Vedic Mythology c6.s5.5

c6.s5.5

Probably the same ancient sacrificers are referred to as the seven priests (*viprāḥ*) who with the Navagvas praise Indra (6, 22² cp. 3, 31⁵; 4, 2¹⁵), or the seven Hotṛs⁶ with whom Manu made the first offering to the gods (10, 63⁷). Similarly the 'two divine Sacrificers' (*daivyā hotārā*) mentioned nearly a dozen times in the RV. seem to have been the celestial counterpart of two technical priests⁷.