Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s20.60

v1.c3.s20.60

In the ceremony of the Agnicayana, or ‘piling of the fire-altar,’ the bricks are assumed to be equal in number to the Nakṣatras. The bricks number 756, and they are equated to 27 Nakṣatras multiplied by 27 secondary Nakṣatras, reckoned as 720 (instead of 729), with the addition of 36 days, the length of an intercalary month. Nothing can be usefully derived from this piece of priestly nonsense.⁴⁶ But in connexion with this ceremony the Yajurveda Saṃhitās⁴⁷ enumerate the 27