The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c7.s1.8

c7.s1.8

It is again Baudhāyana who is clearest on this point. The texts prescribe the worship of Agni at an anthill on the way to the loam pit with the words "We shall carry Agni hidden in the mud," adding a mantra honoring Agni as the sun discerning the world at daybreak.⁵⁷ Now, instead of having an enemy materialize out of the blue or having him indicated, Baudhāyana has a *vaiśya* posted south of this anthill to guard it (*tāṃ dakṣiṇato gopāyann āste*). The processionists circumambulate him (moving sunwise); the *vaiśya* then asks (or rather challenges), "Men, what are you going to fetch?" (*puruṣāḥ kim acchetha*); the others answer with the solemn announcement, which according to the other texts is addressed to the enemy. In other words, the *vaiśya* is the enemy on guard at the anthill, blocking the way to the loam pit where the materials for the *ukhā*, the treasured head of the sacrifice, are to be found.⁵⁸