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 8, Kaṇḍikā 5
[Varuṇapraghāsa-parvan]
1. Then after four months he should perform the Varuṇapraghāsaparvan.
2. Its procedure has been explained by the Vaiśvadevaparvan.
3. We shall relate (only) the modifications.
4. The rites up to the driving away of the calves should be similar.[1]
5-6. The Pratiprasthātṛ should drive away calves for preparing the āmikṣā for Maruts. The Adhvaryu for Varuṇa.
7. The Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthātṛ should prepare two altars in front of the Āhavanīya fire—the Adhvaryu the northern one, and the Pratiprasthātṛ the southern one.
8. The two altars should be of equal length towards the east. They should be separated from each other by a pṛtha (i.e. 13 aṅgulas) or a span.[2]
9. Whatever the Adhvaryu does, the Pratiprasthātṛ should do.
10. The Pratiprasthātṛ should carry the stambayajus (towards the rubbishheap) either in front of or by the west of the northern altar.
11. He should move hereafter by this same way.
12. The rubbish-heap should be common to both; the Āgnīdhra should be common; the Hotṛ should be common; and the Brahman should be common.
13. In this connection this is the general rule: whatever rites are to be performed within the northern altar, the Adhvaryu should perform them; the Pratiprasthātṛ should perform the rites within the southern altar.
14-15. Then the Adhvaryu should join the two altars: he should draw a line, by means of the wooden sword, starting from the northern buttock of the southern altar up to the southern shoulder of the northern altar.
16. After all the rites have been gone through up to the second tracing out of the altars, the Adhvaryu should pile up an Uttaravedi;[3] the Pratiprasthātṛ should not do so in the southern altar.
17. The putting of the substances should (however) be done at both the altars.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
VIII.1.10.
[2]:
Or two or three or four aṅgulas or the ditch of a chariot-wheel or the width of a furrow, according to Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra VIII.5.10.
[3]:
VII 2.19 ff.
[4]:
VII.5.2.