A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c10.147

c10.147

There is nothing artificial in this. But when we meet with the names of the Ritvij priests, such as Potṛi, Agnîdhra, Praśâstri, Neshtṛi, Hotṛi, Adhvaryu, Brahman¹, we can no longer doubt that here we have to deal with late and artificial poetry. These names of priests are afterwards still further generalised, and transferred to Agni; who, as the god of fire, is supposed to carry the offerings of men to the seats of the gods. He is called the Purohita, or high-priest. Sapta-hotṛi also, and sapta-mânusha, acting as seven priests², are names applied to the god of the sacrificial flame.