History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.55.2

v3.c51.55.2

VIII. 6. 30, half of the milk). Then begins the procedure of the sacrifice of an animal to Agni and Soma (jointly). This is on the same lines as the nirūḍhapaśubandha which has already been described. The various actions such as paristaraṇa, placing the sacrificial pātras, prokṣaṇa are gone through. One more ladle called pracaraṇī made of vikaṅṭaka wood and resembling a juhū is used in addition (Āp. XI. 16. 6). The pratiprasthātṛ (or neṣṭṛ according to Sat. VII. 8, p. 736) brings the wife from her usual place (the patnīśālā). The sacrificer's near relatives who always share the same roof are called. The yajamāna touches the adhvaryu, the wife touches the sacrificer, the sons and brothers of the sacrificer touch the wife. They are all covered with a fresh piece of cloth and the adhvaryu offers with the pracaraṇī offerings of ājya called Vaisarjina²⁵⁶⁹ to Soma (Kāt. VIII. 7. 1, Āp. XI. 16. 15). Then comes the carrying forward (praṇayana) of Agni and Soma. Fire is kindled on the āhavanīya and is carried to the uttaravedi. Numerous utensils and vessels are taken to the great vedi beyond the sadas for use in the animal sacrifice and in the pressing of soma next day and kept in proper places.²⁵⁷⁰ Fire is established in the āgnīdhra dhiṣṇya. The soma stalks are taken to the havirdhāna maṇḍapa and placed in the southern cart (havirdhāna) on a black antelope skin. The sacrificer consigns the soma to the care of gods with a mantra ‘God Savitṛ! here is thy soma’ (Vāj. S. V. 39, Tai. S.