History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.55.1

v3.c51.55.1

On the uparavas slender kuśas with tips to the east or north are spread and over them are kept two boards (of udumbara or palāśa or kārśmarya wood) called adhiṣavaṇa-phalaka2568a between which there is a space of two aṅgulas (towards the west) which are one aratni long, are washed with water, their eastern face being curved like the board of a wheel and the western face being straight. In modern practice the boards are not curved on the east, but are straight. The wood is dry and well planed. In sacrifices in which soma is pressed on more days than one the boards are grooved and made to fit in each other and pierced with a nail. The boards are made firm by driving two pegs through them in front, two behind and one each to the north and south (so that they will not recede). Vide Baud. VI. 28. The space of two fingers between the two is filled with the dust dug out from the uparavas. One board is placed on the two southern uparavas and the other on the two northern ones. On the two boards is placed a hide (called adhiṣavaṇa-carma), which is red and cut up all round to fit in with the boards, with the neck portion to the east and the hairy portion up. On the hide are placed four stones (grāvan) for pressing soma juice. The adhvaryu then issues directions to spread barhis over the great vedi (except the uttaravedi, the khara, uparavas and dhiṣṇyas, Sat. VII. 7. p. 727) and for making the sacrificer take only one-fourth of the fast milk on which he is to subsist (according to Kāt.