Questions of King Milinda Part 01

SR No.: 007681
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1890
Total Pages: 2695
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 1002

INTRODUCTION.
XXV
Brahmana has no right, whilst the Vågapeya may be performed by Brahmanas as well as Kshatriyas. But on whatever grounds this appreciation of the two ceremonies may be based, it certainly goes right in the face of the rule laid down by Åsvalâyana (IX, 9, 19) that, after performing the Vagapeya, a king may perform the Ragastya, and a Brâhmana the Brihaspatisava. With this rule would seem to accord the relative value assigned to the two ceremonies in the Taittiriya Samhità (V, 6, 2, 1) and Brahmana (II, 7, 6, 1), according to which the Vågapeya is a' samråtsava,' or consecration to the dignity of a paramount sovereign, while the Rågasůya is called a 'varunasava,' i.e., according to Sayana, a consecration to the universal sway wielded by Varuna 1. In much the same sense we have doubtless to understand the rule in which Låtyâyana defines the object of the Vågapeya (VIII, 11, 1), viz. 'Whomsoever the Brâhmanas and kings (or nobles) may place at their head, let him perform the Vâgapeya.' All these authorities, with the exception of the Satapatha-Brahmana and Katyâyana, are thus agreed in making the Vågapeya a preliminary ceremony, performed by a Brahmana who is raised to the dignity of a Purohita, or head-priest (so to speak, a minister of worship, and court-priest), or by a king who is elected paramount sovereign by a number of petty ragas; this sacrifice being in due time followed by the respective installation and consecration ceremony, viz. the Brihaspatisava, in the case of the Purohita ; and the Râgasůya, in that of the king. In regard to the Brihaspatisava, which these authorities place on an equality with the Rågasûya, our Bråhmana finds itself in a somewhat awkward position, and it gets out of its difficulty (V, 2, 1, 19) by simply identifying the Brihaspatisava with the Vågapeya, and making the Vågapeya itself to be the consecration of Brihaspati ;' and Katyayana (XIV, 1, 2) compromises matters by combining the two ceremonies in this way that he who performs the Vagapeya is to perform the Brihaspatisava for a fortnight before and after the Vågapeya.
· Cf. Sankh. St. XV, 13, 4. 'for it is Varuna whom they consecrate.'
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