The Agnistoma Somayaga in the Shukla Yajurveda
by Madan Haloi | 2018 | 109,416 words
This page relates ‘Part 1.2: Selection of the sacrificial place (devayajana-nirdharana)’ of the study on the Agnistoma Somayaga as described in the Shukla Yajurveda (dealing with Vedic Rituals). The Agnistoma sacrifice (lit. “praise of Agni”) connects god with men and is performed in the spring season. It is the model of all the Soma sacrifices and forms a large and complicated ceremony preceded by four preliminary ritualistic days. This thesis deals with all the details involved in the Agnistoma sacrifice.
Part 1.2: Selection of the sacrificial place (devayajana-nirdhāraṇa)
[Full title: Rites Performed on the First Day: (b) Selection of the sacrificial place (devayajana-nirdhāraṇa)]
After having appointed the priests, the sacrificer and his helpers find out a place for preparing the śālā and this place is called devayajana.
It is said in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa as follows—
devayajanaṃ joṣayante…/[1]
Mahīdhara states that the place is called so because the gods are worshipped here and hence all the gods are appeased in this place[2]. As stated in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, the place called devayajana should be prepared on a ground which is higher than its surroundings and its surface should be plane and firm. Furthermore, this place of worship should be inclined either towards the east or towards the north as these two directions belong to the gods and the human beings respectively. On the other hand, the land should rise a little to the southern side which belongs to the fathers.In the eastern part of the devayajana, there should not be more land than whatever is necessary for the performance of the rite. In the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa it has however been said that whatever ground the wise priests having knowledge of Vedic lore choose for devayajana should be accepted as the right place for worshipping the gods. According to the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, the access of land in the eastern part of devayajana, is considered to be for the enemies of the sacrificer. In the southern and northern sides, the access of land depends upon the desire of the sacrificer. On the other hand, the perfect devayajana is that which has access of land in the western side.[3] Kātyāyana too expresses the same view regarding the quality of the place called devayajana.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, 3.1.1.1; cf. tat joṣayante sevante parigṛhṇīyuryajamānapuruṣāḥ/ Sāyaṇa on Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, 3.1.1.1.
[2]:
cf., …deva ijyante yasmiṃstaddevayajanaṃ sthānam…/devayajane viśvedevāsaḥ sarve devāḥ ajuṣantāprīyanta/ Mahīdhara on Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā , 4.1
[3]:
Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa , 3.1.1. 1-3,5
[4]:
Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra , 7.1.10-12-13