Part 3b.11 - The Tadagadi-vidhi

[Full title: Religious observances (11) The Tadagadi-vidhi]

The Tadagadi-Vidhi (Atharvaveda-Parisistas 39) is a public ceremony intended for consecrating ponds, wells, lakes etc. It is said to be originally taught by Agasti. The performer of this ceremony should stay near the place of water for a day and a night and then start the ceremony. Santyudaka should be first prepared with the two verses beginning with pari pragat... 227. Cooked rice should 227. Kathaka Samhita XXXVIII.12-13. E

512 be offered to the Earth and oblations of clarified butter and 228 samidhs should be made with satyam brhat. 229 Then the following mantras should be recited: ambayo yanti..., apo hi stha..., sam no devih..., hiranyavarnah..., punantu ma..., sasrusih..., himavato..., and apsu te.. A cow should be made to drink that water with the 230 mantra: a gavo... and should be taken across the water with upa hvaye..231 and suyavasat..232. That cow is to be given away to the priest and he is to accept it reciting the kama-sukta (XIX.52). Metal images of various acquatic creatures should be prepared. Images of the tortoise and the alligator should be made of gold; of the fish and the mudgara (species of fish) of silver; of the crab and the kulira of copper; and of the porcupine (sim sumaraka), of iron. These metal images together with the pancagavya and the santyudaka should be thrown into the water. The priest and the performer should take bath in that water and the Brahmanas should be fed. It is stated at the end that the Tadagadi-Vidhi is a holy ceremony which is to be performed by those who wish to live eternally in the heaven. 228. Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension XII.1.1. 229. These are Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension I.4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 33.1; Vedic Index19.1, 23.1, 24.1; VII.83.1. 230. Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension IV.21.1. 231. Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension VII.73.7 (= IX.10.4). 232. Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension VII.73.11 (= IX.10.20). 2 MME