History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.114.1

v3.c48.114.1

He takes out two blades (to be used later) for the anūyājas and keeps them separately to the east, feeds the āhavanīya with fire-wood, takes back the prastara from the hand of the yajamāna, and while holding the prastara himself places the three encircling fuel-sticks (*paridhi*) round the āhavanīya fire. The middle paridhi is placed on darbhas to the west of the āhavanīya with the tip towards the north with²³⁴⁸ 'thou art gandharva &c.'. While the middle paridhi is being placed the yajamāna recites a mantra (Tai. Br. III. 7. 6). The other two paridhis are laid to the south and north of the āhavanīya place with their tips to the east, the southern one extending a little beyond the āhavanīya place and touching the middle paridhi and the northern one also touches the middle paridhi. The yajamāna repeats two long passages when the southern and northern paridhis are being laid (portions of which are identical with that repeated by the yajamāna for the middle paridhi). The adhvaryu invokes the āhavanīya 'may the sun guard you against all injuries whatever' (Tai. S. I. 1. 11). He places (in the midst of the āhavanīya fire) two samidhs with their ends turned upwards on which the āghāras (will be offered later on), one to the south with the mantra 'O Fire, the wise one, may we kindle thee &c.' (vītihotraṁ tvā kave &c. Ṛg. V. 26. 3 or Tai. S. I. 1. 11) and the other to the north of it silently.