History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.116.2

v3.c51.116.2

the Ārbhava pavamāna and the Agniṣṭoma-sāman (viz. yajñā-yajñā vo &c.). The corresponding twelve śastras are: in the morning the Ājyaśastra (by hotṛ), Praugaśastra (by hotṛ) and three ājyaśastras (by maitrāvaruṇa, brāhmaṇācchaṃsin and acchāvāka, these three priests being called hotrakas); in the mid-day pressing the marutvatīya śastra (by hotṛ), niṣkevalya śastra (by hotṛ) and three more by the three assistants of the hotṛ; in the evening pressing the two śastras are vaiśvadevaśastra and āgnimārutaśastra (both by the hotṛ). The Bahiṣpavamāna is chanted in the Trivṛtstoma, the four ājyastotras and the mādhyandinapavamāna in the Pañcadaśastoma, the four Pṛṣṭha-stotras and the Ārbhavapavamāna in the Saptadaśastoma and the yajñāyajñīya in the Ekaviṃśastoma (vide Tāṇḍya Br. XX. 1. 1). Stoma means a group of verses and pañcadaśastoma and similar words mean that the verses (usually three) are increased to 15, 17, 21 &c. by repetition in various patterns (which are called *viṣṭuti*). There are three viṣṭutis of the pañcadaśastoma. These patterns differ in the order and number of repetitions. The prastotṛ marks the several turns, the number of verses and the order by means of small sticks a span long (called *kuśas*) cut from the udumbara tree and placed on a piece of cloth spread in the midst of the singers. Vide Lāṭ. II. 6. 1-4. For example, the first ājyastotra (Ṛg. VI. 16. 10-12 = S. V. II. 1. 1. 4, ed.