The Sacrifices of Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha (study)
by Aparna Dhar | 2016 | 61,606 words
This page relates ‘Summary of the Dvadashaha sacrifice’ of the study dealing with the Sacrifices such as Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha including their ritualistic and monarchial strata with reference to the Shatapatha-Brahmana. These Brahmanas represent a category of ancient Sanskrit texts dealing with ancient Vedic rituals and ceremonies based on the Vedas.
Summary of the Dvādaśāha sacrifice
[Full title: A Brief note on the sacrifices of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (7): Dvādaśāha]
Dvādaśāha is the model for both Ahina and Satra type of sacrifice. It is similar to Ahina type of sacrifice and also from the aspects of number of priests and details of ceremony it is also uniform to the Satra acrifice. Like Satra sacrifice, Dvādaśāha also begins and ends with an atirātra ritual. As Agniṣṭoma is the model for all Ekāha sacrifices, likewise Dvādaśāha is the model for all Ahina and Satra sacrifices. For the performance of Dvādaśāha sacrifice thirty six days are required. The Dikṣā ceremony is performed on the first twelve days then on the following twelve days the performance of Upasad rites goes on. On the twenty fourth days after the completion of Upasad rites, a Paśu Yāga is performed in the name of Agni and Soma. The last twelve days cover the twelve sutyās. As mentioned earlier, the Dvādaśāha sacrifice also ends with Avabhṛtha iṣṭi. Like Agniṣṭoma, the first day of the sacrifice is known as Prāyaniya and the last day goes by the name Udayaniya.