DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0430
420 Vaisvadeva Ceremony.
The next act is called Upasthana. A prayer from the
Rig-veda (V. 4. 9) is addressed to the god of fire under his
name Jatavedas \ thus:—
' Carry us, O omniscient god (Jatavedas), through all our
troubles and difficulties, as if thou wert conveying us over
a river by means of a boat. O Fire, thou art glorified by us
with as great honour (as was once offered thee) by Atri, be
thou willing (be thou awake or active) to become the pro-
tector of our persons.'
After this prayer offerings are made with the usual reve-
rential ejaculations, thus: ' Homage to Fire (Agni). I offer
fragrant sandal for unguent (vilepana), I offer flowers for
worship. I offer uncooked grains of rice (akshatah) for every
kind of offering2.'
Next, the worshipper, after purifying his person and wash-
ing his hands, makes offerings to all the gods, throwing
portions of cooked rice—each portion about equal to a
mouthful—into the fire, with the following words:—
'Om, Homage to the Sun (Suryaya-svaha). This is offered for the Sun,
and not for my own use ; homage to Prajapati, to Agni, to Soma Vanas-
pati, to Agni and Soma together, to Indra and Agni together, to Heaven
and Earth, to Dhanvantari, to Indra alone, to all the gods (Visvebhyo
devebhyah), to Brahma, to Bhur and Agni, to Bhuvar and Vayu, to Svar
and Surya3,' etc.
The next act is the taking up of ashes (vibhuti-grahana)
from the fire in a deep-bowled spoon called Darvi, and the
application of a small quantity with the finger to different
parts of the body, with the following prayer to Rudra (Siva):
'O Rudra, inflict not harm on our sons and grandsons, on
1 Jatavedas probably means ' knower of all beings.' The loth and 1 ith
verses of this hymn are also recited after the 9th.
2 That is as a substitute for all other oblations. Practically neither
sandal, perfumes, nor flowers are offered on ordinary occasions, but only
cooked rice is put into the fire in place of other offerings.
3 The manuals give a diagram of the circle, and the names of all the
gods to whom portions of food are offered on the ground in the conclud-
ing Bali-harana ceremony. The cooked food appears to be offered in fire
to these same gods in the same order.
The next act is called Upasthana. A prayer from the
Rig-veda (V. 4. 9) is addressed to the god of fire under his
name Jatavedas \ thus:—
' Carry us, O omniscient god (Jatavedas), through all our
troubles and difficulties, as if thou wert conveying us over
a river by means of a boat. O Fire, thou art glorified by us
with as great honour (as was once offered thee) by Atri, be
thou willing (be thou awake or active) to become the pro-
tector of our persons.'
After this prayer offerings are made with the usual reve-
rential ejaculations, thus: ' Homage to Fire (Agni). I offer
fragrant sandal for unguent (vilepana), I offer flowers for
worship. I offer uncooked grains of rice (akshatah) for every
kind of offering2.'
Next, the worshipper, after purifying his person and wash-
ing his hands, makes offerings to all the gods, throwing
portions of cooked rice—each portion about equal to a
mouthful—into the fire, with the following words:—
'Om, Homage to the Sun (Suryaya-svaha). This is offered for the Sun,
and not for my own use ; homage to Prajapati, to Agni, to Soma Vanas-
pati, to Agni and Soma together, to Indra and Agni together, to Heaven
and Earth, to Dhanvantari, to Indra alone, to all the gods (Visvebhyo
devebhyah), to Brahma, to Bhur and Agni, to Bhuvar and Vayu, to Svar
and Surya3,' etc.
The next act is the taking up of ashes (vibhuti-grahana)
from the fire in a deep-bowled spoon called Darvi, and the
application of a small quantity with the finger to different
parts of the body, with the following prayer to Rudra (Siva):
'O Rudra, inflict not harm on our sons and grandsons, on
1 Jatavedas probably means ' knower of all beings.' The loth and 1 ith
verses of this hymn are also recited after the 9th.
2 That is as a substitute for all other oblations. Practically neither
sandal, perfumes, nor flowers are offered on ordinary occasions, but only
cooked rice is put into the fire in place of other offerings.
3 The manuals give a diagram of the circle, and the names of all the
gods to whom portions of food are offered on the ground in the conclud-
ing Bali-harana ceremony. The cooked food appears to be offered in fire
to these same gods in the same order.