Summary of the Punarādheya Sacrifice

[Full title: A Brief note on the sacrifices of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (3): Punarādheya]

Punarādheya means the renovation of the sacred fires or the second setting up of the sacred fires, which takes place when it appears that the sacred fires, set up in the Agnyādheya sacrifice have not bought good luck to the Yajamāna. Besides Punarādheya sacrifice is performed, if there is any lapse takes place after the establishment of Agnyādheya. If the Yajamāna, due to any unavoidable circumstances dissolves the fires within a year, then he performed the Punarādheya. The Yajamāna, in proper time and season can re-establish the fires as the same method as applied in the Agnyādheya with a few modifications in it.

The Agnyādheya or the re-establishment of the sacred fires takes place in the punarvaśu nakṣatra of the rainy season in the mid-day. Instead of being using the munja grass, the bunch of darbha grass is used for Punarādheya. The oblations of this sacrifice are ‘aṣṭakapāla-purodāsa’ to Agni, ‘ekādaśakapālapurodāsa’ to Agni-Viṣṇu and ‘pañcakapāla-purodāsa’ to Agni Soma. These oblations are offered in additions to the offering of Agnyādheya. The priests are again also given Dakṣinā for the Punarādheya sacrifice.

There is also a rule of setting up of the sacred fires even for third time known as ‘Trtiyādhāna’. If a person who has re-establishes the sacred fire can set up the sacred fire again, after one year in the manner of original setting up of the sacred fires known as ‘Agnyādheya’^[1].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Baudhāyana-śrauta-sūtra-XXV/3