Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
by C. G. Kashikar | 1964 | 166,530 words
The English translation of the Bharadvaja-Srauta-Sutra, representing some of the oldest texts on Hindu rituals and rites of passages, dating to at least the 1st millennium BCE. The term Srautasutra refers to a class of Sanskrit Sutra literature dealing with ceremonies based on the Brahmana divisions of the Veda (Sruti). They include Vedic rituals r...
Praśna 2, Kaṇḍikā 12
1.. Then he should address the Hotṛ with the words, “Do you recite verses for the (Āhavanīya fire) being kindled.”
2. Being seated, he should put as fuel a fire-stick at the utterance of each praṇava (by the Hotṛ).
3. When he hears the Hotṛ reciting the verse, “Enkindled, O Agni, whom oblation has been offered...,”[1] he should put on the fire the entire remaining faggot reserving one Anūyāja fire-stick,[2] and fan the Āhavanīya fire three times by means of the veda.
4. He should take the clarified butter from the Dhruvā by means of the spoon, support (the spoon) with the veda and, being seated and meditating upon Prajāpati, pour out a continuous straight āghāra-libation starting from the northern conjunction of the enclosing sticks towards the south-east.
5. With the verse, “May the Dhruvā swell with ghee...,”[3] he should fill in the Dhruvā with clarified butter taken from the vessel of clarified butter by means of the spoon.
6. In this connection, this is the general rule: Whenever he has taken the clarified butter from the Dhruvā, he should fill it (= the Dhruvā) in this very manner. The rites, for which the clarified butter is not specifically mentioned, should be performed (with the clarified butter taken) from the Dhruvā.
7. Then he should give.out a call (to the Āgnīdhra), “O Āgnīdhra, do thou cleanse the enclosing sticks and the fire three times each.”
8-10. The Āgaīdhra should cleanse the enclosing sticks and the (Āhavanīya) fire three times each with the tie of the faggot accompanied by the wooden sword. The enclosing sticks without reciting any formula.
He should cleanse the fire with the formula, “O Agni, the winner of wealth, I cleanse for the winning of wealth, for the sake of food, thee who art going to flow wealth, who art going to win wealth, who art the winner of wealth, and who art eater of food.”
11. The Adhvaryu should hold his palms, with the inside up, in front of the Juhū or the Dhruvā.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa III.5.2.3.
[2]:
According to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra II.12.6, he should do so optionally at the reciting of the closing verse.