Sanskrit text, with preface, introductory essay, and a map of the sacrificial compound at the Soma sacrificeMartin Haug Government Central Book Depot, 1863 |
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Page 73 - The sacrifice is regarded as the means for obtaining power over this and the other world, over visible as well as invisible beings, animate as well as inanimate creatures. Who knows its proper application, and has it duly performed, is in fact looked upon as the real master of the world...
Page 74 - The Yajna' exists as an invisible thing at all times; it is like the latent power of electricity in an electrifying machine, requiring only the operation of a suitable apparatus in order to be elicited. It is supposed to extend...
Page 77 - Anustubh metre, of thirty-two, syllables, is the symbol of the celestial world ; thence a candidate for a place in heaven has to use it. The Vir&j of thirty syllables, is food and satisfaction ; thence one who wishes for plenty of food, must employ it.
Page 46 - Vishuvan, ie equator or central day, cutting the whole Sattra into two halves. The ceremonies were in both the halves exactly the same; but they were in the latter half performed in an inverted order.
Page 79 - They are in the hands of the sacrificial priests the instruments for accomplishing anything they might wish for in behalf of the sacrificer. But a great deal depends upon the way of using those spiritual instruments. It is a matter of importance whether a mantra is repeated without stopping, liv or pftda by pada (quarter by quarter), or hall verse by half verse.
Page 60 - Being thus," (ie through the oblation of an animal) "received among the gods, the sacrificer is deemed worthy to enjoy the divine beverage, the soma, and participate in the heavenly king, who is Soma. The drinking of the soma-juice makes him a new man ; though a new celestial body had been prepared for him at the Pravargya ceremony, the enjoyment of the soma beverage transforms him again ; for the nectar of the gods flows for the first time in his veins, purifying and sanctifying him.
Page 73 - ... even the most ambitious, can be gratified, any object he has in view can be obtained by means of it. The Yajna (sacrifice) taken as a whole is conceived to be a kind of machinery, in which every piece must tally with the other, or a sort of large chain in which no link is allowed to be wanting, or a staircase, by which one may ascend to heaven, or as a personage, endowed with all the characteristics of a human body.
Page 76 - Gayatri metre, which consists of three times eight syllables, is the most sacred, and is the proper metre for Agni, the god of fire, and chaplain of the gods. It expresses the idea of Brahma : therefore the sacrificer must use it when he wishes...
Page vii - Seeing the great difficulties, nay, impossibility of attaining to anything like a real understanding of the sacrificial art from all the numerous books I had collected, I made the greatest efforts to obtain oral information from some of those few Brahmans who are known by the name of Srotriyas or £rautis, and who alone are the possessors of the sacrificial mysteries as they descended from the remotest times.
Page 76 - Trishtubh, which consists of four times eleven syllables, expresses the idea of strength and royal power ; thence it is the proper metre by which Indra, the king of the gods, is to be invoked. Any one wishing to obtain strength and royal power, principally a Kshattriya, must use it.