Indian Antiquary Vol 41

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 35

FEBRUARY, 1912.]
THE VEDIO CALENDAR
31
- Weakling by name art thou, the thirteenth month, Indra's house." A. V., v. 6. 4.
In the Kộishqa-Yajurveda, i. 4. 14, the twelve months together with a thirteenth intercalated month are thus enumerated :
मधुश्च माधवश्व शुक्रश्च शुचिश्च नभश्च नभस्यश्च इषश्चोर्जश्व सहश्च सहस्यक तपश्च तपस्यश्चोपबामगृहीतोऽसि संसपोऽसि अंहस्पत्याय स्वा.
" Thou art the month of Madhu, the month of Mâlbava, the month of Sukra, the month of Suchi, the month of Nabhas, the month of Nabhasya, the month of Isha, the month of Orja, the month of Sahas, the month of Sahasya, the month of Tapas, and the month of Tapasya; and thou art caught hold of in a wooden vessel; thou art the month Samsarpa [a creeping month]; and thou art the receptacle of sins."
The Brahmaņa portion contained in the Křishņa-Yajurveda, vi. 5, 3, 12, comments on this passage as follows:--
प्रसिद्धमेवाध्वर्युदक्षिणेन प्रपद्यते प्रसिद्ध प्रतिप्रस्थातोत्तरेण. तस्मादादित्यष्षण्मासो दक्षिणेनैति षडुसरेण उपया मगृहीतोऽसि संसोऽस्यहस्पत्याय वेत्याहास्ति त्रयोदशो मास इत्याहुस्तमेव तत्पीणाति.
"Clearly does the Adhvarya first go to the south; clearly the Pratiprasthatři priest to the north. Hence does the sun go to the south for six months; and to the north for six months. He says: Thou art caught in a wooden vessel'; thou art Samsarpa (x creeping month) and a receptacle for sins.' They say that there is also a thirteenth month; it is that thirteenth month which he pleases thereby."
The syrubolical practice connected with this passage is this :-The Adhvaryu priest fills thirtzen wooden vessels with Sôma-jaica; and with the help of another priest, called Pratiprasthấti, he makes offerings therefrom to the seasons. While performing the rite, the Adhvaryu goes to the south and the Pratiprasthậtsi to the north, imitating the southern and northern movements of the kun respectively. As will be seen, it was in the middle of the year, during the summer or the winter solstice, according as the year began with the winter or the summer Bolstice, that the intercalary period was inserted, delaying the sun's turning movement so long and occupying that period in performing the initiatory rites. Hence the reference in this passage to the sun's northern and southern movements, and to the thirteenth month during which the commencement of those turning movements is delayed. The fact of representing the wonths by Sôma-vessels is clearly stated in the Maitrâganiya-Sambitâ, iii, 10. 4, 5,
द्वादश पात्राण्युपांशुसवनत्रयोदशं यत्तन्मीमांसते पात्राइनपात्राइमिति मीमांसंते
हि त्रयोदशं मासं मासानिमासा३ इति. "Twelve are the vessels; the pressing stone, called Upd ngus avana is the thirteenth ; tbe discassion they hold, by asking whether there onght to be a vessel or no vessel (to refruent a thirteenth onth), is a discussion as to whether there is a thirteenth month or no thirteenth month."
Ragarding the sacrificial function observed during a thirteenth month, the Tâņdy amabê Brahmaņa, x, 8.2, says:
पिता नोरासीदिति मासा उपासीदन् । ते दीक्षवाराध्नुवन् । उपसत्सु पोदशमहीलवन् । सोऽब्बमभवत्, सस्माबुपसत्सु दिदीक्षाणोऽनुव्यं भवत्येव च हि त्रयोदशं मासं चक्षते नेव च.
“The months observed the row of Upasads (sessions] with the intention that their father (the yaar] might prosper. They, however, prospered merely by observing the initiatory rites, and initiated the thirteenth month daring the period of the vow of Upasado [sessions). Therefore the thirteenth month became their follower. Hence whoever undergoes the rite of initiation during the period of the vow of l'pasada [sessions] becomes the follower of the rest of the priests). Accordingly they declare a thirteenth month as existent and also as non-existent."
Madhu corresponds to Chaitra ; Madhara to Vaib Akba; and so DA.