Part 4: Rites Performed on the Fourth Day (Introduction)

The rites of the fourth day of the Agniṣṭoma somayāga can be discussed under the following sub-headings:

1. Carrying forward of the āhavanīya fire (Agnipraṇayana)
2. Placing of the havirdhāna carts (havirdhānaśakatasthāpana)
3. Construction of the havirdhānamaṇḍapa (havirdhānamaṇḍapanirmāṇa)
4. Digging of the Uparavas (uparavakhanana)
5. Construction of the sadas (sadaḥ nirmāna)
6. Construction of the āgnīdhrīya shed (āgnīdhrīyamaṇḍapanirmāṇa)
7. Construction of the Dhiṣṇyas (dhiṣṇyanirmaṇa)
8. Bringing forward of the fire and soma (Agnīṣomapraṇayana)
9. Cutting and raising of the sacrificial post (yūpocchedana and ucchrayaṇa)
10. Animal sacrifice to Agni and Soma (Agnīṣomīyapaūuyaga)
11. Collection of vasatīvarī water (vasatīvarīsaṃgraha)

The fourth day of the Agniṣṭoma is called aupavasathya day and it is the third upasad day.This day is called aupavasatha because this is the day of fasting(upavāsa) for the sacrificer and his wife and it precedes the sutyā day of the Agniṣṭoma Somayāga^[1]. On this day, the rite Agnipraṇayana is performed first. But, as stated by Kātyāyana, on the fourth day, in the morning, both the morning and the evening Upasads are performed together and after having completed these morning rites, one half of the fast-milk is given to the sacrificer and his wife. If the Pravargya rite is performed, then after the completion of both the Upasads, the rite of setting out the pravargya vessels are performed.^[2] Thite opines that the Upasads are performed one after another without any gap.^[3] Cinnaswami is of the opinion that in the morning of the fourth day, the Pravargya and the Upasad are performed and then the rite called Pravargyotsādana is performed.^[4]