The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c6.s1.17

c6.s1.17

An illustration of this alternating pattern seems still to be contained in *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa* 4. 25. This text declares that in the beginning Prajāpati undertook the dīkṣā and invited the seasons and the months to officiate for him in the twelve-day ritual. Having officiated for Prajāpati and having received his dakṣiṇās, the seasons and the months feel "heavy" (*gurava ivāmanyanta*). In their turn, they undertake the dīkṣā and have Prajāpati officiate for them. Thus "Prajāpati, (who is) the year, found support in the seasons and months; the seasons and months (in their turn) found support in Prajāpati, the year; they became firmly established in each other." We might say, in other words, alternately the one represents the brahman out of which the other is reborn.