170 
1872.] Rajendralala Mitra — Beef in Ancient India. 
In its account of the As 'vamedha, the Taittiriya Brahmana recommends 
180 domestic animals to bo sacrificed, including borses, bulls, 1 cows, goats, 
deer, Nilagaos,* &e. A number of wild animals were, likewise, on such 
occasions, brought to the sacrificial posts, but they were invariably let loose 
after consecration. The authority, however, does not distinctly say how 
many heads of cattle were required for the purpose ; the number perhaps 
varied according to the exigencies of the guests among whom crowned 
heads with their unwieldy retainers formed so prominent a part, and whose 
requirements were regulated by a royal standard. But even the strictly 
ceremonial offering was not, evidently, completed with a solitary cow or two. 
Out of the “ ten times eighteen” heads required, a great many must have 
been bulls, cows and heifers of diverse colors and ages. 
The Brahmaiia notices another ceremony in which a large number of 
cattle were immolated for the gratification of the Maruts and the enjoyment 
of their worshipers. This was called the Pcmchas' dradtya sava, or the 
“ quinquennium of autumnal sacrifices.” It evidently held the same posi- 
tion in ancient India which the Durgapuja does in the liturgy of the modern 
Hindus. It used to be celebrated, as its name implies, for five years succes- 
sively, the period of the ceremony being limited to five days on each occasion, 
beginning with the new moon which would be in conjunction with the Vis'a- 
kha constellation. This happened in September or October. The most im- 
portant elements of the ceremony were seventeen five-year-old humpless 
dwarf bulls, and as many dwarf heifers under three years. The former were 
duly consecrated, and then liberated, and the latter, after proper invocations 
and ceremonial observances, immolated ; three on each day, the remaining 
' two being added to the sacrifice on the last day, to celebrate the conclusion 
of the ceremony for the year. The Tandya Brahmana of the Sam a Veda 
notices this ceremony, but it recommends cattle of a different color for each 
successive year. According to it the 7th or 8tli of the waxing moon in 
As'vina for the first year, and the 6th of Kartika for the following years, as 
the most appropriate for it.f The origin of the Ytyna, according to a Vedic 
legend, is due to Prajapati. Once on a time ho wished to be rich in wealth 
and dependents ; “ he perceived the Panchas'aradlya ; he seized it, and 
performed a sacrifice with it, and thereby became great in wealth and 
dependents.” “ Whoever wishes to be great,” adds the Veda, “ let him wor- 
ship through the Panchas'aradlya. Thereby, verily, he will be great.”]: 
* TTfWT T'^Tf^TVrrvrUT^'ft TfiT! 
qjr? I Taittiriya Brahmana II, (351. 
t Hlfu *?5Trr I BTWB2KTT g 
f^*N: I ^8^1 
J Tail. Brahmana, II, 2. 
23 
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