History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c26.398

v2.c26.398

The Āśv. gṛ. (I. 7. 3–I. 8.) deals with all the marriage rites as follows†: Having placed to the west of the fire (that is kindled on the altar as described already ) a mill-stone and to the north-east ( of the fire ) a water jar, he should offer sacrifice ( with the *sruva* ), while the bride takes hold of him ( touches his right hand ). Standing with his face turned to the west, while the bride is sitting and has her face turned to the east, he should seize only her thumb with the mantra 'I take hold of thy hand for happiness' (Ṛg. X. 85. 36 quoted in note 1228), if he desires that only male children be born to him ; he may seize her other fingers if he is desirous of female children ; he may seize her hand on the hair side together with the thumb if he be desirous of both ( male and female children ). Leading her thrice round the fire and the water jar so that their right sides are turned towards ( the fire &c. ) he murmurs¹²³¹ 'I am *ama* ( this ), thou art *sā* ( she ), thou art *sā*, I am *ama* ; I am heaven, thou art the earth ; I am the *sāman*, thou art the *ṛk*. Let us both marry here. Let us beget offspring. Dear to each other, bright, having well disposed minds, may we live for a hundred years!' Each time he leads her round ( the fire ) he makes her tread on the stone with ( the words ) 'tread on this stone; be firm like a stone; overcome the enemies; trample down the foes'.¹²³² Having first poured clarified butter over her joined hands, the bride's brother or some one who is in the place of brother pours fried grain twice over the bride's joined hands, three times in the case of those whose gotra is Jamadagni ( i. e. if the bridegroom is of that gotra ). Then he pours clarified butter over what has been left of the *havis* (sacrificial material or offering) and over what has been cut off ( separated from the aggregate ). This is the rule about the portions to be cut off ( in every case where there is *avadāna*).¹²³³ With the following verses ( recited by the bride-groom )