﻿OF THE HlJTDtS, &C. 273 



iibrtliern side, with the tips pdinted to the east, re- 

 citins: the prayer which precedes a lecture of tlie 

 Afharvdn, " May divine waters be auspicious to 

 Us, &c." 



Exciting the fire, and sprinkling water on it, he 

 iiiust offer with his hands food smeared with clari- 

 fied butter, three several times, saying, " Earth I 

 Sky! Heaven!" He then makes five similar obla- 

 tions to the regent of fire ; to the god of medicine ; 

 to the assembled deities ; to the lord of created 

 beings; and, lastly, to the Creator of the universe/' 

 He concludes the sacrament of the Gods with six 

 oblations, reciting six prayers. ], "Fire! thou 

 dost expiate a sin against the Gods [arising from 

 any failure in divine worship:] may this oblation be 

 efficacious." 'Z. "Thou dost expatiate a sin against 

 tiian [arising from a failure in hospitality."] 3. 

 *' Thou dost expiate a sin against the manes [from 

 a failure in the performance of obsequies."] 4. 

 "Thou does expiate a sin against my own soul 

 [arising from any blameable act."] 5. *' Thou dost 

 expiate repeated sins." 6. " Thou dost expiate 

 ievery sin 1 have committed, whether wilfully or un- 

 intentionally : may this oblation be efficacious." 



He then worships fire, making an oblation to it 

 with this prayer, "Fire! seven are thy fuels; seven 

 thy tongues ; seven thy holy sages ; seven thy Jje- 

 loved abodes ; seven ways do seven sacrificers wor- 

 ship thee. Thy sources are seven. Be content with 

 this clarified butter. May this oblation be eflfica* 

 cious*. '* 



T About 



* The commentator enumerates the sefen tongues of fire, Pra. 

 vaha, ^ Avahuf Ud^vaha^ Sam'vahay Fi'vaha, Parivaha, Ni'vaba, 

 (or else Anu^aha;) all of which imply the power of conveying obla- 

 tions to the deitiesj to whom offerings are made. The {<cvt(\ hoi/ 

 sages and sacrificers are the Hotrt, Maiirdvaruna, Brdhmdndch'^ 

 handasi, Ach'hdvdCy Potrty Neshtrl, and Agn'id'hra ; that is, the 

 seven officiating priests at very solemn sacrifices. They worship fire 

 seven v,^ays by the Jgn'uhtoma and other sacrifice*. The seven 



abodes 



