Ninth Section

Soma-Anointing 5

Instruction for the addition of curd
In the Anushtubh meter: "Om. I have sung the praises of Dadhikravan, the victorious, swift horse. May he make our mouths fragrant; may he prolong our lives." original: "Dadhikravno akarisham..."; Rigveda 4.39.6. This mantra is traditionally used when adding curd to ritual mixtures. With this, add the curd. "You are the clear one, you are the light, you are the luster." With this, add the clarified butter Ajya: Ghee or clarified butter used in Vedic offerings. "I invoke here the Goddess of Fortune (Shri), who is perceived through scent, who is difficult to overpower, who is ever-prosperous and rich in organic wealth, the sovereign of all beings." original: "Gandhadvaram duradharsham..."; from the Shri Sukta. With this, add the cow dung. For the Gayatri mantra, the seer is Vishvamitra, the deity is Savitar, and the meter is Gayatri: "Om. Let us meditate on that excellent glory of the divine Sun..." original: "Tat savitur vare[nyam]..."; the famous Gayatri Mantra. Having added the cow urine with this, then use the verse "He with the golden hands..." original: "Sa hiranyapanir..."; Rigveda 1.22.5 for which the seer is Shyavashva, the deity is Savitar, and the meter is Gayatri: "Om. We seek the wonderful portion of the Sun (Savitar), the supporter, who comes with his golden hands for our protection." With this, add the gold. For the verse "The herbs that were born of old," the seer is Atharvana Bhishag (the Healer), the subject is Herbs, and the meter is Anushtubh: "Om. The herbs that were born of old, three ages before the gods, I will now praise their hundred and seven applications." original: "Ya oshadhih purva jata..."; Rigveda 10.97.1. With this, add the hundred types of herbs; if they are unavailable, add the ten roots Dashamula: a traditional Ayurvedic formulation of ten medicinal roots or gold. With the "Perceived through scent..." verse referred to earlier, add the fragrance or sandalwood paste.

Having added [the substances], recite: "May all the oceans, rivers, holy pilgrimage sites, and clouds come here to destroy the sins of the patron of this sacrifice." "O Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri—reside within this water." This is a standard Pauranic prayer used to invite the seven sacred rivers of India into a ritual vessel. "O Ganges, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Shutudri, and Parushni, accept this my hymn. O Asikni, Marudvridha, Vitasta, Arjikiya, and Sushoma, listen!" original: "Imam me Gange..."; the Rigvedic River Hymn (10.75.5). With this mantra, then touch the pot and chant: "O Waters, you are the sources of happiness; give us strength so that we may gaze upon great joy." original: "Apo hi stha mayobhuvas..."; Rigveda 10.9.1. The seer is Sindhudvipa, the meter is Gayatri; the fifth verse is Vardhamana, the seventh is Pratishtha, and the last two are Anushtubh. For the application of the chant: "Om. Waters, you are the sources of happiness..." (repeat 3 times). Then "Your sovereign power is not [to be challenged]..." original: "Na hi te kshatram..."—this twenty-first verse awakens [the ritual]. The seer is Shunahshepa, the deity is Varuna. The first ten verses are Trishtubh meter, the rest are Gayatri. Application for the consecration: "Om. Neither your sovereign power, nor your force, nor your wrath have these flying birds attained. These waters, which flow without ceasing, do not diminish the vastness of the wind. King Varuna, of purified will, has placed the seat of Law in the woods..."