History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.104

v3.c48.104

²³⁴¹ The ājyasthālī is a pot in which clarified butter is taken with a mantra after the pavitra blades are placed therein and from which the sruc ladles are filled. The yoktra is a triple (having three strands) cord of muñja grass with which the waist of the sacrificer's wife is girt with a mantra by the āgnīdhra at the direction of the adhvaryu in sacrificial rites. The wife is made fit for participation in the sacrifice by being girt up. Vide Tai. Br. III. 3. 3 'आशासाना सौमनसमित्याह । मेध्यमेवैनां केवलीं कृत्वा आशिषा समर्धयति । अग्नेरनुव्रता ... कमित्याह । एतद्वै पत्न्यै व्रतोपनयनम् । तेनैवैनां व्रतमुपनयति।' According to some (Āp. II. 5. 3) the mantra 'āśāsānā' is recited by the wife. The words in Sat. 1. 7 p. 160 are 'उत्तरतो नाभेर्निष्टर्क्यं ग्रन्थिं कृत्वा'. निष्टर्क्यः ग्रन्थिः means शिखाकृतिः ग्रन्थिः (com. on Āp. II. 5. 6) *i.e.* a knot that can be unloosened by untwisting. Girding her up represents making her undergo a *vrata* for the sacrifice, as stated by the Tai. Br. quoted above.