The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c30.s22.4

v2.c30.s22.4

Of these expiations the most interesting are given in the Kauçika Sūtra,⁵ which details magic ceremonies intended to remove the evil results of the violation of certain taboos. One of these is the primitive dread of disturbing the earth, for which a natural explanation can be found in the deadly character of the work of commencing agricultural operations in a tropical climate: the earth must be consoled for the wound on her by the operation of opening her body.¹ An expiation is equally required for the eating of food which has been buried in the ground: it takes the homoeopathic form of offering in the fire grains which have been so buried.² In domestic life the sin of marrying before an elder brother must be expiated and two hymns are provided for this express purpose.³ Expiations are also provided against Agni as Kravyād, the term which applies to the fire by which the body of the dead is burned, but which denotes also a definite aspect of Agni which he may assume without the actual contact with the dead.⁴ But the list of expiations is endless: there is hardly any sphere in which errors cannot be committed and expiations required, and the Brahman is the author *par excellence* of these rites.