The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c26.25

v1.c26.25

Moreover, there is no doubt that in the Rigveda we have sets of hymns intended for use at the sacrifice as well as material less intimately connected with the sacrifice. Proof beyond doubt of this is afforded by the occurrence of series of verses which are used later at the Praüga Çastra of the Agniṣṭoma, and which must have from the beginning had their place there.⁴ The Āprī hymns for the fore-offerings of the animal sacrifice, preserved in the different books of the Rigveda, are an invaluable proof of the difference of family tradition, which is obscured in the ritual text-books which we have. Other cases are clearly proved: thus we seem to have in one hymn a collection of Anuvākyā and Yājyā verses for the offering to Agni and Soma of the goat which is an essential element in the Agniṣṭoma rite:⁵ there is further a set of Anuvākyā verses for the cakes offered at each of the three pressings of the Soma sacrifice,⁶ and for the offering of the pot of curd.⁷ One hymn clearly was meant for use at the anointing of the sacrificial post,⁸ others at the kindling of the fire.⁹ Still more interesting is the fact that the later practice of having sets of three verses to open the Vaiçvadeva Çastra is clearly found already in force.¹ The end verses of the litanies, the Paridhānīyās, seem to be found in the Rigveda,² but the further suggestions of Bergaigne³ as to the tradition of the different schools open up difficulties not yet fully solved, indeed insoluble.