History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.50.3

v3.c51.50.3

The adhvaryu and the sacrificer insert their right hands in the holes (the adhvaryu inserting his hand in the south-east hole and the sacrificer in the north-west and then a second time the adhvaryu inserts his hand in the south-west hole and the sacrificer in the north-east) and touch each other's hands and adhvaryu asks 'sacrificer! what is there?'; the sacrificer replies 'welfare (or happiness)' and the adhvaryu in a low voice says 'may that belong to us both.' This is done twice (Kāt. VIII. 5. 14-21). At the second time the yajamāna asks 'adhvaryu! what is there?', the adhvaryu replies 'welfare' and the yajamāna says 'let it be mine.' The uparavas are sprinkled with water beginning from the south-east one and ending with the north-east one with a mantra ('rakṣohaṇo &c.' Vāj. S. V. 25, Tai. S. I. 3. 2). Then the rest of the prokṣaṇī water is poured into them, kuśas are spread over their bottoms as in the hole of the yūpa (described above), a golden piece is placed thereon and offering of ājya is made. To the east of the uparavas or of the adhiṣavaṇa-carma or of the upastambhana²⁵⁶⁷ a four-cornered mound (khara) is made for keeping the soma vessels on with the earth (dug up from the uparavas) that is sprinkled with water and mixed with sand. In front of this mound sufficient space is left to move about in the havirdhāna maṇḍapa.