History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.224

v5.c72.224

⁵⁶³ The bricks of the fire altar are marked with lines (vide H of Dh. Vol II. p 1248) The bricks in Agnicayana are as long as the foot of the sacrificer. Thereon gods have to be worshipped Here it is the fathers to be honoured Throughout Sat. Br. XIII 8 2-3 a distinction is drawn between what is done for the gods and what is to be done for pitṛs in order to keep the divine distinct from what belongs to the fathers In Agnicayana a bird-like pattern is the most frequent (vide H of Dh vol II p 1249) It is hence that the Sat Br. speaks of wings and tails. The heights prescribed for men of the several varnas and for women are symbolic Kṣatriyas, brāhmaṇas and vaiśyas represent the arms, the mouth and thighs of the Puruṣa (as stated in Rg. X. 90.12). The Kāt Sr (21 4 13-14) gives an option in the case of a kṣatriya viz. the mound may be as high as the chest or as high as a man with upstretched arms.