History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.407

v4.c63.407

The ordeal of fire is as follows:—Nine circles with cowdung are to be drawn from west to east, they being meant for Agni, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Yama, Indra, Kubera, Soma, Savitṛ and all gods. Each circle was to be 16 *aṅgulas* in diameter and the space between two circles was to be 16 *aṅgulas*. In each circle *kuśa* grass was to be spread and the person to be tested was to plant his feet on them; ghee was to be offered into fire 108 times. A blacksmith by birth should heat in fire a ball of iron weighing 50 *palas* (16 *palas* ⁵⁸⁵ in the case of a weak man) and eight angulas in length till it becomes red-hot and emits sparks. Then all the details described above ending with the placing of the writing on the head of the *śodhya* are to be gone through by the judge and the fire (in the red-hot piece) is to be invoked with several mantras (such as Yāj. II. 104⁵⁸⁶ and Viṣṇu Dh. S. XI. 11-12). The *śodhya* should stand in the first circle facing the east. Having made red marks on all sores of the hands of the *śodhya* on which grains of rice have been rubbed, he (the judge) should place seven leaves of the *aśvattha* tree on them and also grains of rice and curds and should fasten round them threads. Then the judge should carry the red-hot iron piece by means of a pair of tongs and place it in the hands of the *śodhya* (that are covered with leaves). Then the *śodhya* holding in both his hands the red-hot piece should walk from the first to the eighth circle not hurriedly but slowly and at ease. Having reached the 8th⁵⁸⁷ circle he should throw the red-hot iron piece on to the 9th circle. Then the judge should rub on the hands of the *śodhya* rice grains and when the latter shows no hesitation at the rubbing and no injury on his hand at the end of the day he is declared to be innocent. Kāt. (441) and Yāj. II. 107 provide that if the red-hot piece falls earlier (i. e. before reaching the 8th circle) or there is a doubt (whether his hands are injured or not) or if he loses his footing or is burnt elsewhere than on the hands he should again undergo the ordeal.