185 
1872.] Eajendralala Mitra — Beef in Ancient India. 
light on the subject of this paper. I shall pass on, therefore, to the details 
connected with the treatment of the sacrificial animal. 
On the conclusion of the different offerings above referred to, the victim 
should be brought forward, rubbed over with a paste of turmeric, emblie my- 
robolan and oil, well washed, and thenledbctween the Clidtvdla and the TJtkara, 
to a spot between the Ahavauiya fire and the sacrificial post, and there made 
to stand before the latter, facing the west. The animal should be of the 
colour appropriate for Indra and Agni, for the whole ceremony is addressed 
to them. But should one of that colour be not available, any sound ox may 
be employed, provided it be not defective by reason of having only one horn, 
or bored ears, or broken teeth, or docked tail, or being dwarf, deaf, mangy, 
or undivided-hoofed. 
After the bathing the Adhvaryu should offer certain expiatory oblations 
with the nitydjya, sthdlyajya, and vasdhoma havani, in course of which he 
should invoke Agni, Indra, Vayu and Prajapati. Then taking a bit of 
kus'a grass he should place the same with the aid of the Yajamana, on the 
head of the victim between the horns, while repeating the first verse of the 
Yajur Veda, Is'etvd &c. This is called TJpdkarana or emblematic sacrifice. 
It is to be followed by the repetition of certain mantras declaratory of the 
resolution to sacrifice the animal. 
Other mantras now follow, accompanied with offerings to the different 
fires, and repeated manupulations of the sacrificial vessels. Those done, the 
animal is tied by the right horn, the rope passing two or three times round 
the eye of that side, so as to leave the left horn free. A little water is then 
sprinkled on the victim, which is allowed to have a good drink of water 
from a vessel brought near it for the purpose. An offering of butter to the fire 
with the s'ruk spoon is next made, and with the remainder of the sanctified 
butter in the spoon, spots are marked on the forehead, the hump, and the two 
hind quarters. Another series of mantras and offerings having been gone 
through by the Adhvaryu, an axe is placed in the hands of the immolator,a spike 
stuck into the string with which the victim is tied, and the victim is anointed 
with some butter. These operations accomplished, the Agnidhra takes up a 
flaming brand from the Ahavamya altar, and proceeding between the Clidtvdla 
and the Utkara to the front of the Sdmitra fire, thrice circumambulates 
the victim by the right side with the brand in his hand, and then, placing the 
brand near the Ahavamya altar, repeats the circumambulation, while the Adh- 
varyu offers an oblation after every turn, and then continues his offerings 
to Prajapati Agni, Vayu, and Vis'vedevali. The Pratiprasthata now comes 
forward, and taking some burning charcoal from the Gdrhapatyct altar, re- 
moves it to the Sdmitra altar. The victim is then led northward between the 
sacrificial post and the northern altar by the Agnidhra with a flaming brand in 
his hand, and the Adhvaryu and the Yajamana touch it with the vessel intended 
