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I KÂNDA, 3 ADHYÂYA, 5 BRÂHMANA, 3.
95
FIFTH BRAHMANA.
THE KINDLING OF THE FIRE, THE PRAVARA, AND THE Two
LIBATIONS (ÄGHÂRA) OF BUTTER. 1. With the fire-wood (idh ma, lighting material) the Adhvaryu lights (indh) the fire: hence it is called fire-wood. And with the kindling verses (sâmidhent) the Hotri kindles (sa m-indh, to make blaze): hence they are called kindling verses.
2. He (the Adhvaryu ) says (to the Hotri): 'Recite to the fire as it is being kindled!' for it is to the fire, when it is being kindled, that he recites.
3. Here now some people say, 'O Hotar, recite . to the fire as it is being kindled!' But let him
not say so; for that (priest) is not a Hotri as yet ; only when he (the sacrificer) elects him ?, does he
1 The Adhvaryu, in the first place, prepares a seat for the Hotri, either west of the altar or north of its left hip; and covers it with dry Kusa grass. (He then calls, 'O Hotri, come l'] The Hotri, having rinsed his mouth north-east of the Ahavaniya, with his face to the east, turns round from left to right and betakes himself to the sacrificial ground, always keeping his right foot before the left. He finally takes up his position so as to have the heel of the right foot in a line with the north hip of the altar, and the toes on the barhis; whilst he keeps the hands on a level with the heart, spread open and joined together, and looks towards the junction of the earth and sky. The Adhvaryu then takes a samidh (kindling-stick) and calls on him as above. The Hotri now mutters the formulas 'Adoration to the teacher! Adoration to the observer ! Adoration to the promulgator!' &c. (Asv. Srautas I, 2, 1). The sacrificer then takes the wooden sword and says, 'Recite for me, as it were, stretching along (i. e. continuously)!' whereupon the Hotri, having asked and received the permission of the Brahman, proceeds to recite the kindling verses. Kåty. III, 1, 1 seq.; Äsv. I, 1, 4 seq.
• This does not take place until the pravara or invitation addressed to Agni, the Hotri of the gods, to assist in calling the
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