White Yajur Veda: Contents

The Texts of the White Yajurveda, tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1899], at sacred-texts.com

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PREFACE	xvii
BOOK I.
New and Full Moon sacrifices	1
Removal of the calves	1
The milking	2
Purification of the milk	2
The Vow of Abstinence	2
Preparation of the rice	3
Rice-cake offered to Agni	3
Rice-cake to Agni-Soma	3
Bringing forward the sacrificial waters	4
Purification of the waters	4
Spreading the black-antelope's skin	4
Pounding the rice	5
Putting potsherds on the fire	5
Placing the nether press-stone on the skin	6
Division of the dough: one lump for Agni and one for Agni-Soma	6
Exorcism of the fiend Araru	7
Drawing of lines on three sides of the altar	7
Exorcism of evil spirits	8
Girding the Sacrificer's wife as his associate	8
BOOK II.
Sprinkling of fuel, altar, and sacred grass	9
Placing of the Prastara or Grass-bunch on the covering grass	9
Laying the enclosing-sticks round the sacrificial fire	9
Kindling the fire	9
Exorcism of fiends	10
Spreading of the Prastara	10
Laying down the three offering-spoons	10
Election of Agni as Hotar	11
Prayers for the protection of the sacrifice	1l
p. iv
Anointing the enclosing-sticks	12
Throwing the sticks into the fire	12
The Sacrificer's wife unties the Veda or sacred Grass-bunch	13
Holy water poured on the altar	14
Portion of oblation allotted to Râkshasas	14
The three Vishnu-strides	14
Completion of the Vow of Abstinence	14
Pindapitriyajña or Obsequial Offerings to Ancestral Manes	15
Line drawn to keep off evil spirits	15
Threads, wool, or hair as raiment for the Manes	15
Formula recited by the Sacrificer's wife to obtain a son	15
Water poured on the obsequial cakes	16
BOOK III.
Agnyâdhâna or Establishment of Sacrificial Fires	17
The Âhavanîya Fire	17
The Dakshinâgni or Southern Fire	17
Agnihotra, morning and evening milk-oblations	18
The Gârhapatya Fire	18, 19
Worship of Agni	18, 19
Address to the Cows	19
The Sâvitrî	21
Worship of the Gârhapatya and Âhavanîya Fires	21
Worship of Agni Purîshya	21
Four-monthly Sacrifices	22
Purificatory Baptism of the Sacrificer and his Wife	22
The Sâkamedha Offerings	23
Worship, with oblation, of Rudra Tryambaka	24
Ceremonial Shaving of the Sacrificer's head	25
BOOK IV.
Soma Sacrifice	26
Apsu-Dîkshâ, Consecration by Water, Baptism	26
Andgrabhana or Uplifting Ceremonies	27
Putting on the Sacrificial Girdle	27, 28
p. v
Tying on a black-buck's horn	28
Preparation of Vow-food	28
Hiranyavatî-âhuti, Offering with Gold	29
Reverence to the Soma purchasing Cow	29
Purchase of Soma plants	31
Introduction of Soma	33
BOOK V.
Âtithya, or Ceremonial Reception of Soma	34
Tânûnaptra, or Invocation of Agni Tanûnapât	34
Minor Consecration	35
Âpyâyana, Sprinkling of the Soma plants	35
Upasads, Reverential Services	35
Marking out the lines of the Soma altar	36
Providing earth for the High Altar	36
Anointing of the four corners of the Altar place	36
Construction of Havirdhânas or Soma cart sheds	37
Construction of the Priests’ Shed, the Pressing-place, and Dhishnyas	37
Preparation of the Uparavas or sound-holes	38
Erection of the Udumbara Poet in the Priests’ Shed	39
Enclosing of the Priests’ Shed with mats	40
Consecration of the Dhishnyas	40
Laying fire on the Âgnîdhra hearth	42
Deposition of Pressing-stones, Soma trough, and Soma vessels	42
Deposition of the Soma plant on a black-antelope's skin	42
Animal Sacrifice	42
Preparation of the Yûpa or Sacrificial Stake	42
BOOK VI.
Erection of the Stake	44
Binding and Slaughtering of the Victim	45
Roasting and offering of the omentum and flesh	47
Symbolical re-uniting of the separated portions	47
Dismissal of the re-united Victim to Heaven	48
Soma Sacrifice	48
p. vi
The Vasatîvarî water, to be used in the Soma-pressing	48
Taking the Soma plants from the cart and laying them on the pressing-stones	48
The Morning Pressing	49
The Upâmsu Press stone	49
The Nigrâbhyâ Water	49
Beating the Soma	50
BOOK VII.
