The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c27.s4.24

v1.c27.s4.24

The same efficacy of the sacrifice is to be seen in cases where the offering produces its result by contact,⁸ not by ordinary eating. Thus in place of eating food together the husband and wife may rub each other’s hearts with the offering,⁹ and at the end of the three days of continence enjoined upon them the remains of the offerings are rubbed into the body of the bride.¹⁰ Similarly, if on the way to their home the car breaks, an offering is made, and the remains rubbed on the mended part.¹¹ The horses which are to engage in the race in the Vājapeya sniff the offering in order to gain swiftness;¹² the cows are driven so as to snuff the fragrance of the offering made in the fire;¹³ in the Soma sacrifice, the Vājapeya, the piling of the fire, and the Sautrāmaṇī alike occur cases in which the offering is used to rub the sacrificer to convey to him strength and healing.¹⁴ At the animal sacrifice by touching the victim the sacrificer is brought into contact with the sacrifice,¹ and when, in the case of an offering to Rudra, the cakes are hung up on a tree, the sacrificer should touch them and win healing power.²