History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c53.s1.1

v3.c53.s1.1

This is one of the most ancient sacrifices. Ṛg. I. 162 and 163 show that the horse-sacrifice was in vogue long before the composition of those two hymns. It was believed, as said above (on p. 982), by the composer of those hymns that the horse when sacrificed went to heaven. A goat was led in front of the horse (Ṛg. I. 162. 2-3 and I. 163. 12). The horse was decked with ornaments, it was anointed with the svaru (I. 162. 9) and it perambulated fire thrice or fire was carried round it thrice (I. 162. 4); cloth and a piece of gold are provided for the dead body of the horse to lie down upon (I. 162. 16). Horse's flesh was cooked in a pot called ukhā (I. 162. 13) and offered in fire (I. 162. 19); 34 ribs are mentioned in Ṛg. I. 162. 18, while 26 ribs are mentioned in other texts with reference to the goat. It appears that āgūḥ, yājyā and vaṣaṭkāra were uttered in making offerings of the horse's flesh (Ṛg. I. 162. 15). The horse is identified with Āditya, Trita and Yama (Ṛg. I. 163. 3).