Grahagrahana, Drawing Cups of Soma	51
Upâmsu Graha	51
Antaryâma Graha	51
Aindra-Vâyava Graha	52
Maitrâ-Varuna Graha	52
Âsvina Graha	52
Sukra Graha	53
Manthin Graha	53
Âgrayana Graha	54
Ukthya Graha	55
Dhruvâ Graha	55
Viprud-Homa, or Drop Oblation	55
Avakâsa Formulas	56
Ritu Grahas, Libations to the Seasons	56
Aindrâgna Cup	57
Vaisvadeva Cup	57
The Midday Pressing	57
Marutvatîya Cups	57
Mâhendra Graha, Cup for Mahendra	58
Dâkshina-Homa, Oblation in the Southern Fire	58
Address to the Guerdon-Cows	59
BOOK VIII.
The Third or Evening Pressing	60
Âditya Graha or Libation to the Âdityas	60
Sâvitra Graha, or Libation to Savitar	60
Mahâvaisvadeva Cup, or Libation to the Great All-Gods	61
p. vii
Pâtnîvata Cup, or Libation to Soma	61
Pâtnîvata Cup, or Libation to Agni	61
Hâriyojana Cup, a Libation to Indra	61
Splinters of the Sacrificial Stake thrown on the fire	62
Samishtayajus Ceremonies	62
Avabhritha, or Purifying Bath	64
Offering of the Vasâ, or Sacrificial Cow	61
Offering of the Embryo Calf	64
Additional Soma Sacrifices	65
Shodasî	65
Dvâdasâha	65
Atigrâhyas	65
Gavâmayana	66
Gargatrirâtra	66
Mahâvratîya Graha	67
Adâbhya Graha	67
Sattrotthâna, or Rising from a Sacrificial Session	63
Rectifying and Expiatory Formulas	68
BOOK IX.
The Vâjapeya, or Draught of Strength	71
Cups of Soma	71
Cup of Surâ	71
Chariot-race	72
Sprinkling and harnessing the horses	72
Beating the Drum	73
Address to the Horses	74
Twelve Oblations, one for each Month	74
Six Oblations, one for each Season	75
Enthronement of the Sacrificer	75
Vâjaprasavanîya, or Strength furthering, Oblations	75
Ujjitis, or Victory Formulas	76
The Râjasûya, or King's Inauguration	77
Preliminary Oblations	77
Apâmârga, or Exorcising, Oblation	77
Oblations to the Eight Devasûs or Furthering Gods	78
Presentation of the King to the People	78
p. viii
BOOK X.
The Abhisheka, Aspersion, or Consecration	79
Collection of the Consecrating Waters	79
Spreading the Tiger-skin	80
Robing with the Consecration Garments	81
Presentation of the Three Arrows	81
Formulas announcing and introducing the King	81
Ascending the Quarters	82
Sprinkling with Holy Water	83
The Capture of the Cows	83
Rathavimochanîya, or Car-unharnessing, Oblations	84
The Throwing of the Dice	84
The Dasapeya Libations	85
Samsrip, or,Creeping, Oblation	85
The Sautrâmanî	85
BOOK XI.
Agnichayana, Building of the Fire Altar	87
Taking up the Spade	88
Address to the Victims	83
The Clay Lump, representing Agni	89
Digging round the Clay Lump	91
The Lotus-leaf	91
Forming the Fire-pan	95
Address to the Fire-pan	96
Placing the Fire-pan on the Âhavanîya Fire	97
Address to Agni Purîshya	97
BOOK XII.
Raising the Ukhya, or Fire-pan, Agni, and setting it on a seat	100
The Sling in which the Ukhya Agni is to be carried about	100
The Vishnu-strides	101
The Vâtsapra Rite	102
Vanîvâ hanam, or Driving Hither and Thither of Agni	103
Construction of the Gârhapatya Hearth	105
Preparation of the Ground	105
p. ix
Laying the Bricks	106
Throwing the Ukhya Agni on the Hearth	107
The Altar of Nirriti	107
Preparation of the Site of the Fire Altar	109
Ploughing the Ground	109
Watering and Sowing	109
Address to the Plants	109
The first Layer of Bricks	112
Spreading Sand on the Altar	113
Address to the Fires	113
BOOK XIII.
