Manual of the Nine Planets Sacrifice

Kardama. 50 One should surely satisfy the priests with perfumes and other offerings combined with the honorariumoriginal: "dakshina" — A ritual gift or fee given to priests to ensure the spiritual merit of the ceremony is transferred to the patron.. "For the successful completion of this sacrifice, you have been honored by me." 51

A state of great graciousness should be maintained; the pacification riteoriginal: "shantika" — A ritual intended to avert evil or calm the influence of malevolent planets. must be performed according to the rules. [The patron remains] seated upon a seat of sugarcane there until the ritual actionoriginal: "karma" is finished. 52

Whether in the dailyoriginal: "nitya", the occasionaloriginal: "naimittika", or the desire-motivatedoriginal: "kamya" rites, or indeed in those related to the household, a specific vessel or posture should be arranged, except for one who has recently given birth. 53 This is the side of the [altar]... all the containers...

...for the householder, there should be a steady sacred fireoriginal: "agni"; there should be the southern fire and the northern fire. 54 He should never be without a fire, or he may maintain a single fire; he should not be devoid of the ritual fire in any way.

The fuel sticksoriginal: "samidh" should be measured as horizontal or vertical, firm, not too thin, and placed facing the direction of the ritual. 55

The vessel for the sacrificial porridgeoriginal: "charu-sthali" is prescribed to be made of either clay or of Udumbara woodoriginal: "audumbari" — The wood of the cluster fig tree, considered highly auspicious in Vedic traditions and symbolic of nourishment.. All the various items should be prepared separately by those who are experts in the sacred chantsoriginal: "mantra". 56

There is a single placement of the vessels with a chant, even if the chants for specific offerings differ later. This is similar to the rites for the Protector of the Dwellingoriginal: "Vastoshpati" — A deity invoked when building or entering a new home. or during the commencement of Vedic studyoriginal: "upakarana-karman".