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II KÂNDA, 5 ADHYAYA, I BRÂHMANA, 19.
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again in one l; for such is the characteristic form of generation, since father and mother are a productive (pair), and what is born forms a third element: hence that which is threefold is again (made) one. Thereto flowering shoots (of sacrificial grass) are tied: these he uses for the prastara?; for this is a productive union, and productive indeed are flowering shoots : this is why he takes flowering shoots for the prastara.
19. On putting the sacrificial dishes in their place, they churn the fire 8. For it was after Agni was born that Pragâpati's offspring was born; and so for this (sacrificer) also offspring is born after Agni (the fire) has been produced : this is why they churn the fire, after they have deposited the sacrificial dishes in their place.
"Three bunches of sacrificial grass are tied together with one band. Kâty. V, 1, 25.
. For the prastara, or bunch of grass representing the sacrificer, see I, 3, 3, 5 seq.; I, 8, 3, 11 seq.
3 Káty. V, 1, 27 seq. supplies the following details :-With the text (Vâg. V, 2 a, &c.), 'Agni's birth-place art thou,' the Adhvaryu takes up a piece of wood and puts it on the altar. · With the two testicles are ye' he lays on it two stalks of sacrificial grass. With 'Urvasî thou art' he places the lower arani (see p. 294, note 3) thereon. With 'Âyus (old age, or the son of Purûravas and Urvasî) thou art' he touches the butter in the pot with the upper arani; and with 'Purgravas thou art' he puts it down on the lower arani. He then calls on the Hotri to recite 'to the fire being churned out.' With the three formulas with the gâyatri (trishtubh, gagatî) metre I churn thee!' he churns thrice from left to right, and then alternately both ways until fire is produced. He then calls on the Hotri to recite 'to the born fire' (Sankh. III, 13, 2I); and in carrying the fire towards the Ahavaniya he makes him recite to the fire being carried forward.' With the text V, 3, he throws it down on the Āhavaniya hearth; and (having put a kindling-stick on it) he makes two libations of butter thereon with V, 4.
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