The Jewel of Rituals for the Planetary Sacrifice

Planetary Procedure

...in the western middle part, one should fashion the yoni original: "yonim"; the stylized, leaf-shaped opening or "lip" of a fire-pit, representing the creative source according to the prescribed rules.

Regarding the measurements, the Matsya Purana One of the eighteen major Puranas, often cited for architectural and ritual dimensions states:

"A sacrificial pit that is deficient or excessive in its measurements brings many harms. Its internal measurement should be one cubit hasta: the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. It may be three-curved or four-cornered (square), with its height equal to its width."

Regarding the altar of the pit, there are the tiered girdles vapramekhala: the stepped borders surrounding a sacrificial pit. The first tier is said by the wise to be two fingers high. Above that, another tier should be joined that is one finger high. The width of all these tiers is said to be two fingers. All other details regarding colors, directions, and names will become clear in the [actual] performance of the procedure.

The Procedure for the Planetary Sacrifice

The patron Yajamana: the person who sponsors and benefits from the ritual, having bathed and performed his daily morning duties, should state the specific time—the solstice and other calendrical markers—and formulate the declaration of intent Sankalpa: a formal vow made at the start of a ritual to state its purpose:

"For the purpose of pleasing the Supreme Lord through the attainment of planetary favor, I shall perform the planetary sacrifice."

In the case of a desire to remove calamities, the patron should say:
"For the purpose of pleasing the Supreme Lord through the fulfillment of a specific desire [naming the desire]..."

In the case of life-cycle rites like the conception ritual Garbhadhana: the first of the sixteen traditional sacraments (Samskaras), the performer of that rite should say:
"For the purpose of pleasing the Supreme Lord through the attainment of favor from the Great Sun and other planets, I shall perform the planetary sacrifice."

original: "punyāhavācana" (Declaration of an Auspicious Day); "dikpālā" (Guardians of the Directions)

Having spoken the intent, "I shall perform," the materials should then be gathered. For the daily and occasional versions of the rite, one should obtain the items specified in the primary texts; in their absence, one should procure what is available according to one's capacity. In some cases, because no substitute is allowed, only the items specified in the texts must be used.

Regarding the selection of the Preceptor Acharya-varana: one should choose a Brahmin who is of good character and knows the ritual procedures. Touching the priest's hand with his own, the patron should select him to act as the High Priest Brahma and Preceptor for this planetary sacrifice. He then selects the other officiating priests Ritvijs, choosing each one individually.

Selection

The patron addresses the priest: "I select you, a Brahmin of such-and-such lineage, born of such-and-such clan, student of such-and-such branch of the Vedas, named so-and-so, to be the Preceptor in this planetary sacrifice ritual."

Once the Preceptor is selected, the priest responds with verses such as "Jupiter is the Preceptor of the gods..." original: "bṛhaspatiḥ"; referring to the planet Jupiter as the divine priest. Then, following the path of the Sun, the patron should request the priest, saying: "I shall perform the sixteen-fold service. Having been requested by me, may you be successful in this sacrifice." The priests, being pleased, should then perform the work.