Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
by C. G. Kashikar | 1964 | 166,530 words
The English translation of the Bharadvaja-Srauta-Sutra, representing some of the oldest texts on Hindu rituals and rites of passages, dating to at least the 1st millennium BCE. The term Srautasutra refers to a class of Sanskrit Sutra literature dealing with ceremonies based on the Brahmana divisions of the Veda (Sruti). They include Vedic rituals r...
Praśna 8, Kaṇḍikā 7
1. After the oblations up to the cake for Indra-Agni have been put over the fire, the sacrificer’s wife should prepare karambha-pots of barley-grains, which are crushed without being heated or after heating a little, as many as the sons and the grandsons of the sacrificer plus one.
2. She should prepare karambha-pots also for women.
3. The Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthātṛ should prepare the figures of sheep (out of the flour of the dhānās).
4. The Adhvaryu should prepare the figure of a male sheep; the Pratiprasthātṛ of a female sheep.
5. The Pratiprasthātṛ should furnish the female figure with the female organs; the Adhvaryu should furnish the male figure with the male organs.
6. The two should make the two figures woolly by applying wool of sheep other than the eḍaka.
7 If they do not get the wool of the sheep other than the eḍaka, they should stick the wool of kuśa-grass.
8. The figures may optionally be cooked in a pitcher.[1]
9. The Adhvaryu should put the cake on one potsherd over the fire, pour down the wash-water of all the oblations for the Āpyas, light the two faggots on the Āhavanīya fire and should say (to the Hotṛ), “Do you recite verses for the two fires being carried forth.”
10. Whatever calls are common to the Adhvaryu and the Pratiprasthātṛ, the Adhvaryu himself should utter.
11. The two should carry forth the fires together, and carry forth the praṇītā-waters together.
12. They should place praṇītā-waters near the northern fire.
13. (The sacrificer) should relinquish his vow.[2] with reference to the northern fire.
14. Then[3] the two should do the second tracing out of their respective altars.
15. The rites up to the giving out of the call should be similar.[4]
16. The Adhvaryu should modify the call suitably.
17. The rites up to the taking up of clarified butter should be similar.[5]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Instead of on potsherds, cf. Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra VIII.6.5. The wool should be applied after cooking.
[2]:
IV.22.5.
[3]:
After the fires have been carried forth.
[4]:
VIII.2.5.
[5]:
VIII.2.7.