The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c21.17

v1.c21.17

The demon attacking the boy is here called Kumāra, the cult is obviously demoniac. In general, the Sūtras of this class are concerned not with the greater sacrifices, which are discussed in the Çrauta Sūtra, called the Havis and Soma sacrifices, but with the so-called great sacrifices of food cooked (*pāka*) and offered on special noon-days and at funeral feasts, four or seven in all, including offerings to serpents as well as to demons and gods¹.