History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c23.96

v2.c23.96

In the Śāṅkhāyana gṛ. I. 7 (S. B. E. vol. 29 pp. 22-31) the procedure described is more elaborate and contains some important differences. The performer (I. 7. 6-7) draws one line in the middle of the sacrificial surface from south to north and from this line only three lines are drawn upwards, one to the south of it, one in the middle, and one to the north (i. e. there are only four lines and not six as in Āśvalāyana). Further it (I. 8. 6-7) says that the seat of the brahmā priest is to the south of the sthaṇḍila and he is honoured with flowers. Śāṅkhāyana adds (I. 8. 8.) the detail that the praṇītā waters are carried forward on the north side and (I. 8. 9-11) that paristaraṇa follows after the carrying forward of the praṇītā waters. It also adds (I. 8. 24-25) that waters in the sruva spoon are purified just as ājya is purified and then a portion of the water in the sruva is poured on to the praṇītā water and the rest of the water in the sruva is called the prokṣaṇī water with which the *havis*, the idhma (fuel) and *barhis* (kuśas) are sprinkled. Śāṅkhāyana I. 9. 1 lays down that sruva spoon is the vessel in all gṛhya rites (and not juhū as in śrauta rites) except where a special rule to the contrary is stated. The Pār. gṛ. I. 1 (S. B. E. vol. 29, pp. 269-270) and the Khādira gṛ. I. 2 (S. B. E. vol. 29, pp. 376-378) describe the model homa in a very concise manner. The Gobhila gṛ. (I. 1. 9-11, and I. 5. 13-20, I. 7. 9, I. 8. 21), Hir. gṛ. (1. 1. 9-I. 3. 7 S. B. E. vol. 30 pp. 138-145) describe it at great length. The sthaṇḍila should be prepared on a level spot or on a spot that slopes towards the east or north or north-east (vide Hir. gṛ. I. 1. 9, S. B. E. vol. 30, p. 138). The sthaṇḍila should be raised to the height of two or four finger breadths or as much as the sand or loose earth that one has brought will allow ; and the sthaṇḍila is to be a square, each side of which is given variously as being an arrow (18 aṅgulas) in length, or 32 finger breadths (according to Vaik.), or one *aratni* (= 21 aṅgulas according to Baud. gṛ. paribhāṣā I. 5. 3 ).⁴⁸⁵