3]:

cf.,etat trayaṃ saha kriyate grahaḥ stotraṃśastram/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,8.1.3.4

[4]:

cf., na vai ṣoḍaśī nāma yajño’sti, yadvāva ṣoḍasaḥ stotraṃṣoḍaśa śastraṃ tena śoḍasī / Taittirīya Saṃhitā, 6.6.11.1

[5]:

Sāyaṇa on Aitareya Brāhmaṇa , 4.1.1

[6]:

cf.,stutaśastre adhike ṣoḍasī syāt / Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra , 10.7. 11

[7]:

Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra , 12.5.20.

[8]:

cf.,yadi ṣoḍaśī syāt aindraṃ tṛtīyamālabeta/indrohi ṣoḍaśī/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa , 4.2.5.14

[9]:

cf.,aindra vṛṣṇiḥ ṣoḍaśini tṛtīyaḥ … / Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra , 9.8.3

[10]:

cf., paśuratrameṣastṛtīya aindraḥ pūrvābhyāmāgneyaindrāgnābhyāṃ saha/ Cinnasvamishastri, Pattabhiramashastri(ed.), op.cit.,p.72

[11]:

Āpastamba Śrautasūtra , 14.1.2; 3.7