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256
SATAPATHA-BRÂHMANA.
time when he is chosen for the office of sacrificial priest; and, this earth being a safe standing-place, he thereby (viz. by touching the earth) stands on this safe standing-place; and he thereby also again becomes human: for this reason he thus touches (the earth) with this (finger).
SECOND BRÂHMANA.
THE PATNISAMYAGAS. 1. Being about to perform the patnisamyâgas!, they betake themselves back to the Gârhapatya fire. The Adhvaryu takes the guhů and sruva, the Hotri the veda, and the Agnidhra the butter-(melting) pot.
2. Here now the Adhvaryu, according to some, passes the Åhavaniya on the east side. Let him not, however, do this; for were he to walk on that side, he would be outside the sacrifice.
3. According to others, the Adhvaryu walks (so as to pass) behind the (sacrificer's) wife?. Let him not, however, do this either; for verily the Adhvaryu is the fore-part, and the wife is the hindpart of the sacrifice : hence, if he were to pass so, it would be as if one were to put his head behind; and he (the Adhvaryu) would be outside the sacrifice.
1 The meaning of the term seems to be 'offerings made to some deities) along with the wives (of the gods);' the deities to whom the four offerings are made, being Soma, Tvashtri, the Devapatnyah (wives of the gods), and Agni Grihapati.
i The lady of the house occupies a seat south-west of the Gårhapatya fire. See I, 3, 1, 12. The Adhvaryu now sits down with raised knees (south of her, with his face to the north-east). Kâty. III, 7,5. The Agnidhra sits down in the same way north of the fire, with his face to the south, and the Hotri in the middle; cf. Hillebrandt, Neu- und Vollm. p. 151.
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