Chapter 34 - Mode of performing oblation

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Agni said:

1-2. One has to enter the sacrificial ground with the following mystic syllable and adorn it. “Salutations to the brahman, the lord, Śrīdhara (and) undecaying self, the form of Ṛg, Yajur and Sāma (veda), (possessing) a body (composed) of sound (and) Viṣṇu. Having drawn the circular altar in the evening, one has to bring materials for the sacrifice.

3. Having washed hands and feet and made assignment, and taken the arghya (respectful offering) in the hands one should sprinkle the arghya on the head and the gate-way.

4. He should then begin sacrifice at the gateway. He should worship the presiding deity of the arch. The aśvattha^[1], udumbara^[2], vaṭa^[3] and plakṣa^[4] are the trees of the east.

5. The Ṛg (veda) is the ornament of Indra on the west. The Yajur (veda) is auspicious for Yama. The Sāma (veda) is of the water-god and is known as Sudhanvan. The Atharva (veda) is of Soma (and is called) Suhotraka.

6. The edges of the gate, flags, (gate-keepers) Kumuda etc. and two pitchers should be adored at every door by their respective names, as well as a pitcher full of water in the east.

7. Then one should worship the guards of the doors—Ānanda, Nandana, Dakṣa, Vīrasena, Suṣeṇaka, Sambhava and Prabhava in the north (Saumya)^[5].

8. One should enter after having removed obstacles by throwing flowers and the repetition of names of weapons. Having performed purificatory rites of the elements and the assignment (of limbs) one should show the posture of hands.

9-10. Having recited the mystic syllable ending with phaṭ. one should scatter mustard seeds in different directions. (One should sanctify) the cow’s urine with Vāsudeva, cow’s dung with Saṅkarṣaṇa, the milk with Pradyumna and the curd. got from it with Nārāyaṇa. The ghee should be one part and the others respectively one part more.

11. When these are mixed in a vessel of ghee it is known as the pañcagavya^[6] (the five products got from a cow). A part of it is for the sprinkling of the temple building and the other for eating.

12. One should worship Indra and other guardian deities of the world in ten pitchers which have been brought. Having worshipped them one has to make them hear command. They must be installed by the command of Hari.

13. Having kept the articles of sacrifice well-protected, one must scatter those which must be scattered. Having recited. the basic mystic syllable eight hundred times one should take kuśa grass.

14. Then one should place there a pitcher and (the vessel) vardhanī at the north-east. Having worshipped Hari along with the attendant gods in the pitcher one should worship weapons in the (vessel) vardhanī.

15. (Having made) a circumambulation of the sacrificial place, water is sprinkled in broken streams by the vardhanī. Then the pitcher should be taken and worshipped at a fixed place.

16. Hari should be worshipped with perfumes etc. in the pitcher adorned with five gems and cloth and the weapons (should be worshipped) at the left in the Vardhanī in which gold has been placed.

17. One should worship the goddess of the building and the presiding deity of obstacles near it. In the same way, one should arrange for the consecration of Viṣṇu on the days of movement (of the sun from one stellar place to another), and other days (of importance).

18. Nine dentless jars full of water should be placed in the nine corners. One should offer water for washing the feet, arghya for rinsing the mouth and the pañcagavya.

19. The five sweet things, water etc. (are placed) in the east, north-east etc. The curd, milk, honey and hot water are the four constituents for the worship of the feet.

20. The lotus, śyāmāka (a kind of grain), dūrvā (grass) and the consort of Viṣṇu are for the worship of the feet. Together with barley seeds, perfumes, fruits and unbroken rice, this is spoken as constituting the eight articles for the worship of the feet.

21. The kuśa (grass), flowers of white mustard, sesamum (are) the articles (used) for adoration. One should offer waters for rinsing the mouth together with cloves and kaṅkola (berries).

22. One should bathe the deity with the five sweet materials along with (the recitation of) the principal mystic syllable. One should pour pure water on the head of the deity from the central pot.

