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 12, Kaṇḍikā 12
1. Then the Adhvaryu and the sacrificer should touch each other.
2. The sacrificer should put his hand into the hole which is the southern one of the two eastern holes; the Adhvaryu should put his hand into the hole which is the northern one of the two western ones.
3. They should touch each others’ hands underground.
4. The sacrificer should ask, “O Adhvaryu, what is here?”
5. The Adhvaryu should say, “Good.”
6. The sacrificer should say, “Let it be ours.”
7. Then they should move round.
8. The sacrificer should put his hand into the hole which is the northern one of the two eastern holes; the Adhvaryu should put his hand into that which is the southern one of the two western ones.
9. They should cause the hands of each other to touch.
10. The sacrificer should ask, “O Adhvaryu, what is here?”
11. The Adhvaryu should say, “good.”
12. The sacrificer should say, “Let it be mine.”
13. Then he (= the Adhvaryu) should touch the uparavas respectively with the formulas, “Thou art Virāṭ smiting the enemy,” “Thou art overlord smiting the enemy,” “Thou art self-ruling, killing the hostility,” “Thou art ruling the universe, smiter of all evil spirits.”[1]
14. With the prokṣaṇī-water furnished with barley-grains he should sprinkle the uparavas with water by means of the hand with the palm turned upwards, with the formula, “I sprinkle with water (the uparavas) smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance and belonging to Viṣṇu.”[2]
15. He should pour down water into them with the formula, “I pour down water (into the uparavas) smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance and belonging to Viṣṇu.”[3]
16. He should throw a barley-grain into each of the uparavas with the formula, “Thou art a barley-grain; drive away our haters, drive away our enemies.”[4]
17. He should spread out sacrificial grass within the uparavas with the formula, “I spread down (sacrificial grass within the uparavas) smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance and belonging to Viṣṇu.”[5]
18. He should offer the with clarified butter on the uparavas with the formula, “I offer oblations (on the uparavas) smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance, and belonging to Viṣṇu.”[6]
19. Some teachers prescribe the formulas in connection with each uparava.
20. He should sprinkle the two Soma-pressing boards (adhiṣavaṇaphalaka) with water by means of the hand with the palm turned upwards, with the formula, “I sprinkle with water (the two Soma-pressing boards) smiting the Rakṣases [Rakṣasas], smiting the magical substance, and belonging to Viṣṇu.”[7] The boards should be of udumbara or palāśa or kārṣmarya; they should be either joined by a device or not joined by a device.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.1.
[2]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.
[3]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.
[4]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.
[5]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.
[6]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā I.3.2.2.