The Lotus Leaf	114
The Piece of Gold	114
The Golden Man	114
The Porous Brick	116
The Dûrvâ Grass	116
The Dviyajus Bricks	117
The Retahsich Bricks	117
The Ritavyâ Bricks	117
The Ashâdhâ or Invincible Brick	117
The Tortoise	118
The Pestle and Mortar	118
The Fire-pan	119
The Victims’ Heads	119
The Gold Splinters	119
Worship of the Unfinished Altar	121
Apasyâ Bricks	122
Chhandasyâ Bricks	122
Prânabhrit Bricks	122
The Second Layer	124
Âsvinî Bricks	124
Ritavyâs	124
Vaisvadevis	125
Prânabhritas	125
Vayasyâs	125
The Third Layer	126
p. x
Central Porous Brick	126
Disyâs	126
Visvajyotis	126
Ritavyâs (Nabhas and Nabhasya)	126
Ritavyâs (Isha and Ûrja)	127
Prânabhritas	127
Chhandasyâs	127
Vâlakhilyâs	127
The Fourth Layer	128
Stomas	128
Spritas	129
Ritavyâs	129
Srishtis	129
The Fifth Layer	131
Asapatnâs	131
Virâjas	131
Stoma-bhâgâs	132
Nâkasadas	132
Pañchachûdâs	123
Chhandasyâs	134
Gârhapatya Hearth	133
Punaschiti	138
Ritavyâs	139
Visvajyotis	139
Lokamprinâs	139
Vikarnî	139
Porous Brick	139
Scattering Bits of Gold on the Altar	139
BOOK XVI.
The Satarudriya	140
BOOK XVII.
Taking Possession of the Altar	148
Frog, Avakâ, and Bamboo-shoot	148
Mounting the Altar	149
Oblation to Agni on the chief Porous Brick	149
p. xi
Sprinkling the Altar with curds, honey and butter	150
Oblations in the Hall Door Fire	150
Prayer to Indra as. God of Battles	152
Erection of the Variegated Stone	156
Mounting the Altar	156
Oblation of Milk from a Black Cow with a White Calf	157
Laying three Logs on the Fire	157
Oblations to Agni	158
Offering of Seven Rice Cakes to the Mutate	158
Eulogy of Ghrita	159
BOOK XVIII.
Consecration Service for Agni as King	162
Vasordhârâ, or Stream of Riches	162
Ardhendra, or Half-Indra, Oblations	163
Three sets of Grahas	164
Yajñakratus, or Sacrificial Rites	164
Enumeration of Stomas or Hymns of Praise	165
Age Libations	165
Name Libation	165
Kalpa, or Success, Libation	165
Vâjaprasavîya, or Strength-furthering, Libations	166
Râshtrabhrit, or Kingdom supporting, Libation	166
Oblations on the Head of the War-chariot	167
Wind Oblations	167
Lustrous Oblations	167
Arkâsvamedha-santati Oblations	168
Agniyojana, or Equipment of Agni	168
Samishtayajus, or Final Sacrificial, Oblations	169
Homage to the completed Fire Altar	170
Symbolical Meaning of the Construction of the Fire Altar	171
BOOK XIX.
The Sautrâmanî	172
Milk Libations to the Asvins, Sarasvatî, and Indra	173
Purification of the Sacrificer	173
p. xii
The Identification of the Sautrâmanî with Soma Sacrifice	174
Transubstantiation of the Surâ or Wine	176
Libations of Surâ in the Southern Fire	177
Oblation and Prayer to the Fathers	177
The Hundred-holed Jar of Surâ	177
Oblations to the Fathers	178
Residue drunk by the Sacrificer	179
Formulas addressed to the Somavat Fathers	179
Formulas addressed to the Barhishads	180
Formulas addressed to the Agnishvâttas	180
Prayer to Fathers of all Classes	181
Address to Agni	182
Address to Indra	182
Verses illustrative of Separation and Rejection	182
Thirty-two Oblations of Fat or Marrow	183
Re-creation of Indra	184
BOOK XX.
The Âsandî or Sacrificer's Seat	186
Sprinkling of the Sacrificer with Libation-fat	186
The Sacrificer's Benediction on all Parts of his Body	186
Further Self-benedictory Formulas	187
The Avabhritha or Purificatory Ceremony	187
Prayers for Remission of Sin	187
Laying Fuel on the Âhavanîya Fire	188
Mixing Surâ with Soma	189
Offering of a Rice Cake to Indra	189
The Thirty-third Oblation of Fat or Marrow	189
Inhaling the Odour of the Remains of the Oblation	190
Âprî Hymn	190
Invitation of Indra to the Sacrifice	190
Further Address to Indra	191
Praise of the Asvins and Sarasvatî	192
Prayer to Agni	195
Praise of Sarasvatî	195
Invitation to Indra and the Asvins	195
p. xiii
BOOK XXI.
Offering of a Rice Cake and prayer to Varuna	196
Prayer to Agni as Mediator	196
Prayer and Oblation to Aditi	196
Oblations to Mitra and Varuna as Rain-Gods	196
A Propitiatory Hymn in honour of Indra	197
Benedictions on Indra	198
Directions to the Hotar to worship various Deities and Sacred Objects	199
Benedictions on Indra	202
Conclusion of the Santrâmanî Ceremony	204
BOOK XXII.
