History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.140.2

v3.c48.140.2

I gratify Vasanta among the seasons, May he (Vasanta) being gratified gratify me'. The same procedure is followed as to the remaining four prayājas viz. there is first āśrāvaṇa, then pratyāśrāvaṇa by the āgnīdhra, praiṣa to hotṛ, recital of the yājyā by the hotṛ with vaṣaṭkāra at end, offering of ājya into fire by the adhvaryu, the tyāga by the yajamāna and connecting the five prayājas with the five ṛtus (seasons) in order from Vasanta (hemanta and śiśira being taken as one). The second prayāja offering is meant for Tanūnapāt, but those who belong to the Vasiṣṭha, Śunaka, Atri. Vadhryaśva and Rājanya (Viśvāmitra?) gotras substitute Narāśaṁsa for Tanūnapāt (Śāṅ. I. 7. 3 is slightly different). The whole procedure is briefly indicated in Sanskrit in the note below.²³⁶⁹ The first three prayāja offerings are made with the ājya in the juhū, but as to the 4th (to Barhis) he pours half of the ājya contained in the upabhṛt into the juhū and then makes the offering. Wherever there are more prayājas than 5 (e. g. in Varuṇa-praghāsa there are nine, in Paśubandha ten) the 4th, 7th and 10th are offered in this way (vide Sat. II. 2. p. 199 and Kāt. III. 2. 22-23). Vide Jai. IV. 1. 40 and 41-45. These mantras (in the note) occur in Tai. Br. III. 5. 5 where 'viyantu' is substituted for 'vyantu' (as is usual with the Taittirīyas). The words 'ye3 yajāmahe' used at the beginning of each yājyā are called 'āgūḥ'; but there are no such words in the anuyājas (Āśv. I. 5. 4).