Manual of the Nine Planets Sacrifice

The five leavesoriginal: "panchapallava" — A ritual cluster of leaves from five specific trees, usually including mango, pipal, and banyan, used for purifying and decorating ritual vessels. are now described. The priests should be Brahmins who are learned in the Vedasoriginal: "Veda" — The oldest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism., distinguished, and likewise versed in the Sama Veda. 36 One should chant a quarter of the verses of the Rig Veda, the Gayatri mantra, and the Vayu mantra. An Acharyaoriginal: "āchārya" — The head priest or spiritual preceptor who directs the ceremony. must be appointed who possesses all auspicious characteristics. 37 The wise know the one who is expert in the sacrificial ladle and the invocation rituals. With the Gayatri mantra, one should offer cow urineoriginal: "go-mutra"; with the Gandhadwara mantra, one should offer cow dungoriginal: "gomaya". 38 With the Apyayasva mantra, one offers milkoriginal: "kshira"; with the Dadhikravna mantra, yogurtoriginal: "dadhi". With the Tejosi Shukram mantra, clarified butteroriginal: "ajya"; and with the Devasyatva mantra, water infused with Kusha grassoriginal: "kushodaka". 39 Having obtained the officiating priestsoriginal: "ritvij", one should then perform the ritual. The Acharya should first be

chosen, and then the officiating priests should be chosen likewise. 40 One should invoke the deity into this potoriginal: "kumbha" — A sacred water vessel representing the deity or the universe. and purify it with the five products of the coworiginal: "panchagavya" — A purifying mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, urine, and dung.. [One should use] yogurt, Durva grass, Shami leaves, flowers, unbroken rice, and sandalwood. 41 Having filled the vessel with water and white mustardoriginal: "siddhartha", and with hands folded in reverence... 42 Yogurt, unbroken rice, flowers, clarified butter, white mustard, barley, water, and Darba grass—this is called the eight-fold respectful offeringoriginal: "ashtanga-arghya" — A traditional hospitality offering consisting of eight specific ingredients.. 43 The Patronoriginal: "yajamana" — The person for whom the ritual is being performed and who sponsors it., having bathed and become pure, endowed with purity and self-control, [having attended to] the washing of feet, clean clothes, and so on...