History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.528

v5.c73.t1.528

*Vṛṣotsarga* (the letting loose of a bull). This topic has been dealt with by several sūtra works such as the Śāṅ. gṛ. III. 11, the Kauṣītaki gṛ. III 11 (in Benaras S. S. and III. 6 in Madras University Series), Kāṭhaka gṛ. 59, 1 ff., Pāraskara gṛ. III. 9, Viṣṇu-dharmasūtra, chap. 86. 1–20. In numerous works some verses called *gāthās* sung by the pitṛs are set out one of which expresses the yearning of the pitṛs as follows:¹²¹³ 'one should desire to have many sons; since if even one (of the sons) goes to Gayā (and offers śrāddha after his father's death) or if he performs a solemn horse sacrifice or lets loose a dark-coloured bull (the man having such a son will secure final release)'. The description in the Viṣṇudharmasūtra being tolerably full is set out here;¹²¹⁴ "(This ceremony) takes place on the full moon day in Kārtika or Āśvina In this rite he must first examine the bull The bull must be the offspring of a milch cow having young ones living, he must have all auspicious marks (i. e. must not be deficient in any limb), must be dark-coloured¹²¹⁵ or red but having a white mouth, white tail, white feet and white horns, he must be one that can protect the herd (or that throws into the background by his height all the herd). Then after having kindled a blazing fire among the cows (in the cowpen) and having strewn kuśa grass around it let him boil with milk a dish sacred to Pūṣan and offer (two oblations) with the mantra 'May Pūṣan follow our cows' (Rg. VI. 54.5) and the mantra 'here is pleasure' (Vāj. S. 8.51); a blacksmith should then mark the bull, on one flank with a discus and on the other flank¹²¹⁶ with a trident Let him wash the bull after he is marked with four mantras beginning with 'the golden-coloured' (Tai. S. V. 6.1. 1-2) and with the (five) mantras beginning with 'May the divine (waters) bring us happiness' (Rg. X. 9. 4-8). Having washed and decked the bull he should bring him together with four young cows which also should have been washed and decked and mutter the Rudras (Tai S. IV 5. 1-11), the Puruṣasūkta (Rg 10. 90. 1-16) and the Kūṣmāṇḍīs (Vāj S. XX. 14-16, Tai Ā. X. 3-5). Then let him recite in the right ear of the bull the mantra¹²¹⁷ 'father of calves' and the following mantras 'The holy dharma¹²¹⁸ is a bull and is declared to have four feet; I choose him with devotion (as the object of worship); may he protect me on all sides. This young bull I give you as husband (O young cows!), roam about sportingly with him as your lover. May we not lack progeny, O king Soma, nor physical fitness and may we not succumb to our enemy'. He must drive away the bull together with the young cows in the north-eastern direction and give a pair of garments, gold and a vessel of bell metal to the hotṛ (officiating priest). The blacksmith should be given wages as desired by him and food seasoned with a good deal of clarified butter should be served to (three) brāhmaṇas (at least). That ¹²¹⁹ pool at which a bull let loose (in honour of a deceased person by his son or the like) drinks water serves (reaches) the manes. Wherever a bull (let loose) exulting in his strength scratches (or digs up) the earth, that earth becoming abundant food and water waits upon the manes." ¹²²⁰ In the Anuśāsanaparva the pitṛs are represented as saying that by letting loose a dark-coloured bull, by offering water mixed with sesame and by lighting lamps in the rains a man becomes free from the debt he owes to the pitṛs (chap. 125. 73-74).