History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.90

v5.c73.90

Many of the Gṛhyasūtras, such as those of Āśvalāyana, Kauśika, Gobhila, Hiraṇyakeśin and Baudhāyana describe a very elaborate procedure in the case of Aṣṭakās. One of the shortest being that contained in Āp. Gr. (VIII 21 and 22) is given here by way of sample.808a After defining Ekāṣṭakā (in VIII. 21 10) Āp. proceeds: 'He (the performer of the Aṣṭakā rite) should perform subsidiary (or preparatory) rites in the evening of the previous day (i. e. on the 7th of the dark half). He cooks (or bakes) a cake from rice taken up (from a heap) in four cups; according to some teachers the cake is prepared on eight potsherds (like a puroḍāśa). After the actions up to the 'Ājyabhāgas'⁸⁰⁹ have been performed in the same way as at the Amāvāsyā and Full Moon sacrifices he makes with his joined hands oblations of the cakes with the next verse⁸¹⁰ The rest of the cake that is already baked is divided by him into eight parts and offered to the brāhmaṇas⁸¹¹. On the following day he prepares the cow for immolation by touching her with a *darbha* with the words 'I make thee that are agreeable to the Fathers ready (for sacrifice)'. Having silently (i. e. without uttering the word *svāhā*) offered five⁸¹² oblations of clarified butter, having cooked the omentum of that (cow) and having spread under (the cooked omentum) and sprinkled over it clarified butter he offers it with a *palāśa* leaf from the middle or the end of the stalk with the next verse (i e. Āp M. P. II. 20. 28)⁸¹³ He offers boiled rice together with the flesh (of the cow) with the next verses (seven from Āp. M. P II. 20. 29-35). He offers the food of flour cooked (in milk) with the next verse (Āp. M P. II. 21. 1 'Ukthyaścātirātraśca')⁸¹⁴ Then (he offers) the oblations of clarified butter with the following (eight) verses (Āp. M. P. II. 21. 2-9). The rites from Sviṣṭakṛt⁸¹⁵ down to the placing of the *piṇḍas* are the same as at the monthly śrāddha (described in Āp. Gr. VIII 21. 1-9). Some teachers prescribe that the *piṇḍas* are to be offered the day after the Aṣṭakā (i. e. on the 9th of the dark half). Here follows another method (of celebrating the Aṣṭakā rite). He sacrifices curds with his joined hands in the same way as he offers the cake. Having left over from the meat (of the cow) as much as may be required, he performs on the day following (the Aṣṭakā day) the Anvaṣṭakā rite Its procedure is explained by the description of the monthly śrāddha.