﻿272 ON THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES 



Brafwia?ia places a vessel containing fire on his rigTi^ 

 liand, and hallows it by throwinp; aw'ay a liglited 

 piece of citsa g-rass, saying, " 1 dismiss far away 

 carnivorous lire," &c. He then places it on the 

 consecrated spot, recitini;' the prayer, with which 

 the liousehokl and sacrificial iires should be lighted 

 by the attrition of M-ood ; " Fires! [this woodj is 

 thy origin, which is attainable in all seasons; whence 

 being produced, thou dosl shine. Knowing this, 

 seize on it, and afterwards augment our wealth." 



He then lays ciisd grass on the eastern side of the 

 fire,, with its tips pointed towards the nortli, reciting 

 the first verse of the Kigvtda, with which also it is 

 usual' to commence the daily lecture of that Vcdriy 

 " f praise divine fire, primevally consecrated, the 

 cfhcient performer of a solemn ceremony, the chief 

 agent of a sacrifice, the most liberal giver of gems. " 



He next spreads cu&d grass on the southern side 

 of the fire, M'ith its tips pointed towards the east, 

 reciting the introduction of 'the Yajurveda, Avith 

 which "also a daily lecture of the YqjusJi is ahrays 

 begun. " 1 . I gather thee for the sake of rain." [He 

 breaks off a branch of a tree, or is supposed to do 

 so, with these words.] 2. "I pluck thee for the 

 sake of strength." [He pulls down the branch lie 

 bad broken.] o. " Ye are like unto air." [He 

 touches young calves with the branch he had pluck- 

 ed.] 4. " I\iay the liberal generator [of worlds] 

 make you hap'pily reach this most excellent sacra- 

 ment." [He is here supposed to touch the milch 

 cows with the same branch.] 



He then spreads cusa grass on the western side, 

 v/ith the tips pointed to the north, reciting the prayer 

 which precedes a lecture of Sdmadtva, " Fire! ap- 

 proach to taste [my ofi'ering;] thou, wlio art praised 

 for the gift of oblations. Sit down on this grass, 

 thou, who art the complete performer of the solemn 

 sacrifice." 



In like manner he spreads cusci grass on the 

 Q northern 



