The Sacrifices of Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha (study)
by Aparna Dhar | 2016 | 61,606 words
This page relates ‘Summary of the Sarvamedha 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 Sarvamedha sacrifice
[Full title: A Brief note on the sacrifices of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (14): Sarvamedha]
The Sarvamedha sacrifice is one of the Ahina types of soma sacrifice. This sacrifice is performed by the person who wants to fulfill all his desires or achievements. It is accomplished in a special vedi known as ‘ekavimsatividha’. This vedi is specially meant for the Sarvamedha sacrifice. The Sarvamedha sacrifice consists of ten pressing days. The skins of the animals are offered as oblation without omentum, followed by the throwing of grass, pieces of woods in to the Āhavanīya fire. After that the grains of all kinds are also offered. The sacrificial fees as mentioned in the Puruṣamedha sacrifice are given to the priest along with the settlement of land acquired by the king from various quarters.
As a matter of fact, the Sarvamedha sacrifice is performed for the purpose of attaining all types of food.