India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c11.s2.35
India as Known to Pāṇini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashṭādhyāyī c11.s2.35
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c11.s2.35
(3) *Āśravaṇa*. The Adhvaryu, Agnīdh and Hotā priests having taken their seats round the Vedi, the Adhvaryu calls upon the Agnīdh (cf. Agnimindha of Ṛigveda I.162.5), an assistant of Brahmā, whose duty it was to guard the sacrifice against the Asuras. He sat near the *utkara* and held a wooden sword (*sphya*) in hand. The order to him (*agnīt-preshana*, also called *āśravaṇa*) consisted of the formula ओ३ श्रा३वय with its variant in some *śākhās* as ओ ३ श्रा ३ वय (*Agnīt-preshane parasya cha*, VIII.2.92). This *praisha* signified 'Please notify the sacrifice to the gods, as all is well'.