28. Regarding the Sacrifices

The love for sacrifices involving violence, however, according to another account in the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa], was previously introduced² by Samdilla, a Brahmin, who in fact was a god named Mahakala. Mahakala, in his previous birth, was a king by name Tinapimgu and was deceived by king Sagura and his priest Vissabhuti at the sayamvara of Sulasa who was going to marry Tinapimgu according to the customs of her family. Mahakala, knowing the trick being played upon, as he was a god, determined to avenge the wrong done to him. He appeared in the form of Samdilla and acquired fame as a pacifier of pestilences like mari, which were spread by himself. In this task he also took the help of Pavvaya, who was the royal priest of king Vasu and was in 1. Ibid., 185-193. 2. Mahakala devo tena pasuvaho pagasio, so ya Pippalaena paramparaesena gahio. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 151.

554 favour of immolating animals in sacrifices. Samdilla and Pavvaya pacified the epidemics raging in the kingdom of king Sagara, with animal sacrifices (pasuhim samti kaya)-, and with magic showed the people that the animals immolated to ascended heaven. ven. The Rajasuya Sacrifice : Once convinced of the efficacy of animal sacrifices, king Sagara and his wife Sulasa were encouraged to undertake other sacrifices. One of them was the Rajasuya sacrifice. The reason forwarded by Samdilla was that while running the government, Sagara had acquired sin to destroy which the Rajasuya sacrifice had to be performed. According to the account of the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa following rituals were performed ³, in this sacrifice by Sagara. The building of the citi was one of the important The mud used for the manufacture details of the sacrifice. of the bricks to be used in building the citi was of special type. First of all, many corpses were thrown in ditches full of mud. When the decomposed flesh became one muk with the flesh, the bones were removed. From this clay, bricks were prepared. The bricks measured a finger 1. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 192-93. For the description of Brahmanical Rajasuya, see Satapatha, V. 2.3+1, V. 5.3.7.

555 (amgulam) less than the size of an axle (akkhambamdha pamana). Then Sagara was bathed (gahavia) for the sacrifice. While being arranged for firing, the bricks were sprinkled with ghee, honey and fat. Then the citi was built of the height of a man standing on toes. In this sacrifice, which was performed on the confluence of Gamga and Jauna, goats, horses and men were every day immolated for forty-nine days. Every day the number of victims grew by five. The Asvamedha (Asameha) Sacrifice : also been referred to in the Vasudevahindi(F)¹. Some items from the ritual of the Asameha have In this sacrifice like the former one, many animals (satta) were killed at the hands of Vissabhuti the royal priest. After the immolation of the horse, Sulasa the chief queen of Sagara was told to touch with her privy parts (the membrum virile of the dead horse) so that she might reach the heaven. Minor Sacrifices : Sacrifices were performed in both the manners : 1. For description of a Brahmanical Asvamedha, see Satapatha, XIII.1.1.1. AIII.5.4.28. -

556 by immolating victims and by offering food grains in the fire. Sacrifices with the offerings of food grains and other objects not involving any kind of violence to living beings were quite common, especially in the marriage rites. According to the account as given in the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa the origin of the worship of fire and the concept of giving offerings to the gods through the fire (aggimuha deva) 2 has its origin in the death rites of Usabha. The idea of also aggikumda ales (vessel of fire) sprung up at the cremation of Usabha. People, so also the mahanas took to their houses brands of sacred fire which consumed Usabha and kept them burning constantly with sandalwood ³.