History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c52.8

v3.c52.8

Vājapeya—(lit. food and drink, or drink of strength or of food or of a race).²⁶³⁶ Though this rite is said to be a form of Jyotiṣṭoma and though it follows the procedure of Ṣoḍaśin (Āp. XVIII. 1. 4) it has so many special features of its own that it may be said to be an independent sacrifice. One characteristic feature is that the number 17 is predominant in this sacrifice (Āp. XVIII. 1. 5, Tāṇḍya XVIII. 7. 5), viz. there are 17 stotras and 17 śastras, the 17th being the Vājapeya stotra and śastra, 17 animals sacrificed for Prajāpati, 17 objects distributed as fee, the yūpa (of bilva or khadira wood) was 17 aratnis in length, at the time of enveloping the yūpa with a girdle in this rite 17 pieces of cloth were employed for the purpose (Āp. XVIII. 1. 12), it lasted for 17 days (for 13 days dīkṣā, 3 upasad days and one pressing day) or there were 17 dīkṣās (and then the rite lasted for 21 days). Vide Āśv. IX. 9. 2–3 and Āp. XVIII. 1. 6–7. Another feature was that there were seventeen cups of surā (wine) for Prajāpati as well as 17 cups of soma. Another peculiarity was that there were seventeen chariots to which horses were yoked and a race was run, when seventeen drums that were arranged on the northern śroṇi of the vedi were simultaneously beaten (Āp. XVIII. 4. 4 and 7, Kāt. XIV. 3. 14) to the west of the āgnīdhra shed.