Dhammapada

SR No.: 007674
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2540
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 833

REESE
LIBRARY
FLE
UNIVERSITY
CALIFORNIA SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
FIRST KANDA.
THE DARSAPÛRNAMASA-ISHTI OR NEW AND FULL-MOON SACRIFICES.
FIRST ADHYAYA.
FIRST BRAHMANA.
A. THE VOW OF ABSTINENCE.
EACH of the two half-monthly sacrifices, the regular performance of which is enjoined on the Brahmanical householder for a period of thirty years from the time of his performance of the ceremony of agny-âdhâna, or setting up of a fire of his own, according to some authorities even for the rest of his life-usually occupies the greater part of two consecutive days. Whilst the first daythe upavasatha or fast-day-is chiefly taken up with preparatory rites, such as the sweeping and trimming of the fire-places and lighting of the fires; and the formal taking of the vow of abstinence (vrata) by the sacrificer and his wife; the second day is reserved for the main performance of the sacrifice. As to the exact days of the month appointed for these ceremonies, there is some difference of opinion among native authorities, some of them deciding in favour of the last two days of each half of the lunar month, whilst the generality of ritualistic writers consider the first day of the half-month-or the first and sixteenth day of the month respectively-to be the proper time for the main performance. The personal restrictions involved in the householder's entering on the vrata include chiefly the abstention from certain kinds of food, especially meat, and from other carnal pleasures; the cutting (optional, according to some) of the beard and hair, except the crest-lock; the sleeping on the ground in one of the chief fire-houses; and the observance of silence during the ceremonies. It was, however, permitted to compress the two-days' 10 [12]
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