History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.70.1

v3.c51.70.1

While the Prātaranuvāka is being recited by the hotṛ, the āgnīdhra (according to Kāt. IX. 1. 15, the pratiprasthātṛ according to Āp. XII. 4. 4) priest takes out materials (nirvāpa) for five offerings which are a cake on eleven potsherds for Indra, dhānā (fried barley) for two Haris (bay horses of Indra), Karambha (barley flour with curds) for Pūṣan, curds for Sarasvatī, payasyā for Mitra and Varuṇa. There is an option that all five are meant for Indra, but the last four are in that case to Indra associated with the other deities in order as shown below.²⁵⁷⁹ The adhvaryu asks the hotṛ to think of water and issues directions to the attendant of maitrāvaruṇa holding a maitrāvaruṇa camasa (a flat wooden dish or cup with a handle) that he should come with the adhvaryu, to the neṣṭṛ to fetch the wife or wives of the sacrificer, asks the other ṛtviks to hold the ekadhana pitchers and the āgnīdhra to wait near the cātvāla pit with vasatīvarī waters. The adhvaryu goes to a pond or lake, makes offerings of ājya with the camasa of maitrāvaruṇa, fills it with water, the ekadhana pitchers also are filled and the wife fills a vessel called pannejana or pānnejana²⁵⁸⁰ (a small vessel with water for washing the feet or thighs). While the ekadhana pitchers are being filled the hotṛ recites Ṛg. X. 30. 1-9 and 11 which are called 'aponaptriyā verses' as the deity of those verses is 'apāmnapāt' (vide Ait. Br. VIII. 2, Āśv. V. 1. 8 and S. B. E. vol. 26. p.