A History of Sanskrit Literature c12.11

c12.11

The Çrauta rites, fourteen in number, are divided into the two main groups of seven oblation (*havis*) sacrifices and seven soma sacrifices. Different forms of the animal sacrifice are classed with each group. The *havis* sacrifices consist of offerings of milk, ghee, porridge, grain, cakes, and so forth. The commonest is the *Agnihotra*, the daily morning and evening oblation of milk to the three fires. The most important of the others are the new and full moon sacrifices (*darçapūrṇa-māsa*) and those offered at the beginning of the three seasons (*chāturmāsya*). Besides some other recurrent sacrifices, there are very many which are to be offered on some particular occasion, or for the attainment of some special object.