History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c42.20

v3.c42.20

The Pār. gṛ. (II. 15) describes a rite called Indrayajña on the full moon day of Proṣṭhapada (i. e. Bhādrapada). It is briefly as follows: Having cooked pāyasa (rice cooked in milk) for Indra¹⁹⁵⁰ and cakes and having placed (four) cakes round the fire, and having offered the two ājyabhāgas he offers the milk rice to Indra; he offers the *ājya* oblations to Indra, Indrāṇī (Indra’s wife), Aja Ekapād, Ahirbudhnya and to the Proṣṭhapadās; he offers milk-rice to Indra; after he has eaten (a portion of the sacrificial food) he offers a bali to the Maruts; for Śruti says (Śat. Br. IV. 5. 2. 16) 'the maruts are the eaters of ahuta';¹⁹⁵¹ the bali (to Maruts) is offered on leaves of the Aśvattha tree, because there is a Vedic passage (Śat. Br. IV. 3. 3. 6) 'the Maruts stayed in the Aśvattha tree.' He offers the bali with the passage 'Śukra-jyotir' (Vāj. S. 17. 80-85) mantra by mantra and with the mantra called *vimukha* which latter is to be revolved in the mind only (and not to be uttered loudly), for the śruti says 'these are their names'¹⁹⁵² (Śat. Br. IX. 3. 1. 26). He repeats the mantra 'Indram daivīr' (Vāj. S. 17. 86); then follows the feeding of a brāhmaṇa.