History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c52.6

v3.c52.6

*Atirātra.* This soma sacrifice is referred to even in the Ṛgveda (VII. 103. 7). As this sacrifice is not finished in one day but only after the day and night pass away it is called Atirātra. Āp. X. 2. 4 notes that according to some the Atirātra is performed even before Agniṣṭoma. The Atirātra has 29 stotras and 29 śastras. In this the additional stotras and śastras are repeated at night in four rounds (called paryāyas) of three stotras and śastras. Āśv. VI. 4. 10 points out these 12 śastras. In this sacrifice the śastra called Āśvina is recited, but before it six āhutis are offered at night. The Āśvina-śastra closely follows the procedure of prātaranuvāka, must comprise at least a thousand verses and was to be recited till sunrise (vide Haug's tr. of Ait. Br. pp. 268-269n for description of this śastra). At twilight is chanted a stotra appropriately called Sandhistotra (Haug's tr. of Ait. Br. pp. 266-267n). It is in the Rathantara melody. If the sun did not rise by that time the hotṛ was to continue reciting Ṛg. I. 112 and when the sun rose he was to recite saurya hymns (viz. Ṛg. X. 158, I. 50. 1-9, I. 115, X. 37). A fourth animal viz. an ewe (or ram according to some) is offered to Sarasvatī on the pressing day (Sat. IX. 7. p. 963). The principal camasas in the night are offered to Indra Apiśarvara (Sat. IX. 7. p. 963.). A puroḍāśa on two potsherds is offered by the pratiprasthātṛ to Aśvins (Āśv. VI. 5. 23 and Sat. IX. 7 p. 965) and a soma cup is offered to the Aśvins. Jai. X. 8. 6 notes that as a vedic passage says 'there is no ṣoḍaśin cup in Atirātra' and another says there is, the first is a prohibition and there is an option. For details vide Ait. Br. 14. 3 and 16. 5-7, Āśv. VI. 4-5, Sat. IX. 7 pp. 662-665, Āp. XIV. 3. 8—XIV. 4. 11, S. B. E. vol. 41 pp. XVII-XX.