Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c8.13

c8.13

‘**Āhāva**.’ The Vedic Mantras had been growing from time immemorial. Their earliest forms are known as *Āhāva*, a “call” to worship or *śaṁsana* in the words: “*Śaṁsāva* Om,” “Let us invoke the formless Parabrahma.” The priest called Hotā makes this call which is answered by the Adhvaryu priest by the words: *Śaṁsāmo Daivom*, “Yes, sir, let us now begin the invocation of the Supreme Being.” This reply to the *Āhāva* is technically called *Pratigara*. That *Āhāva* is the earliest Mantra is shown by the fact that it contains the Mantra of one letter, viz., *Om* or Praṇava which is regarded as the original Vedic Mantra and called *Akshara* in *Ṛv*., x, 13, 3.