: Shrauta Prayoga According to Apastamba (Set of 3 Volumes)

Language: Sanskrit
Pages: 1562 (109 Color Illustrations)


Part I














Agnihotram An insight

In reply to Janaka’s question as to how Agnihotram is performed, Yajnavalkya says seeing me lifting the Ahavaniya agni from the Garhapatya all the gods who were about to retire with the sun return. Then having washed the vessels and laying them down and milking the agnihotri (the cow) I looking at the gods who watch me gratify them. To this Janaka says you have come to very close to the answer but you know not Ahutis (oblations) departure passage destination gratification return and the rejuvenator of prosperity (i.e.) the world and instructs Yajnavalkya thus These two ahutis being offered rise up they enter the Antariksa (region between the adobe of gods and the earth) they make the Antariksa itself as the Ahavaniya (one of the three consecrated fires into which Agnihotram Ahutis are offered) Vayu (air) the samit (sacrificial twig) and maricayah (the rays of the sun) itself as the pure Ahuti thus they gratify the Antariksa world from there they rise above.

They enter the Divam (above of gods) they make the Diwam itself the Ahavaniya aditya (sun) the samit and candrama (moon) itself the pure Ahuti thus they gratify the Diwam from there they return.

They enter the prthivi (the earth) they make this prthivi itself the Ahavaniya Agni (fire) the samit and Osadhih (plants) itself the pure Ahuti thus they gratify this prthivi from these they rise above.

They enter the Purusa (man) they make his mouth itself the Ahavaniya tongue the samit and the food itself the pure Ahuti thus they gratify the Purusa the one who knowing thus eats his Agnihotram is deemed to be performed they rise from him.

They enter the Stri (women) they make her Upastham (genital) as the Ahavaniya Dharaka (loins) the samit