History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c51.70.3

v3.c51.70.3

to the west of the axle of the northern havirdhāna and below it). The adhvaryu sits to the north of the adhiṣavaṇa-carma towards the east and behind him sits the sacrificer, to the south of the adhiṣavaṇa-carma sits the pratiprasthātṛ, to the west neṣṭṛ and to the north the unnetṛ (Āp. XII. 12. 2 and Sat. VIII. 3. p. 825 ). A very large portion of the soma stalks is to be taken for the morning pressing and a small one for the midday one (Āp. XII. 9. 7). The adhvaryu takes hold of the stone called *upara*,²⁵⁸² places it on the adhiṣavaṇa hide, brings soma stalks thereon, nigrābhya water is poured on them, the stalks are beaten by the priests with the other stones held in their right hands, which have a golden ring or the like. This is called the first turn or round (*paryāga*). Then there is a second turn, when the stalks of soma scattered about in the first beating are collected and are again pounded. Then there is a third turn. The texts even prescribe how many times the stalks are to be beaten in each turn (vide Āp. XII. 10. 4-8, 9 and XII. 12. 8-9). The wet and pounded stalks are collected by the adhvaryu into a vessel called saṃbharaṇī,²⁵⁸³ are put in the *ādhavanīya* trough which already contains water, the ādhavanīya contents are thoroughly stirred, the stalks are washed, pressed, then taken out and placed on the adhiṣavaṇacarma.