Atharvaveda ancillary literature (Study)
by B. R. Modak | 1959 | 179,855 words
The essay studies the ancillary literature of the Atharva-Veda with special reference to the Parisistas. It does so by understanding the socio-cultural and philosophical aspects of ancient Indian life. The Atharvaveda addresses encompasses all practical aspects of life from health and prosperity to rituals and sorcery. This thesis systematically ex...
Part 2.14 - The Vrsotsarga ceremony
[Full title: Royal Ceremonies (14) Vrsotsarga]
This Parisista (Atharvaveda-Parisistas 18掳) is an elaboration of the ceremony described in Kausika Sutra 24.19-23. The ceremony is performed in the cow-pen, on the full-moon-day of Karttika or Asvina, or under the Revati. The paurnamasa tantra is performed up to the two offerings of clarified butter and with the mantras of the rudra and raudra ganal 83 and also (183) See Atharvaveda-Parisistas 32.16,17.
409 with the four mantras: pusa ga anv etu ..., pugann anu pra ga... (these two 84 are quoted in full), pusan tava vrate 185 and pari puga purastat , offerings of clarified butter are made into the fire. The remnants of the offerings are put upon the bull (which is to be released) with the mantras: 187 and Sahasras tvesah indrasya kuksih 186 and the 188 is mantra: ya indra iva devesu ... is muttered in the right ear of the bull. The mantra: lohitena svadhitina recited over the heifers and the bull is driven in circles around them with the verse: ayam prajanam ... which is given in full. The bull is sprinkled and finally is driven forth with the heifers towards the north-east. The tantra is brought to a close, a milch-cow is given away to the Brahman priest and Brahmanas are fed with a dish of milk (payasa). By releasing a bull, one is said to obtain all the objects of desire and to attain the everlasting abode 89. (184) Rgveda Vedic Index 54.5-6. (185) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension VII.9.3-4. (186) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension VII.111.1. (187) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension IX.4.1. (188) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension Vedic Index 141.2. (189) According to Asvalayana Grhya Parisista 3.18 the Vrsotsarga ceremony, in which a bull of one year or of two years in age, and darkblue, tawny, brown or reddish in colour is to be released together with eight or four heifers, on the full-moon-day of Karttika, Vaisakha or under the Revati and Asvini, may be performed on the eleventh day after the death of a person, to save the person from the hell. Cf. P.V. Kane, History of Dharmasastra IV, pp. 539-42.
410 The practice of releasing a bull in the name of God 190 is common to this day in India