Manual for the Sacrifice to the Nine Planets and the Propitiation of Ganesha

...savunau This appears to be the end of a mantra from the previous page. Now, the Procedure for Appointing the Priests. original: Varaṇa-prayoga; the formal ceremony where the ritual patron invites the clergy to perform the sacrifice In the ritual of the sacrifice, the washing of the feet is performed. [The patron says:] "O Teacher, here is the water for your feet; here is the water for the guest-offering original: arghya; a traditional offering of honor." In the ritual of the sacrifice, he says to the priest: "This is for you," and so on. After rinsing the mouth original: achamya and performing breath control original: pranayama, there is the Recitation of Blessings. original: Svasti-patha

Having performed the purification ceremony beginning with "The impure becomes pure" original: apavitrah pavitrah; a common Vedic prayer for internal and external cleansing up to the midpoint, [the patron states the time and location]: "On this day, in the presence of the Lord Brahma..." for the sake of removing all obstacles, for the fulfillment of all desires, for the favor of the Nine Planets, original: navagraha-anukula and for obtaining the fruits of the ritual as prescribed by the scriptures. "To the best of my ability, I shall perform the appointment of the priests." Taking consecrated rice grains original: akshata; unbroken rice used in rituals:

"To you of such-and-such lineage original: gotra, named A?prakashasharman, I, desiring all success, by this cooked offering original: sthalipaka and the worship with ritual offerings, with a fee of gold original: hiranya-dakshina, choose you for the role of Lead Preceptor original: Acharya. This fee is given according to my own will." Then, having performed the procedure for the lineage and name as before, the same is done for the other priests. As in the Agnishtoma sacrifice a major five-day Vedic fire ritual, the procedure should be repeated three times.

Then, the worship with sandalwood and the offering of betel nut original: tambula is performed. "To the priests, headed by the Lead Preceptor, I give these offerings. May each portion be accepted." This is the rule of worship. After rinsing the mouth, the patron promises: "There shall be food for the priests, headed by the Lead Preceptor, until the end of the rite." Then follows the declaration: "May it be an auspicious day; may it be long." "May the waters be auspicious," and so on, followed by the prayers for peace. "For the sake of establishing the success of this appointment ceremony, this gold fee is given." "May the priests protect us," and so on. "May the Sun and the other planets be pleased," and so on. May there be auspicious signs and blessings from this ceremony of appointing the priests.

After rinsing the mouth, the Patron original: Yajamana; the person sponsoring and paying for the ritual should say: "Of this sacrifice..." Then the Lead Preceptor, after rinsing his mouth, begins the work with the Recitation of Blessings. The ritual actions for the pavilion original: mandapa, the fire-pits original: kunda, and the sacrificial formulas original: yajus should be performed. The placement of the water vessel for Varuna the god of the oceans and cosmic order, the sprinkling of water original: prokshana, and the invocation of the deities are the main actions in the preparation of the sacrificial grain. To the Sun-god Savitr, to the Moon-god Soma...