Gobhila-grihya-sutra

by Hermann Oldenberg | 1892 | 44,344 words

The Sutra of Gobhila presupposes, beside the Samhita of the Sama-veda, another collection of Mantras which evidently was composed expressly with the purpose of being used at Grihya ceremonies. Alternative titles: Gobhila-gṛhya-sūtra (गोभिल-गृह्य-सूत्र), Grhya, Gobhilagṛhyasūtra (गोभिलगृह्यसूत्र), Gobhilagrihyasutra, Gobhilagrhyasutra....

Prapāṭhaka III, Kāṇḍikā 7

1.[1] Now (follows) the Śravaṇā ceremony.

2. It has to be performed on the full-moon day (of the month Śrāvaṇa).

3. Having besmeared (a surface) to the east of the house (with cow-dung), they carry forward (to that place) fire taken from the (sacred) domestic fire.

4. He besmears four spots to the four sides (of the fire),

5. Towards the (four) directions,

6. (To the extent) of more than one prakrama (i.e. step).

7. He puts a dish on the fire and fries (in that dish) one handful of barley-grains, without burning them.

8.[2] To the west of the fire he places a mortar so that it stands firmly, and husks (the grains), separating (the husked and the unhusked grains?).

9. After he has carefully ground them to flour, and has thrown (that) into a wooden cup (camasa), and covered it with a winnowing-basket, he puts it up (in the house).

10. Between (the besmeared surface) towards the south, and that towards the east (there should be) a passage.

11.[3] After sunset he takes the wooden cup, (the spoon called) Darvi, and the winnowing-basket, and goes to (the fire) which has been carried forward (Sūtra 3).

12. He throws the flour into the winnowing-basket and fills the wooden cup with water.

13. He takes once a quantity of flour with the Darvi spoon, pours out water on the besmeared place to the east (of the fire), and offers (there) a Bali with (the words), 'O king of Serpents, dwelling towards the east, this is thy Bali!' (MB. II, 1, 1).

14. He pours the rest of the water over (that Bali, taking care) that it does not carry away the Bali.

15.[4] Turning round from right to left, he besprinkles the wooden cup and the Darvi spoon, warms them, and (repeats the offering of a Bali) in the same way towards the south, towards the west, and towards the north, as the Mantra (MB. II, I, 1. 2) runs, without turning away (between the single Bali-offerings).

16.[5] After he has thrown the remnants (of flour) out of the basket into the fire, he goes to that fire which has not been carried forward.

17.[6] To the west of that fire he touches the earth with his two hands turned downwards, and murmurs the Mantra, 'Adoration to the Earth’s'—(MB. II, 1, 3).

18. In the evening boiled rice-grains with milk (are prepared).

19. Of that (milk-rice) he should make oblations with (the formulas), 'To Śravaṇa, to Viṣṇu, to Agni, to Prajāpati, to the Viśve devās Svāhā!'

20.[7] The rest (should be performed) according to the Sthālīpāka rite.

21. To the north of the fire he places a bunch of Darbha grass with roots, and murmurs the Mantra, 'Soma the king' (ibid. 4), and, 'The agreement which you have made' (ibid. 5).

22. On the following day he has flour of fried barley-grains prepared, and in a new pot, covering (it with another pot), he puts it up (in his house).

23.[8] (Of that flour) he should silently offer Balis day by day in the evening, before the sacrifice, until the Āgrahāyaṇī day.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

7, 1 seq. The Śravaṇā ceremony or the Bali-offering to the Serpents. Comp. Khādira-Gṛhya III, 2, 1 seq., and the elaborate paper of Dr. Winternitz, Der Sarpabali, ein altindischer Schlangencult (Wien, 1888).

[2]:

As to avahanti, comp. above, I, 7, 4; Hillebrandt, Neu- and Vollmondsopfer, p. 30.

[3]:

According to the commentary atipraṇīta means the fire which has been carried forward (Sūtra 3). Another explanation is then added, which is based on a quotation from a 'tantrāntara:' 'After he has established a fire, he should carry forward one firebrand taken from that fire, in a south-eastern direction, with the Mantra ye rūpāṇi pratimuñcamānāḥ &c.; that fire is the atipraṇīta fire.'

[4]:

Literally, 'turning round, following his left arm.' Comp. Śāṅkhāyana II, 3, 2. The Mantra runs thus, 'O king of Serpents, dwelling towards the south (the west, the north), this is thy Bali!'

[5]:

Comp. Sūtra 11 and the note.

[6]:

Comp. below, IV, 5, 3.

[7]:

Gṛhya-saṃgraha I, 114: 'Where the technical expression is used, "The rest according to the rite of the Sthālīpākas," he should, after he has sacrificed the two Ājyabhāgas, pour (Ājya) into the Sruc and cut off (the Avadānas with the Sruc).' Comp. Gobhila I, 8, 3 seq.

[8]:

The sacrifice is that prescribed in Sūtras 18. 19, which should, as well as the offering of Balis, be daily repeated.

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