Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 202

177
Sec. II]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
him to pluck those which are tuberous roots, roots, barks, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, haritakas (terminalia) etc.".
Thus having advanced towards the eastern direction, he plucked those things and filled his basket with them. Then after collecting the Darbha grass, Kusa-grass and Samidha (firewood for sacrifice), Patra-motam (broken leaves with branches of tree), he returned to his own hermitage and placed the basket filled with flowers, fruits etc. on the ground.
After that, having wiped off, besmeared, swept and purified his sacrificial altar with water, he went to the Ganges with a water-jar and Darbha-grass to take bath and purify himself by playing with the sacred water, sprinkling and sipping it according to the prescribed religious process. Then having performed the work (worship) of gods and ancestors (Devayapitikayakajje), he emerged from the Ganges and returned to his own hermitage with the sacrificial jar filled with water and Darbha-grass.
He made next the altar with the Darbha and Kusa grasses, and sands, rubbed Arani with Saraka3 (the rubbing wood) to kindle fire for performing sacrifice. Having kindled fire by this process he caused it to rise & cast the Samidha wood into it. And thus he, having blazed the fire brought near the altar seven articles of sacrifice (angas), viz. Sakahā (Sakathā-a kind of article), Bakkalam (bark of tree), thana (Jyotisthanam, Patrasthānaṁvā), Sijja (bed, Sayyabhanda), Kamandalu (water pot of ascetic made of wood or earth), Dandadaru (Stick-Dandaka), then Panam (drink) and worshipped the fire with honey and clarified butter and rice and cooked caru (oblation of rice prepared with buttermilk for offering to gods and manes).
Then he worshipped Vaiśvānara, the fire-god with the oblation of caru, entertained and honoured guests first with it, and he took himself food last of all.
12 BhS, 11, 9, 417. s 1b, 11, 9, 417.
Avani and Saraka are two kinds of firewood.
In ancient days the people used to kindle fire by rubbing
4
them against each other.
Ib, 11, 9, 417.
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