History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c53.3

v3.c53.3

This rite is included among the seven forms of haviryajñas (Gaut. VIII. 20, Lāṭ. V. 4. 23). It is not a soma sacrifice but is a combination of an iṣṭi with animal sacrifice (Śat. Br. XII. 7. 2. 10). The chief characteristic of it is the offering of *surā* (wine) in it. In modern times milk is offered in place of *surā* in the Sautrāmaṇī. According to Lāṭ. V. 4. 20 and Āp. XIX. 5. 1 there are two kinds of this rite, viz. Kaukilī and Caraka-sautrāmaṇī (or the ordinary one). Kaukilī is an independent rite, while the ordinary Sautrāmaṇī is performed at the end of the Rājasūya (one month after it) and also at the end of the piling of the fire-altar (agnicayana). Lāṭ. V. 4. 21 states that there is chanting of *sāmans* only in the Kaukilī and not in the other variety and according to Kāt. XIX. 5. 1 (com.) it is the brahmā that chants the Sāman to Indra in the Bṛhatī tune (viz. Vāj. S. XX. 30) Āp. XIX. 1. 2. states that in the ordinary sautrāmaṇī the procedure is that of the nirūḍhapaśubandha and that (XIX. 5. 2) in Kaukilī also the same procedure applies. There are two fires as in Varuṇapraghāsa, but the southern one is not established on a *vedi* (Kāt. XIX. 2. 1 and V. 4. 12). Some held (as is done by Śat. Br. XII. 7. 3. 7) there were two vedis behind which two mounds were raised, one for cups of milk and the other for cups of *surā*. The rite takes four days, during the first three out of which wine is prepared from various ingredients, while on the last day three cups of milk and three of *surā* are offered to Aśvins, Sarasvatī and Indra and animals are slaughtered for the same three.