The Asvamedha or Horse-Sacrifice	205
Investing the Sacrificer with the Gold Ornament	205
Address to the Ornament	205
Girding and Sprinkling of the Horse	205
Symbolical Slaughter of a Dog	205
Offering of Oblations to Ten Deities	205
Homage to the Horse	205
Prayers and Oblations to Savitar	205
Inviting Verses to Agni	206
Eulogy of the Horse	206
Protection invoked for the Horse	206
Oblations and Homage to Prajâpati and Other Deities	207
The King's Prayer for Blessings on his Kingdom	208
Homage and Oblations to Gods and deified Objects	208
Homage to the Genii of Numbers	209
BOOK XXIII.
Ceremonies after return of the Horse	210
Offering of two Mahiman Libations	210
Harnessing the Horse	210
Bathing the Horse	210
Anointing and Decking the Horse	211
A Brahmodyam	211
Binding the Horse to the Stake	211
Slaughter of the Horse	212
p. xiv
Circumambulation of the Horse	213
Ceremony performed by the Chief Queen	213
Marking the lines of dissection	213
A Brahmodyam	213
Mahiman Libation to Prajâpati	217
BOOK XXIV.
Enumeration of Animals to be tied up	218
BOOK XXV.
Continuation of the Horse Sacrifice	224
Oblations of the roasted flesh	224
Inviting and Offering Verses to Prajâpati	226
Inviting and Offering Verses to the All-Gods	226
The Eulogy of the Horse	227
Conclusion of the Sacrifice	230
BOOK XXVI.
Supplementary Texts and Formulas connected with various sacrifices	231
BOOK XXVII.
Supplementary Texts and Formulas continued	235
BOOK XXVIII.
Texts and Formulas of the Sautrâmanî Ceremony, supplementary to Books XIX-XXI.	240
An Âprî hymn	240
BOOK XXIX.
Supplementary Texts and Formulas of the Asvamedha or Horse-Sacrifice	247
Praise of the Home as identified with the Sun	248
An Âprî hymn	250
Eulogy of the Bow and Implements of War	251
Supplement to the List of Victims in Book XXIV	254
BOOK XXX.
The Purushamedha or Human Sacrifice	255
Enumeration of Victims. men and women, to be dedicated to various Deities and Abstractions	255
p. xv
BOOK XXXI.
The Purushamedha continued	260
The Purushasûkta	260
Glorification of the First Performer of the Purushamedha	263
BOOK XXXII.
Texts and Formulas of the Sarvamedha or Sacrifice for Universal Success and Prosperity	264
Eulogy of the Sacrificer	265
Prayer for Wisdom and Glory	266
BOOK XXXIII.
Continuation of the Sarvamedha Formulas	267
A Litany addressed to Agni	267
Glorification of Indra	269
Glorification, with Libations, of Sûrya	271
Unconnected verses in praise of various Deities	274
BOOK XXXIV.
The Sivasankalpa Upanishad	280
Miscellaneous Texts suitable for the General Sacrifice	280
Prayer to Bhaga	284
Praise of Pûshan	285
Investiture with a Golden Ornament	286
Prayer to Brahmanaspati	247
BOOK XXXV.
Formulas, connected with the Pitriyajña or Sacrifice to the Fathers or Ancestral Manes, to be used at funeral ceremonies	288
Purificatory and benedictive Formulas	289
BOOK XXXVI.
Preliminary Formulas of the Pravargya Ceremony	291
BOOK XXXVII.
Formulas to be used at the performance of the Pravargya	293
Fumigation of, and addresses to, the three Caldrons	294
p. xvi
Circumambulation of the Mahâvîra	295
The Rauhina Oblation	296
BOOK XXXVIII.
Continuation of the Pravargya Formulas	297
Calling and milking of the Cow	297
Anointing of the Mahâvîra	299
Address to Agni represented by the Mahâvîra	299
Remains of the contents drunk by Sacrificer and Priests	300
BOOK XXXIX.
Expiatory Formulas to remedy any defect in the performance of the Pravargya Ceremony	301
Various Deities represented by the Mahâvîra	301
Names of seven Maruts or Storm-Gods	302
Propitiation of various Deities	302
The Object of the Pravargya	302
BOOK XL.
The Îsâvâsyam or Îsopanishad	304
Îs, Lord, Soul of All, the only Absolute Reality	304
Renunciation and Religious Works or Karma	304
The Âtmâ or Self	305
Sambhûti and Asambhûti	306
Sambhava and Asambhava	306
Sambhûti and Vinâsa	306
Nescience and Science	307
The Prayer of the dying Devotee	307
Excursus on the Îsopanishad	308
APPENDICES:—
I. Index of Hymns and Verses reproduced from the Rigveda and the Atharva-veda	313
II. Index of Names, Etc.	318
III. Corrigenda	345

CONTENTS.