Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c18.5

c18.5

The ceremony, as usual, was to be performed on an auspicious day. An altar 18 inches square was prepared, on which worship was offered to the Deity, to Brāhmaṇa, and to the Physicians. Next, *Samidh* or wood from four trees, Khadira, Palāśa, Devadāru, and Bilva, was soaked in curd, honey, and ghee and offered as *homa* to Fire, by utterance of the Mahāvyāhṛiti Mantra—Om Bhūh svāhā Om Bhuvaḥ svāhā Om Svaḥ svāhā Om Bhurbhuvah Svaḥ svāhā. Then the following Deities were invoked: Brahman, Prajāpati, the two Aśvins, and Indra; as also the following Ṛishis, as being associated with the development of Āyurvedic science: Dhanvantari, Bharadvāja, Ātreya, and the like.