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There is the reference to a goddess by the name as Astaka or as Ekastaka by name¹16. According to the comentators, it was the eighth day after the full moon day of Magha and marked either the beginning or the end of the new year¹17. An Astaka was the eigth day full moon as is evident from the Atharvaveda 118. She was considered to be the wife of the Year 19 and that Ekastaka is the wife of the year and on this night the year dwells with her¹ 20. From the Tandya Brahmana we are informed of a tradition which mentions 嗉� 121 of twelve Astakas believed to be sacred and the Astaka par excellence was the Ekastaka which was specially revered. V.M.Apte has termed it as the 'Middle- Astaka' to which the sacrifice of a cow or an animal was the distinct feature. And in the rites following the Astaka, the 'mothers' were offered their sacrificial share along with the 'fathers', Agni and Soma. The special offering they received was wine (sura) and the scum of boiled rice. 116 Atharvaveda 3.10.1-13 117 Vedic Index Vol.2, P.157 118 Atharvaveda XV.16.2 119 Atharvaveda III.10.1,2,8. Man.Br.II.2.6, 2.2.18. 120 Taitariya-samhita VII.4.8.1: Tan.Br. V.9.2 121 Tan.Br.X.3.11