Aitareyabrahmana 7.12

7.12

Regarding this they say: For whomsoever the sun should rise or set when the fire has not been taken out [from the gārhapatya], or if having been brought forward it should be extinguished before the oblation, what is the expiation there? Having placed gold in front, he should take it out in the evening. Light indeed is white gold, light is that white [sun] yonder; thus looking at that very light, the white, he takes it out. Having placed silver between, he should take it out in the morning; this is the form of the night. He should take out the āhavanīya fire before the mingling of shadows. Death indeed is darkness, a shadow; by that very light he crosses over death, darkness, and shadow. That is the expiation there. Regarding this they say: If a cart, or a chariot, or a dog should pass between his gārhapatya and āhavanīya fires, what is the expiation there? "One should not take it to heart," they say, "for [the fires] are established within himself." If he should take it to heart, he should carry an unbroken stream of water from the gārhapatya fire up to the āhavanīya, [reciting,] "Weaving the thread, follow the light of the atmospheric realm." That is the expiation there. Regarding this they say: How, while setting up the fires, should he bring the anvāhāryapacana fire, or should he not bring [it]? "He should bring [it]," they say. He indeed establishes the breath within himself, who establishes the fires. Among them, that which is the anvāhāryapacana is the greatest consumer of food. In it he offers this oblation: "To Agni, the consumer of food, the lord of food, svāhā!" He becomes a consumer of food, a lord of food, [and] enjoys food together with his offspring, who knows thus. About to offer [the oblation], he should move between the gārhapatya and āhavanīya fires. By this, as he moves, the fires know: "He will offer in us." By this, as he moves, the gārhapatya and āhavanīya fires strike away his evil; with evil struck away, he goes up to the heavenly world. So they quote a Brāhmaṇa. Regarding this they say: How should one revere the fires when about to go abroad, or having returned from abroad, or day after day? "In silence," they say. Silently indeed they hope for superior benefit. And they also say: Day after day these [fires] fear the sacrificer's lack of faith, [fearing] being put out, or being floated away. He should revere them simply with: "May there be fearlessness to you; may there be fearlessness to me!" Fearlessness indeed comes to him; fearlessness indeed comes to him.