History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c15.62

v2.c15.62

*Nirūḍhapaśubandha* or *Paśubandha* (*animal sacrifice*). A victim is offered in Somayāga also, but as part of it. Nirūḍhapaśu is an independent sacrifice to be performed by an *āhitāgni* every six months or once a year. Six priests required in this sacrifice. Procedure of animal sacrifice. Selecting a tree and making a yūpa (sacrificial post) and a head piece (caṣāla) for the post. Preparing a vedi and a raised platform on it called *uttaravedi* and a square hole thereon called *nābhi*. Animals sacrificed for Indra-Agni or Sūrya or Prajāpati. Eleven prayāja offerings. Verses from Āprī hymns employed. The eleven prayāja deities. Śāmitra fire for roasting omentum of the victim. Hotṛ's recitation of the Adhrigu formula. Choking to death or strangling of the he-goat. Omentum taken out and offered by the adhvaryu into Āhavanīya fire for Indra-Agni or Sūrya or Prajāpati. Six priests, sacrificer and his wife perform *Mārjana*. The limbs of the victim that are cut off, and portions of which are offered as paśu-puroḍāśa. Heart of victim is roasted with a pike on śāmitra fire and offered as *havis* to Manotā. Priests and sacrificer partake of *iḍā* constituted by remnants of the limbs of the victim. Upayāja offerings of a part of the entrails along with the Anuyāja offerings. The hotṛ repeats the formula called Sūktavāka. Maitrāvaruṇa throws his staff into fire. Offerings of Patnī-saṁyājas with portions of the tail. *Kāmyāḥ Paśavaḥ* (animal sacrifices from various desires). Ekādaśina, a group sacrifice of eleven victims.