Sambodhi 1977 Vol 06

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 16

C. L. Prabhakar
to obviate sins of those devotees committed during day and night respectively,
YV bears also references to the articles of food and drink to Mitra, Those animals and other sacrificial offerings like caru, ghỉta etc., dedicated and offered for Mitra at various sacrifices and rites could be regarded as his food. Among them, YV seems to point out preferences to Mitra. Satapatha Brahmana points out that all that is natural and that is cooked with steam need be offered to Mitra. White coloured animals and watery birds (jalakakas) are dedicated to Mitra in the sacrifices. That is Vārtiņa, Sajūndaka, Kulipaya ete, are the animals tied to the stakes, dedicated to Mitra in Agvamedha. A brick as a share separately is put in the Agnicayana. The type of animals mentioned indicate Mitra's liking for things that are pure and that belonged to waters. Further in the Agvamedha, the third bone to the right of the horse (victimised) is offered to Mitra. Somo libations are specifically offered to Mitra in Agnistoma. Such an idea of offerings might indicate the subsistance warranted for the deity viz., Mitra,
Mitra is identified with certain" deities and objects in YV like in RV. Identifications, as a rule, enhance the vibhuti of a deity. Moreover, deity's importance is reckoned on the basis of the degree of mahat that the deity possessed or that is described in Veda. Vedic Mitra in RV (Mitram..... Varunam) is identical with all other deities to emphasise a theory which proclaimed of Monism. Aditya, Agni, Soma, Surya, Savits, ctc., are the other Vedic deities with whom Mitra is identified. There are mantras in the YV too that sang the mahat of Mitra accordingly. Mitra further is identified with carth (prthivi), vital air (prāna), vāyu, oşadhi etc. The Salapatha Brāhmaṇa adds that, Mitra is Satya (truth) and Satyu to be Brahma itself. Mitra thus is Brahma, the Supreme. Here it may be pointed out that tendency of identifying a deity under description to Brahma is a characteristic of YV-Mythology (For more : See 'Mythology of YV, JUB, 1968, by Dr. N. J. Shende). For example, even Agni, clsewhere in YV, is identified with Brahmua,'S YV, thus, seems to conceive each deity to tend to rise upto Supreme. Moreover, YV is a samhita of desires. When Mitra thus is extolled, indirectly Mitra's obligation unto a sacrificer becomes further fortified. Sata patha Brāhmaṇa connects, Mitra with Moon and identificd Mitra with waning moon. Mitra thus is known for all pervasiveness in YV. 13 VS 24.2, 3, 21, 22, 27; 25.5: TS. 1.8.10; 2.1.8,9: 2.38, 5.5.14 elc: SB 5.3.2.4: 5.3.3.8.
For Mitra's Caru, nambra (a kind of grain) is offered ctc. 14 Vs 4.19 (Here Mitra=Sūrya) referring to the Rtviks.
VS 4.37 (Mitra-Soma = Aditya)
VS II. 53 (Mitra-A dity) and so on. 15. "Agni in sukla YV" Dr. C. L. PRABHAKAR, SP, AIOC, 1976, Full paper in press at
Macilipatnam.