History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.129.2

v3.c48.129.2

The yajamāna says 'this is for Prajāpati' and invokes the butter poured as āghāra with 'thou art the mind of Prajāpati, enter into me with mind.' Taking ājya from the ājyasthālī in the sruva he strengthens (or increases or adds to) the dhruvā with 'let the dhruvā be strengthened with ghee &c.' (Tai. S. I. 6. 5. 1). He then issues a direction to the āgnīdhra 'O Āgnīdhra, clean thrice each of the paridhis and the fire.' The āgnīdhra holds the tying cords of the idhma on the sphya and silently cleans (or wipes) the paridhis with them in the order in which they were placed (round the fire) from their roots to the tips i. e. he cleans the middle one first, moving with his right towards the paridhi from the north with his face towards the east; then he cleans the southern one by going to the south in front of the āhavanīya; then he cleans the northern paridhi by going from behind (the west of) the āhavanīya towards the north; then he returns by the way he went to his usual place and wipes the fire thrice, once with the mantra, 'O fire, that securest strength (or food)! I wipe thee......that eatest food for the sake of food' (Tai. Br. III. 7. 6) and twice silently. When about to make the āghāra he folds his hands in adoration to the gods with his fingers to the east in front (i. e. to the east of) the juhū and upabhṛt with²³⁶¹ 'O fire! thou art the world, spread in all directions; O sacrificer (Agni), adoration to thee' (Tai. S. I. 1. 12. 1).