23. The worshipper should touch water poured from the pitcher and the tip of the kūrcha (bunch of kuśa grass). One should offer pure water for washing the feet and arghya for sipping.

24. After having wiped the body with a cloth, the deity (adorned) with a cloth should be taken to the altar. Having worshipped him there, one should offer oblations in the sacrificial pit after having controlled breath.

25. Having washed hands, three lines running towards the east from the south to the north and three running towards the north are drawn.

26. Having sprinkled them with the waters of arghya, one has to show yonimudrā.^[7] Having meditated on the fire of the form of the self in the yoni one should throw it in the pit.

27. Then one should place vessels together with darbha grass and wooden ladles. The twigs and saw (should be) at arm’s distance.

28. (Then one must bring) vessels praṇītā, prokṣaṇī and sthālī for (holding) the clarified butter (and offering) ghee etc. Two prasthas^[8] of rice (are spread) evenly with face downwards.

29-30. The kuśa (grass) with its tip (facing) eastwards should be placed in the praṇītā and prokṣaṇī vessels. Having filled praṇītā (vessel) with water and having meditated on the deity and worshipping, the praṇītā (vessel) should be placed in the midst of materials in front. Having filled the prokṣaṇī (vessel) with water and worshipping it, it should be placed on the right side.

31. The oblation should be consigned to the fire. Brahmā should be assigned to the south. Having spread the kuśa (grass) in the east etc. the (line of) enclosure should be drawn.

32. Rites relating to Viṣṇu should be done with (the rites) such as garbhādhāna etc. The garbhādhāna, puṃsavana, sīmantonnayana, and (the rite performed after) the birth (are the rites).

33. Eight offerings to the fire are made commencing with naming (ceremony) and ending with samāvarta (rite performed on the completion of one’s studies). The final oblation is made with the sacrificial ladles for each act.

34. The oblation is made after having meditated on the lustrous (goddess) Lakṣmī at the middle of the pit. (She) is known as Kuṇḍalakṣmī (Lakṣmī of the sacrificial pit), the source of the material world composed of the three qualities.

35. She is the source of all beings as well as mystic learning and collection of mystic syllables. The fire is the cause of liberation. The supreme soul (Viṣṇu) is the conferer of emancipation.

36. (His) head is spoken as at the east, the two arms are situated at the corners north-east and south-east, the two thighs at the north-western and south-western corners.

37-38. The belly is called (the sacrificial) pit. The organ of generation is said to be the source. The three qualities are the girdle. Having meditated thus fifteen twigs should be placed in the fire (after reciting) Oṃ by showing muṣṭi-mudrā^[9]. Oblations should be made again to the vessels and worship is offered (to the vessels) on the north-west to south-east.

39. Parts of oblations are offered (for the directions) upto the north-east with the basic mystic syllable. (Oblations are made) in the north with (the syllables) (forming) the end (of the) twelve syllables^[10] and with the middle (of the mystic syllable) in the south.

40. The consecrated fire of Viṣṇu, possessing seven tongues and having the radiance of crores of sums and having the moon as its face and sun as the eye and situated in the middle of the lotus should be meditated upon with the vyāhṛtis.^[11] Then one should offer one hundred and eight oblations (to this form). Then fiftyeight oblations (should be offered) and a tenth of it for the limbs.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ficus religiosa (fig. tree ) .

[2]:

Ficus glomerata.

[3]:

Ficus indica (banyan tree).

[4]:

Ficus infectoria (a large tree with small white fruit).

[5]:

Soma means Kubera, the regent of the north.

[6]:

These are—the dung, urine, milk, curd and ghee.

[7]:

On this mudrā and other mudrās see Kāli. P. 70.36-56. This is one of ten mudrās in the worship of the goddess. See Brahmāṇḍa P. IV. 36.62; 42.1-19.

[8]:

A measure equivalent to 32 palas.

[9]:

This is formed by holding a clenched fist.

[10]:

Oṃ namo bhagavate Nārāyaṇāya.

[11]:

The basic syllables forming part of the Gāyatrī-mantra.