Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
by C. G. Kashikar | 1964 | 166,530 words
The English translation of the Bharadvaja-Srauta-Sutra, representing some of the oldest texts on Hindu rituals and rites of passages, dating to at least the 1st millennium BCE. The term Srautasutra refers to a class of Sanskrit Sutra literature dealing with ceremonies based on the Brahmana divisions of the Veda (Sruti). They include Vedic rituals r...
Praśna 5, Kaṇḍikā 17
[The Renewing of the Sacred Fires]
1. Now we shall explain the renewing of the sacred fires.
2. Its procedure has been explained by the setting up of the sacred fires.
3. We shall relate only the differences.
4. One, who docs not prosper by the setting up of the sacred fires, should renew them. So is it said.
5. According to some teachers, one should renew the sacred fires if he has sustained a loss, if his son is dead, or if he is suffering from bodily pain.
6. One, who is desirous of offspring, should renew the sacred fires; one, who is desirous of cattle, should renew the sacred fires; one, who is desirous of food, should renew the sacred fires; one, who is desirous of stability, should renew the sacred fires. So is it said.
7. The time for renewing the sacred fires does not pass during one’s own life-time. So says Āśmarathya. It should not pass beyond one year. So says Ālekhana.
8. One, who is going to dissolve the sacred fires, should offer a cake on eight potsherds to Agni and on twelve potsherds to vaiśvānara Agni.[1]
9. Before the sviṣṭakṛt-offering, the Adhvaryu should offer oblations with the following formulas, “O Agni, the form of thine, being disposed of, which is being purified and which is dear to the cattle, do thou enter upon the earth with it, with the Rathantara Sāman, the Gāyatrī metre, svāhā.”
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra V.26.4 prescribes three wore oblations, namely, a cake on ten potsherds to Varuṇa, a cake on eight potsherds to apsumant Agni, and cooked rice to Mitra.