Part 4.2: Placing of the Havirdhāna carts

[Full title: Rites Performed on the Fourth Day: (b) Placing of the Havirdhāna carts (śakata-sthāpana))]

Then comes the rite of placing the havirdhāna carts in the havirdhānamaṇḍapa. The carts are so called because they hold the haviḥ i.e., the soma which constitutes the principal offering in Soma sacrifice.^[1] The havirdhāna carts are two in number viz., the southern havirdhāna cart and the northern havirdhāna cart. The southern cart is brought through the southern side and the northern cart through the northern side. Out of the two carts, one should be bigger in size and its place is in the southern part in the havirdhānamaṇḍapa.^[2]

Kātyāyana makes it clear that having performed the rites related to the Agnipraṇayana, the havirdhāna carts are placed in both sides of the pṛṣṭhyā line by turning them around the sacrificial hall. The carts are placed with their points facing the east after having washed them. The gap between the carts should be just two Aratṇis. The southern cart should be bigger^[3] and it belongs to the Adhyaryu while the northern to the Pratiprasthātṛ and they themselves bring their carts to the havirdhānamaṇḍapa.^[4] The carts are placed at the distance of one aratni from the pṛṣhyā line in each side. On either sides of the carts either a chadi i.e., a cover made of reed grass or a bhitti i.e., a cover made of split cane is placed.^[5] In the bamboos of the front part a rarātyā i.e., a rope made of iṣikā grass is tied.^[6] Thereafter the carts are attached with two more enclosures of either chadi or bhitti. The Adhvaryu then scoops up ghee for four times and makes a libation to Savitṛ. He makes this libation with the prescribed yajuṣ formula.^[7] Kātyāyana adds here that the libation is made in the śālādvārya fire.^[8] Thite has stated that the old āhavanīya fire situated beside the door of the śālā is called śālādvārya fire.^[9]

The formula to be uttered here runs as follows—

yuñjate mana uta yuñjate dhiyo viprā viprasya bṛhato vipaśvitaḥ/ vi hotrā dadhe vayunāvideka inmahī devasya savituḥ pariṣṭutiḥ svāhā//^[10]

He takes again four scoops of ghee and goes out through the eastern door of the śālā while the wife of the sacrificer is led through the southern door. Having reached the place of the track of the right wheel of the southern havirdhāna cart, the Adhvaryu puts a piece of gold on the track and makes a libation on the track.^[11]

He makes the libation with the following formula—

idaṃ viṣṇurvicakrame tredhā nidadhe padam/ samūḍhamasyapāṃsure svāhā//^[12]

According to Vidyadhar, the wife is led by the Adhvaryu.^[13] But according to Mahīdhara, the wife is led by the Pratiprasthātṛ.^[14] Again, he pours the remnant of the ghee in the offering ladle on the hand of the wife of the sacrificer who smears the same on those parts of the axel of the cart which get hot due to its friction with the wheels in order to pacify it.^[15]

The formula to be applied here runs as follows—

devaśrutau deveṣvāghoṣataṃ/^[16]

Kātyāyana too mentions this procedure and he adds that the wife should anoint the hot parts of the akṣa i.e., axel by moving her hands in an outward direction and the hands are to be moved simultaneously.^[17] Having completed this rite, the Adhvaryu gives the offering ladle and the melting pot to the Pratiprasthātṛ and they make the wife of the sacrificer to circumbulate the two fires viz., āhavanīya and the gārhapatya by moving through a path at the back(jaghana) of these fires.^[18] It is to be stated here that the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa does not clearly state who should lead the wife of the sacrificer. The verb paryāṇayanti in the vidhivākya of 00 Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa is in plural form, hence, the leaders have to be more than one and they are the Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthātṛ. Kātyāyana simply states that the wife of the sacrificer circumbulates the fires from the west and thereafter comes out of the śālā through the eastern door.^[19]

Vidyadhar states that she is to be led only by the Pratiprasthātṛ—

pratiprasthātrā’nīyamānāpatnī śālāṃ praviśya agnīnāṃ…/^[20]

