History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c50.11

v3.c50.11

The vedi (a single one) in the nirūḍhapaśubandha is prepared like the one in Varuṇa-praghāsas to the east of the usual āhavanīya fire-place (and not to the west as in darśa-pūrṇamāsa). The dimensions of the vedi are variously given. According to Āp. VII. 3. 7-9 the vedi is three or four aratnis on its western side, six aratnis in length from west to east and three aratnis on the eastern side and it is less in breadth towards the east or it is as wide as the axle on the west, of the length of the shafts of a cart and to the east as wide as that portion of a yoke which is between the outer holes thereof. On this vedi an uttaravedi (a high altar) is measured with the śamyā²⁴⁸⁷ (yoke-pin) on the eastern one-third of the vedi. From the northern corner of the eastern side (the shoulder) of the vedi, a pit called *cātvāla* is measured one śamyā square about one prakrama to its north; it is dug with a spade taken with the mantra 'devasya tvā ...... ādade' (Vāj. S. VI. 1) and it is silently dug as deep as the knee or three *vitastis* (36 aṅgulas). The Tai. Br. I. 5. 10 gives the latter measure. The cātvāla is in front of the utkara and a passage is left between the utkara and the cātvāla which is contiguous to the north side of the mahāvedi (vide Śat. Br. III. 5. 1. 24-30). The earth dug up is heaped on the uttaravedi thrice²⁴⁸⁸ with the mantra 'a lioness art thou' (Tai. S. I. 2. 12. 2) and a fourth time silently and then is spread over the uttaravedi with 'uru prathasva ...... prathatām' (Tai. S. I. 2. 12. 2); he breaks up the clods with the śamyā, invokes the earth dug up, sprinkles it, spreads gravel on the earth so dug up and spread, pours down the remainder of the water contained in the prokṣaṇī vessel to the north of the uttaravedi by means of a channel made with one stroke of the sphya and cements together the borders of the uttaravedi (with water and earth). On the uttaravedi he makes a square hole (called *uttaranābhi*) a span in measure or measuring as much as a bull's or horse's hoof, invokes it and sprinkles it with water and the rest of the water is drained off to the south (as water was drained off to the north above). Then he covers the uttaravedi with twigs of udumbara or plakṣa tree and waits, if the paśubandha is so performed as to extend over two days. In the morning next day he pours clarified butter in a stream on the uttaravedi from the south-east corner to the north-west corner and from the south-west to the north-east carrying a golden piece in such a way that the butter will fall on the gold. Then he places three (pine) paridhis (enclosing sticks) which are of kārśmarya wood (according to Āp. VII. 7. 7) round the *nābhi* in the west, south and north and puts down on the uttaravedi certain materials viz. bdellium, fragrant and appetising grass, bunch of white wool from between the horns of a ram (*petva*). Having kindled idhma (a bunch of samidhs) at the āhavanīya fire, he carries forward the kindled sticks (in a vessel)²⁴⁸⁹ which is supported on a vessel containing gravel (to prevent the scorching of the hands) to the uttaravedi and places them down on the nābhi over the bdellium and other things. This becomes the āhavanīya for all actions in the paśubandha and the original āhavanīya becomes the gārhapatya.²⁴⁹⁰