The Texts of the White Yajurveda, tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1899]
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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 |