When the Pratiprasthātṛ receives the offering ladle and the ājyavilāpanī i.e., the melting pot from the Adhvaryu, he scoops up ghee in four parts and proceeds to the place of the northern havirdhāna cart and having placed a piece of gold in the right wheel track of the cart,makes one libation with the four scoops of ghee.^[21]

During this time, he utters the following formula—

iravatīdhenumatī hi bhūtaṃ sūyavasinī manave daśasyā/ vyaskabhnā rodasī viṣṇave te dādhartha pṛthivīm-abhito mayūkhaiḥ svāhā//^[22]

After the libation has been made by the Pratiprasthātṛ, the remnant is poured on the palm of the wife of the sacrificer who repeats the ritual of smearing the ghee on the hot parts of the axel of the northern havirdhāna cart with the same formula which was used for the same ritual in connection with the southern cart.^[23] When the wheels of the two carts being pushed by the respective priests start rolling the Adhvaryu invites the Hotṛ to recite some verses in honour of the moving havirdhāna carts. Out of these Ṛks, while the Hotṛ utters thrice the first ṛk viz.,yuje vām…etc(Ṛgveda Saṃhitā ,7.6.13) the priests make move forward their carts by almost raising them from the earth so that the wheels of the carts do not make rough sound. At this time, the sacrificer being guided by the Adhvaryu utters a yajuṣ formula of the Vājasaneyī Saṃhitā.^[24]

The formula runs as follows—

prācī pretamadhvaraṃ kalpayantī urdhaṃ yajñaṃ nayataṃ mā jihvaratam /^[25]

In case the wheels of the carts create any rough sound, then the sacrificer needs to expiate himself. This expiation is done by him at the guidance of the Adhvaryu by uttering a yajuṣ formula.^[26]

The formula runs as follows—

svaṃ goṣṭhamāvadat aṃ devi durye āyurmā nirvādiṣṭaṃ prajāṃ mā nirvādiṣṭam/^[27]

The places for the havirdhāna carts are shown in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa. Accordingly, the carts should be placed at a distance of three Prakramas from the uttaravedī. One may follow this option or he may place the carts according to his will. But, he must keep in mind the rule that the place should neither be one nearest of the uttaravedī nor the furthest. After having stopped the carts on the Nabhyas i.e., nave boards, the Adhvaryu addresses the carts.^[28]

He addresses them with the following formula—

atra ramethāṃ varṣmanpṛthivyāḥ /^[29]

Regarding the meaning of the word nabhya, Eggeling states that the cart wheels consist of three parallel boards. Of these, the two outer ones form the segments and the middle and largest board has the nave (hub of the wheel) fixed to it with the axel pin running through its centre. It is on this middle board that the carts should be made to stand.^[30] The Adhvaryu proceeds forward by moving round from the north of the carts and props up the southern cart on a piece of wood called upastambhana by uttering prescribed formula.^[31] The upastambhana is used in order to prevent the cart from going down.^[32]

During this time, the Adhvaryu recites the following formula—

viṣṇornukaṃ vīryāṇi pravocaṃ yaḥ pārthivāni vimame rajāṃsi/ yo’skabhāyaduttaraṃ sadhasthaṃ vicakramāṇastredorugāyaḥ//^[33]

Thus having stayed the cart, the Adhvaryu puts up a post and according to the Śatapatha the post should be placed in a different place (itarataḥ).^[34] But according to Kātyāyana, the post should be raised in the southern side of the cart with the yajuṣ formula viṣṇave … etc.^[35] Vidyadhar makes it clear that the post is raised for binding the īṣā i.e., the shaft of the cart. The īṣā is tied to the post with the help of rope.^[36]

As shown by Kātyāyana during this time, the Adhvaryu utters this formula—

viṣṇave tvā/^[37]

On the other hand, the Pratiprasthātṛ props the northern cart with the prescribed formula.^[38]

The formula to be uttered by the Pratiprasthātṛ runs as follows—

divo vā viṣṇa uta vā pṛthivyā maho vā viṣṇa urorantarikṣāt/ ubhā hi hastā vasunā pṛṇasvā prayaccha dakṣiṇādota savyādviṣṇave tvā//^[39]

After this, a post is raised in a different place i.e., elsewhere with the prescribed formula.^[40] Here, Kātyāyana states that the post is raised in the northern side of the cart uttering the same formula viṣṇave… etc.^[41] And it is done by the Adhvaryu.

