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INTRODUCTION.
XXV
be slaughtered first in order to carry the welcome news of the sacrifice to the gods, is in one place referred to as Pashan's share, and in another as going forward to the dear seat of Indra and Pushan? Sânkhayana (Srautas. XVI, 3, 27-30), however, takes these statements of the Rishi to refer to two different he-goats, both of which he includes amongst the victims tied to the horse's limbs, viz. one, sacred to Pushan, tied to the forehead, and another, sacred to Indra and Pashan, fastened to the navel, of the horse 2. The corresponding paryangya' victims recognised by the Maitrayanî Samhità (III, 13) and the White Yagus (Vág. S. XXIV, 1), on the other hand, are a black-necked he-goat for Agni, tied to the forehead, and a black or grey (syåma) one, bound to the navel, and consecrated by the one authority to Pushan, and by the other to Soma and Pushan. But, curiously enough, the Taittirîya school (Taitt. Br. III, 8, 23; Âp. Sr. XX, 13, 12) recognises not only Sankhayana's two victims, but also the one for Agni; whilst in regard to the other victims also it differs considerably from the other schools of the Yagur-veda. Seeing, then, that there is so little agreement on these points even amongst different branches of the same Veda, one can hardly escape the inference that, in this respect at least, there was no continuity of ritual practice since the time of those two hymns. As regards the other points therein alluded to, the he-goat and horse are referred to
Rig-veda S. I, 162, 2. When, held by the mouth (by the bridle), they lead round the offering of the (horse) covered with rich trappings, the allcoloured he-goat goes bleating in front right eastwards to the dear seat of Indra and Půshan. 3. This he-goat, fit for all the gods, is led in front of the swift horse as Pashan's share ; like (?) the welcome cake, Tvashtri promotes it, along with the steed, to great glory. 4. When thrice the men duly lead around the horse meet for offering along the way to the gods, then the he-goat walks first, announcing the sacrifice to the gods. ... 16. The cloth which they spread (for the horse to lie upon) and the upper cloth and the gold, the halter, the steed, the shackle-these they bring up as acceptable to the gods.'-1, 163, 12. Forth came the swift steed to the slaughter, musing with reverent mind; his mate, the he-goat, is led in front; and behind go the wise singers.'
According to the Taittiriyas, this second he-goat is tied to the cord surrounding the horse's limbs somewhere above the deck of the horse.
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