History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.47

v3.c51.47

On the 2nd day of the upasads after the morning pravargya and upasad rites are performed the great vedi for the soma sacrifice is measured and made (Kāt. VIII. 3. 6, Sat. VII. 4. pp. 679-685 and Āp. XI. 4. 11). In front of the āhavanīya to the east a peg (śaṅku) is driven in the ground at a distance of 6 prakramas (Baud. VI. 22) or according to Kāt. VIII. 3. 7 at the distance of 3 prakramas to the east from the eastern post (i. e. the middle of the door) of the ordinary agni-śālā a peg is driven which is called antaḥpātya (intermediate) or śālāmukhīya (according to Baud.); 36 prakramas to the east from this peg another peg is driven, which is called yūpāvaṭīya (i. e. connected with the hole for yūpa). A cord is stretched between these two pegs and is called pṛṣṭhyā (spine). On both the south and north sides of the first peg (i. e. of antaḥpātya) pegs are driven at the distance of 15 prakramas and on the south and north sides of the 2nd peg two pegs are driven at a distance of 12 prakramas each. In this way the west side called śroṇī (hips) of the mahāvedi is 30 prakramas²⁵⁶³ and the east side called *aṁsa* (shoulders) is 24 prakramas and the length of the mahāvedi is 36 prakramas. A rope is passed all round the mahāvedi. Almost all the saṁskāras that are performed for the vedi in darśapūrṇamāsa are performed for the great vedi in somayāga (Sat. VII. 4. p. 685). An uttaravedi (a quadrangular platform raised high) is measured on the mahāvedi in its eastern part. This uttaravedi is on its west side (śroṇi) ten padas (i. e. five on the south and five on the north of the pṛṣṭhyā) and on its east side (aṁsa) eight padas (some hold that the uttaravedi is 10 padas on all sides i. e. a perfect square). The cātvāla pit (i. e. its southern shoulder or the middle point of the southern side) is 1½ padas (or one prakrama, according to Sat. p. 687) to the north from the northern shoulder of the mahāvedi towards the west, while the utkara near which the āgnīdhra sits is 12 prakramas to the west of the cātvāla ²⁵⁶⁴ (i. e. its western side or its middle) and one prakrama to the north of the line of the vedi. The utkara is about two padas in extent (com. on Sat. VII. 4. p. 687). The way to and from the vedi is between the utkara and the cātvāla pit. The vedi is prepared (i. e. its earth is loosened, clods are broken, roots taken out) with the sphya, a rib (of some holy animal) or an axe. For the nābhi vide at p. 1113 above. That day the vedi remains covered with the branches of uduṁbara or plakṣa tree.