The formula is as follows—

viṣṇave tvā/^[42]

Moreover, Kātyāyana opines that one may select the southern sides of the carts for the posts of both carts.^[43] Here Karka puts his view that the place may be south-east corner for the first post and south-west for the second post.^[44] Again, the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa as well as the Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra opine that whatever is done by the people to raise a post should be done here.^[45]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

cf., athayadasminsomobhavati/havirvaidevānāṃsomaḥ/tasmāthavirdhānaṃnāma/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.2

[2]:

cf., tesamavavartayanti-dakṣiṇenaivadakṣiṇam,uttarenottaram/yadvarṣīyastaddakṣiṇaṃsyāt/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.8

[3]:

Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.19

[4]:

Vidyadhar Sharma on Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.19

[5]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.9; Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.20-22; cf., tṛṇmayaḥ kaṭaḥ /vaṃśamayaḥ kalañjo bhittiḥ/ Devayājñika on Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra, 8.3.21

[6]:

cf., rarāṭyāṃpariśrayanti/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.9; Vidyadhar Sharma on Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.23

[7]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.9-11

[8]:

Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.24-25

[9]:

Thite, op.cit., Vol. 1, p.310,fn.1 under sūtra 8.3.29

[10]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.14

[11]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.13; Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.27

[12]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.15

[13]:

Vidyadhar Sharma on Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.28

[14]:

Mahīdhara on Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.17

[15]:

cf., saṃsravaṃ patnyai paṇāvānayati sākṣasya santāpamupānakti/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.13

[16]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.17(a)

[17]:

Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra, 8.3.28; It is noteworthy that Eggeling mentions that the word akṣa means the iron pin driven into the axel round which the naves of the wheels rotates. Ranade however holds that this view is not correct, F. Max Muller (ed.), Julius Eggeling(eng.trans.), op.cit, Part. 2, Books 3&4,p.130,fn.1 and Ranade, Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra, 8.3.28, p.261

[18]:

cf., prayacchati pratiprasthātre srucaṃ ca ājyavilāpanīṃ ca/paryāṇayantipatn īmubhau jaghanenāgnī/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.13; Here, Eggeling states that the gārhapatya fire refers to the old gārhapatya fire and she is led to the place of wheel tracks of the north side, F. Max Muller (ed.), Julius Eggeling(eng.trans.), op.cit., Part.2, Books 3&4,p.130,fn.2

[19]:

Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra , 8.3.31

[20]:

Vidyadhar Sharma on ibid.,8.3.31

[21]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.14; Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.30

[22]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.16

[23]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.14; Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.3.31

[24]:

cf., havirdhānābhyāṃ pravartamānābhyām–anubrūhi/,tat etasmā’ahvalāmā-śāste samudgṛhyeva pravartayeyuḥ yathā notsarjetām/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.16,17; Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.1-3

[25]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.17.b

[26]:

cf., yadyutsarjetām/etadvācayetsvaṃgoṣṭham…/tasyohaiṣāprāyaścittiḥ / Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.17-18; cf., svaṃ goṣṭhamiti kharjati/ Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.4

[27]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.17.c

[28]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.19-20; Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.5

[29]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.17

[30]:

F. Max Muller (ed.), Julius Eggeling(eng.trans.), op.cit., Part.2, Books 3&4,P.132,fn.4

[31]:

cf., athottareṇa paryyetyādhvaryyurdakṣiṇaṃ havirdhānamupastabhnāti viṣṇornukaṃ…/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.21; Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.6

[32]:

Vidyadhar Sharma on Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.6

[33]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.18

[34]:

cf., methīmupanihantītaratah/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.21

[35]:

Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.7

[36]:

Vidyadhar Sharma on Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.7

[37]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.18

[38]:

cf., athapratiprasthātāuttaraṃhavirdhānamupastabhnāti…/ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.22

[39]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.19

[40]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.22

[41]:

cf., uttarataḥsthūṇāṃpūrvavat/ Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.9

[42]:

Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā ,5.19

[43]:

cf., ubhevādakṣiṇataḥ/ Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.10

[44]:

Karka on Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.10

[45]:

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ,3.5.3.21-22; Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra ,8.4.12