History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.50.6

v3.c51.50.6

The six seats are made in the eastern portion of the sadas leaving between them and the eastern side of the sadas sufficient space to move about. The earth is spread on the seats by the adhvaryu who faces the north when preparing all the seats (except two) and who is touched by the sacrificer with the sphya. Over the earth sand or gravel is spread on all the seats. Out of the six seats the adhvaryu facing the west makes the seat for the hotṛ to the north of the pṛṣṭhyā line but touching it about one prakrama from the eastern door of the sadas (or on the pṛṣṭhyā line itself, according to Āp. XI. 14. 4). Then four more seats are made to the north of the seat of the hotṛ in order for brāhmaṇācchaṁsin, potṛ, neṣṭṛ and acchāvāka respectively, each of which is at the same distance from the next and the seat of the acchāvāka is (four aṅgulas) larger than those of the rest. The seats are either square or round (according to Sat VII. 7. p. 723) and of 18 aṅgulas in diameter or on each side, and at the distance of one cubit or 18 aṅgulas from each other (com. on Kāt. VIII. 6. 22). To the south of the hotṛ's dhiṣṇya, the adhvaryu with his face to the north prepares at a distance of 4½ aratnis from the hotṛ seat the seat for maitrāvaruṇa (or praśāstṛ), which seat is also to the southeast of the audumbarī post. The seat of maitrāvaruṇa is prepared immediately after hotṛ's seat. These seven priests viz. āgnīdhra to maitrāvaruṇa are called the 'seven hotṛs' in somayāga according to Tai. Br.