Studies in Indian Art c11.s5.20

c11.s5.20

In the Yajurveda, Book 18, known as the ‘Chamakādhyāya’, is an elaborate adoration of the Goddess Vasudhārā (Vedic Vasor Dhārā) in which all the blessings of Mind and Matter, of the Devas and the Bhūtas, are invoked to come to the worshipper as the fruit of his performing the Yajña. The idea of Yajña is to propitiate the divine powers, that is, to become attuned with them, and the fruit of Yajña is Dakṣiṇā which the Gods confer on each Yajamāna according to his wishes. About four hundred such Āhutis oblations are enumerated, e.g., Vāja, Kratu, Prāṇa, Jyoti, Vāk, Mana, Asu, Chitta, Atmā, Tanu, Śarīra, Āyu, Mahimā, Satya, Śraddhā, Moda, Amṛta, Jīvatu, Abhaya, Sudina, Saṃvit, Kāma, Kṛshi, Puṣṭi, Ṛddhi; but the most sublime gift in this list is that of Vasu bestowed in the form Karma and Śakti (Karma cha me śaktiścha me, Yajus, 18.15).