History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.234

v3.c48.234

The yajamāna gets up from his seat and takes what are called 'the strides of Viṣṇu' (viṣṇukrama).²⁴²⁵ These are four taken from the south corner (śroṇi) on the south side of the vedi. He starts towards the east putting the right foot always first, never allows the left foot to come in front, does not go beyond the āhavanīya place and each succeeding step covers more ground than each preceding one. He first recites four mantras 'thou art the stride of Viṣṇu &c.' (Tai. S. I. 6. 5. 2) when taking the strides. Then he mutters a long prayer to the Sun 'O Light of Mitra rising to-day &c.' (Tai. Br. III. 7. 6 and Tai. S. I. 6. 6. 1, quoted in Āp. IV. 15. 1 and I. 16. 1). He contemplates the destruction of his enemy with the words 'Here do I exclude from a share my enemy the evil-doer &c.' He revolves round himself from left to right with 'I turn the turning of Indra' (Tai. S. I. 6. 6. 2) and goes round the āhavanīya with 'Let me have auspicious riches and may evil riches remain away from me' (Āp. IV. 15. 4). He bends over the āhavanīya with 'thou art light' (Tai. S. I. 1. 10. 3), pays homage to it with 'May I be united with my children and may my children be united with me &c.' (Tai. S. I. 6. 6. 2, Āp. IV. 15. 4). He puts the fire into flames 'O fire, being kindled, shine for me &c.' (Tai. S. I. 6. 6. 2, Āp. IV. 16. 5). He prays to the āhavanīya with 'The sacrifice is endowed with riches, may I be endowed with riches &c.' (Tai. S. I. 6. 6. 2, Āp. IV. 15. 5.). He prays to the dakṣiṇa fire 'O fire, cook food pleasantly eaten for our progeny' (Āp. IV. 16. 5). He prays to the gārhapatya fire with the two verses to Agni Pavamāna (Ṛg. IX. 66. 19-20, Tai. S. I. 6. 6. 2), and with 'O Agni Gṛhapati! I am a good house-holder &c.' (Tai. S. I. 6. 6. 3). If he has no son he prays²⁴²⁶ 'I pray for that blessing full of spiritual lustre for my son (to be)' and if he has a son he prays 'I pray for my son so and so that blessing &c.' (Tai. S. I. 6. 6. 3). He sits between the two fires inside the vedi with 'to thee (unborn or born son as the case may be) who art light &c.' (Āp. IV. 16. 6). He places on his lap the blades of the veda (that had been unloosened) and sitting inside the vedi mutters the Atimokṣa mantras 'May Agni guard me against those gods that strike the sacrifice &c.' (Tai. S. III. 5. 4. 1-2 indicated in Āp. IV. 14. 10).