DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0380
368 Ancient Soma-sacrifices.
~cut up, and the pieces (avaddnd) were sprinkled with butter
and thrown into the flames in the name of various deities,
including the god of fire himself. Other portions were also
reverently eaten by the assembled family, hymns were
chanted, the sins of the past fortnight confessed, repent-
ance expressed, and forgiveness asked. The whole cere-
monial was not always performed by husband and wife alone.
If they were rich they sent for regularly ordained priests—
generally four in number—who kindled fire from two pieces
of sacred wood (aranl) by friction, and carried out the detail of
the ritual with great elaboration and with all the sacrificial im-
plements—including a sacred sword for keeping off demons—•
and, of course, with greater merit to the householder.
Then every four months another ceremony, called the Ca-
turmasya sacrifice, was performed at the beginning of the
three seasons. Probably this was solemnized, like a harvest-
thanksgiving, in gratitude for the fruits of the earth, gathered
in at the end of the three seasons of summer, autumn, and
winter. It was conducted with as much solemnity as the
fortnightly rite, and in much the same manner. Another
special sacrificial ceremony on a grander scale, with the
addition of animal sacrifice (Manu IV. 26, VI. 10), was usually
performed half-yearly at the summer and winter solstice
(itttarayana, dakshinayand).
Finally, every rich householder endeavoured once a year
to institute what was called a Soma-sacrifice. This was a
grand public ceremony conducted on some open space of
ground, and requiring the presence of at least sixteen dif-
ferent priests, who were well paid for its effective celebration.
The simplest annual Soma-sacrifice, called Agnishtoma, lasted
for five days. Others were protracted for weeks and months,
and there were even sacrificial sessions (sattra) which lasted
for years. And in these public rites—usually called Srmita-
karman, to distinguish them from Smarta-karman, or do-
mestic rites—two entirely new elements were introduced;
~cut up, and the pieces (avaddnd) were sprinkled with butter
and thrown into the flames in the name of various deities,
including the god of fire himself. Other portions were also
reverently eaten by the assembled family, hymns were
chanted, the sins of the past fortnight confessed, repent-
ance expressed, and forgiveness asked. The whole cere-
monial was not always performed by husband and wife alone.
If they were rich they sent for regularly ordained priests—
generally four in number—who kindled fire from two pieces
of sacred wood (aranl) by friction, and carried out the detail of
the ritual with great elaboration and with all the sacrificial im-
plements—including a sacred sword for keeping off demons—•
and, of course, with greater merit to the householder.
Then every four months another ceremony, called the Ca-
turmasya sacrifice, was performed at the beginning of the
three seasons. Probably this was solemnized, like a harvest-
thanksgiving, in gratitude for the fruits of the earth, gathered
in at the end of the three seasons of summer, autumn, and
winter. It was conducted with as much solemnity as the
fortnightly rite, and in much the same manner. Another
special sacrificial ceremony on a grander scale, with the
addition of animal sacrifice (Manu IV. 26, VI. 10), was usually
performed half-yearly at the summer and winter solstice
(itttarayana, dakshinayand).
Finally, every rich householder endeavoured once a year
to institute what was called a Soma-sacrifice. This was a
grand public ceremony conducted on some open space of
ground, and requiring the presence of at least sixteen dif-
ferent priests, who were well paid for its effective celebration.
The simplest annual Soma-sacrifice, called Agnishtoma, lasted
for five days. Others were protracted for weeks and months,
and there were even sacrificial sessions (sattra) which lasted
for years. And in these public rites—usually called Srmita-
karman, to distinguish them from Smarta-karman, or do-
mestic rites—two entirely new elements were introduced;