The Hindu Temple v1.c6.s3.37

v1.c6.s3.37

The goat replaces man as ‘sacrificial animal’. The sacrificer offers his own (lower) self in the sacrificial animal consumed by the fire. The goat is the contribution, of the heat of intentness (AV. XVIII. 2. 8). As a sacrifice it reaches its fulfilment and true state, in the fire and is ‘produced’ from the heat of the sacrifice (Ś.B. VII. 5. 2. 36). It is Prajāpati (Ś.B. V. 2. 1. 24) and is Agni³⁹ and also ‘born from Agni’ (‘Tait. Saṃh’. V. 2. 9. 4). Agni was generated by Atharvan (RV. X. 21. 5), the ancient priest, the first to obtain fire.