The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c30.s12.14

v2.c30.s12.14

Of other rites of this class the Upahavya⁴ is interesting, as it is born of strife between the gods and the Asuras, and in it the names of the gods are carefully changed to avoid mentioning them aloud: thus the name of Indra is Çakra, of Soma Indu, and likewise the *hotā deva* is changed to *hotā yakṣe*, and so on, even the simple word *sarva*, all, becoming the old *viçva*. There is a rite, the Sarvasvāra,⁵ for one who wishes to die: the sacrificer in it is completely covered over and sits facing south on a dark skin. In the Bṛhaspatisava,⁶ on the other hand, which is offered by one who wishes such rank as a Purohitaship, the sacrificer must be treated with respect, be greeted by others without returning the salutation, and be styled Sthapati, ‘lord’, all these things by sympathetic magic working the desired end. If the Apacitis⁷ are offered to bring a man honour, he must pay dearly in Dakṣiṇās in proportion to what he aspires to attain, and so in all these offerings the greed of the priest for fees shows itself.