History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c52.2

v3.c52.2

The sūtras speak of seven forms (saṁsthās) of soma sacrifices. These seven forms are Agniṣṭoma, Atyagniṣṭoma, Ukthya, Ṣoḍaśin, Vājapeya, Atirātra and Aptoryāma (according to Kāt. X. 9. 27, Āśv. VI. 11. 1, Lāṭ. V. 4. 24). The first of these has been described in some detail above. Owing to restrictions of space only a few words can be said about the other soma sacrifices. All sūtras do not state the same number of soma sacrifices. Āp. XIV. 1.1 and Sat. IX. 7. p. 958 expressly say that Ukthya, Ṣoḍaśin, Atirātra and Aptoryāma are the modifications of Agniṣṭoma and the commentaries of both point out that there were several views on the number of the modifications of the Agniṣṭoma. In the Brāhmaṇas the Agniṣṭoma, Ukthya, Ṣoḍaśin and Atirātra are generally mentioned as forms of Jyotiṣṭoma (vide Śat. Br. IV. 6. 3. 3, Tai. Br. I. 3. 2 and 4, which last mentions Vājapeya also).