History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.467

v6.c81.467

In the Vedic period there were sacrifices called Cāturmāsyas (seasonal sacrifices) that were performed on the Full Moon days of Phālguna (or Caitra), of Āṣāḍha and Kārtika and were respectively called Vaiśvadeva, Varuṇapraghāsa and Sākamedha (the fourth called Śunāsīrīya need not detain us). Vide H. of Dh. vol. II. pp. 1091–1106. It was expressly stated by Āpastamba Śrauta VIII. 4. 13 that Vaiśvadeva (*parvan* of Cāturmāsya) was to be offered in vasanta and Varuṇapraghāsa in the rainy season. It may be noted that the sacrificer in these seasonal sacrifices had to keep certain observances such as sleeping on the ground,³¹⁹ avoiding meat, honey, salt, sexual intercourse and bodily decorations, which closely resemble the restrictions laid on the person observing Ekādaśīvrata. The Yājñavalkya-smṛti³²⁰ (I. 125) makes it obligatory on a person of means to offer a Soma sacrifice every year, a paśubandha in each *ayana*, the Āgrayaṇeṣṭi (performed when new crops are ready) and the cāturmāsyas. The cāturmāsyas meant here are the Vedic ones mentioned above and not the Paurāṇika vratas of cāturmāsya.