History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.112

v3.c48.112

Now comes *barhirāstaraṇa* (strewing the vedi with kuśa grass). He loosens the knot of the bundle of *barhis* with ‘may Pūṣan loosen thy knot’. He takes in his hand the prastara bunch drawing it towards the east slowly from the bundle of barhis (as if towards the āhavanīya) with ‘thou art the crest (stūpa) of viṣṇu i. e. yajña (Tai. S. I. 1. 11). With ‘I implant prāṇa and apāna in the yajamāna’ he places the two pavitra blades (used in utpavana above) on the prastara, hands it over to the brahmā priest, who passes it on to the yajamāna who holds it in his hand. He strews darbha2347a grass on the vedi and places the cord that tied the barhis thereon with 'God Barhis! I strew thee that art soft like wool, as a good seat for the gods'. The darbhas are spread in three or five series (or divisions) beginning from the west side of the vedi towards the east (or the reverse according to some) in such a way that the tips of one set that is already spread cover the roots of the next and the grass is so thickly strewn that the ground below cannot be easily seen. When the kuśa grass is being strewn the yajamāna recites a mantra 'O barhis, that are soft like wool, being spread ...... place me in heaven &c.' (Tai. Br. III. 7. 6), when the vedi is covered with the middle division of the barhis he recites the mantra 'this young lady with four tufts of hair &c.' (Tai. Br. III. 7. 6) and when the vedi is completely covered he recites a long passage 'May you be auspicious to me ........ increase food, strength, spiritual lustre, martial brilliance, prosperity, progeny, cattle for me &c.' (Tai. Br. III. 7. 6).'