Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

THE VEDAS AND THE TANTRAS

happiness and prescribe the manner and purpose of drinking the same ; they prescribe the measure and number of drinks to be offered or taken at a sacrifice, (S. B- V 1.2.9. ete., V.5, 4) and they add that a breach of these rules destroys the efficacy of the rite. They offer libations of Sura to the Fathers (A.B. III. 1.5;S.B. V. 54.27. etc.) They offer Sura to the Ashwins (R. V. B. I. 44). They offer Sura to Vinayaka’s mother (Yag. I. 288). During the performance of a sacrifice, the priests and the householder sit together ; they all touch their cups, and raise them to their mouths, all the while reciting proper Mantras addressed to Devas (A.B. VI.3.1) and then they drink. (A. B. VIL. 5, 7).

The Vaidik people used to offer to their Devatas at their sacrifices animal and vegetable food. The vegetable substances Tandula, Pishtaka. Phalikarana, Purodasha, Odana, Yavagihb, Prithuka, Laja, Dhana and Saktu, and the animal food was Payah, Dadhi, Ajyam, Amiksha, Vajinam. Vapa, Mamsam, Lohitam, Pashurasah; the principal of these being Dhana, Karambha, Paribaha, Purodisba and Payasya ‘A. B.II.3.6.) Indeed it would not be incorrect to say that no Vaidik rite can be performed without these offerings; the forms and the mode of preparation and the number of cakes to be offered, differing in each case (A. B.I. 1.1; II.1-9; IL. 3,5;II. 3-6;S.B.[.2.2;LSS. V.4.1.ete.; Ap.S. S. XII. 3.12; XII. 4.9.14; K.S.S. V. 309. Tait Br. III. 2, 6. ete.) They offer animal sacrifices (Kat. S.S. Chap. VI;S.B III. 6.4; III. 8.1; V. 1.3.2 14; V.3.1. .0; VI. 2.2.15. Kanda XIII As.G §.1.11.P.G.S. III. 11. G.G.S. It. 10.18; Kh.G.S, II 4H. G.S IT. 15), which include the horse, goats, sheep, oxen (Tait Br. II. 8. 1. etc.) and human beings (Tait. Br. III. 4. 1.) They believe that by performing animal sacrifices, the sacrificer ransoms himself (S. B. XI. 7.1. 3. A. B. II. 1.3) or wins all these worlds (Ap-S. S. VII. 1. 1.) The animal is the sacrificer himself (A. B. II-2, 1-) They direct by special rules, in what manner the animal should be killed, cut and offered (A. B. II. 6; S. B III. 8. 1. 15.) They were aware that wanton killing of animals was wrong (A. B, II. 1.7) and believed that offering animal sacrifices to the Devatas, was one of the means whereby bliss hereafter could be attained (Ba Dh.S.If. 4.23.) And it was only forcertain Yajnas that animals could be slain (Va. Dh. IV. 5-8,

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