Aitareyabrahmana 1.1

1.1

Agni is the lowest of the gods; Viṣṇu is the highest. Between them are all the other deities. They prepare the sacrificial cake on eleven potsherds for the consecration, dedicated to Agni and Viṣṇu. Thus they prepare it for all deities without distinction. For Agni is all the deities, and Viṣṇu is all the deities. These two, namely Agni and Viṣṇu, are the two terminal bodies of the sacrifice. Therefore, when they prepare the sacrificial cake dedicated to Agni and Viṣṇu, they thereby satisfy the gods at both ends. Concerning this they say: 'Since the sacrificial cake is on eleven potsherds, and Agni and Viṣṇu are two, what is their arrangement, what is the distribution between them?' An eight-potsherd cake belongs to Agni; for the gāyatrī has eight syllables, and the gāyatrī is Agni's metre. A three-potsherd cake belongs to Viṣṇu; for thrice did Viṣṇu stride over this [universe]. That is their arrangement, that is the distribution between them. He who considers himself without a foundation should prepare sacrificial porridge in clarified butter; for he who has no foundation indeed does not stand firm on this [earth]. The clarified butter is the milk of the female, the rice grains are of the male; that is a copulative pair. By means of that copulative pair, he causes him to propagate with offspring and cattle for reproduction. He propagates with offspring and cattle who knows thus. He who sacrifices with the New- and Full-Moon sacrifices has his sacrifice begun, his deities commenced. Having sacrificed with the New Moon rite or with the Full Moon rite, upon that very sacrificial offering, upon that sacrificial grass, he should undergo consecration; this is one consecration. He should recite seventeen kindling verses. For Prajāpati is seventeenfold: twelve months and five seasons by the combination of winter and the cool season. Such is the year; the year is Prajāpati. He prospers with these [verses] possessing the abode of Prajāpati who knows thus.