History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.119.1

v3.c48.119.1

The adhvaryu lays down the veda bunch in front of the dhruvā ladle with 'this veda sought the earth that was concealed &c.' (Tai. Br. III. 7. 6), strews darbhas round the corners of the vedi,²³⁵¹ and prepares the seat for the hotṛ which is to the north of the northern 'śroṇi' of the vedi and the darbhas spread on the seat have their points turned eastwards or northwards. The adhvaryu invites the hotṛ in the words 'O Hotṛ! come'. The hotṛ priest sits down to the north-east of the āhavanīya with face to the east, performs *ācamana* with the sacred cord in the upavīta form, enters the sacrificial ground (*vihāra*) by the way called *tīrtha* (vide p. 984 above). He enters with his right foot first, plants his heel alongside of the northern śroṇi and steps upon the *barhis* (spread on the vedi) with his toes, spreads out the fingers of both hands which he joins together and holds them on a level with his heart, looks straight at the horizon (and neither upwards nor downwards) and stands facing the east. This is always the position of the limbs of the body in the case of the hotṛ unless there be any express direction to the contrary. The adhvaryu takes a *samidh* from the idhma and issues a direction to the hotṛ 'recite for Agni that is being kindled’. The hotṛ recites ‘salutation to the expounder, salutation to the supervisor, salutation to him who reports, who will repeat (or respond to) this? He will repeat this. May the six broad (or great) ones, viz.