1870.] The Vastu Ydga. 209 



each 1 2 fingers long are to be nailed down with the following mantra : 

 om Sisantu te tale ndga, Sfc, " om, you serpents, fast runners, pro- 

 tectors of all animals, enter under this Vedi, and stay in this house, 

 continually bestowing on me long life and strength." By the sides 

 of these sticks, with the following mantra, make offerings of mdsa 

 " om Agnibhyo pyatha sarpebhyo. " Om to the Agnis, to the serpents, 

 and to those others who are dependent on them, I offer this pure 

 and excellent food." 



Join the four pegs with strings each four cubits long and with 

 these as sides describe a square. Divide this square into 64 smaller 

 equal squares, and with fine coloured powders fill them in the man- 

 ner described." 



Here follow directions for filling up the squares, and the names 

 of 45 nagas or serpents presiding over particular single squares 

 or groups of them. 



Having invoked forty-five nagas or pitris on the squares, place by 

 the side of the four pegs, four water-pots decorated with cloth, gar- 

 lands, &c. On the south-eastern corner close by the water-pot invoke 

 Viddri on a black square. On the middle of the eastern side of the 

 square, without it, invoke Skanda on a yellow square. On the south- 

 ern Aryamana, red. On southwest near the water-pot Putand, 

 black. On the west Jambhaka, black ; on north-west, Pdpa-rdkshasi 

 black, on the north Pili-pinja, black ; on the north-east near the 

 water-pot Charaki, black. 



The sacrifice. — On the ghata (water-pot) beyond the squares in- 

 voke the nine Grahas (holders-planets) and worship them one after 

 the other. Commencing from the east towards the four sides dis- 

 tribute mdsa with the following mantras " om bhutdni rdlcsliasdv&pi, 

 &c, om bhutds (spirits,) or rdhhasas (demons) whosoever dwell here 

 may they all receive again this offering as I do my dwelling house." 



Then with rice and flowers invoke Is' a ; tl om ! Is'a, come hither. • 

 This pddya is given to Is'a, Om ! This food is offered to Is'a, Om ! 

 These three handfuls of flowers are offered to Is'a." 



Similarly let the following be invoked and worshipped in the 



several squares in order : — Paryanya, Jayanta, Sakra, Phdskara, 



Batya, Bhrsa, Vyoma, Hutdsa, Pushand, Vitatha, Grliakshata, Vaiva- 



svata, or Tama, Gandharva, Brngd, Mrga, Pitrs, Davnvarika, Su- 



28 



