Manual for the Performance of Planetary Sacrifice

I. Ko. After entering, the patron performs a bath. On the altar, the construction of the SarvatobhadraA complex "all-auspicious" square grid or mandala used as a foundation for seating multiple deities during high-level rituals. grid is completed, followed by the establishment and worship of the deities within it. A cloth is spread over the Sarvatobhadra grid on the altar. The cloth should be [placed] starting from the east or north.

Im 3 In the northeastern part of the cloth, in a square measuring one hand-span, the Sun and the other NavagrahasThe nine celestial "planets" or influencers: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu., along with their presiding and co-presiding deities, as well as VinayakaGanesha, the remover of obstacles. and others—totaling forty deities—are established in their respective prescribed locations. This is not detailed here at great length. In the ten directions of the altar, starting from the south, the Guardians of the Directions are also established as prescribed. On the northern part of the altar, attached to the cloth in the northeastern section, between the south and north points, the threads are laid for GarutmanAnother name for Garuda, the celestial eagle and vehicle of Vishnu., followed by the invocation.

The mantra for the invocation of Garuda is as follows:

"I invoke you, who reside within the body of Fire, the vehicle of the Supreme Being. You are the eternal remover of all sins; therefore, grant me peace."

Having invoked Garutman with the words "I invoke Garutman," one should establish him using the Vedic verse "You are the fair-winged Garutman" original: "Suparṇo'si Garutmān" or with the three-verse prayer. Alternatively, Garutman is established using the verse "To Indra, Mitra, Varuna, and Fire..." original: "Indraṃ mitraṃ varuṇam agniṃ". On the eastern part of the altar, to the south of the central east-west line and touching the thread, Garutman is established. In that same spot, to the west of Garutman, BrahmaThe creator deity. is established with the mantra "Brahma was first born..." original: "Brahma jajñānam". In this section, the Brahma-mandala is established. In the center of the altar, Vishnu is established with the mantra "Vishnu strode..." original: "Idaṃ viṣṇur". In the west of the altar, RudraThe fierce form of Shiva. is established with the mantra "We worship the Three-Eyed One..." original: "Tryambakam". In the northern part of the altar, in the third row north of Garuda... 129

...SkandaThe deity of war, also known as Kartikeya. is established with the "First" original: "Prathamam" mantra dedicated to Mitra. Skanda is established in the northeast with the mantra "The gods are good cows..." original: "Sugāvo devā" along with the Jaya mantras.
In this context, VarunaThe deity of the cosmic waters and moral law. is established with the mantra "Here dwell, O Brahma..." original: "Atra vasa brahma". Some say this should be done with the mantra "In your own home..." original: "Sve dasta" (Sve dakṣe). In the southeast corner of the altar, the MarutsStorm deities or wind spirits. are established with the mantra "Of whom the Maruts..." original: "Maruto yasya". In the northern part of the altar, in the third row north of Skanda, the wind deities are established. All deities are consecrated with the "Pratishtha" mantra. The worship of all deities is performed with their respective individual mantras as prescribed. This is not described here in great detail. After the worship, the following prayer is offered:

"May the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Maruts, the Guardians of the Worlds, Brahma, Janardana (Vishnu), and the single-handed Rudra be present here. May all those who share in the sacrifice be near. May they all accept this worship which is performed for the sake of health and prosperity. May they all, being well-disposed and focused, bring about what is auspicious."

Thus it is said. To the northeast of the altar, the KalashaA consecrated water pot representing the presence of the divine. is established. There, after the invocation and worship of Varuna with the appropriate mantras, a prayer is offered. Above the offerings, one should bind a five-colored canopy decorated with flowers, umbrellas, garlands, and fruits. One should offer this canopy with the mantra "To Brihaspati..." or "To the Sun..." or perform it as a general dedication. The canopy for the pavilion, however, should be bound earlier at the time of decoration. At this time, the Kalasha is consecrated with the RudradhyayaA famous Vedic hymn dedicated to Rudra/Shiva found in the Yajurveda. or at this opportunity, the establishment of the fire, the resolve (Sankalpa), and the worship of the ritual cord (Mekhala) are performed. This is because such a sequence is heard in the traditional ritual manuals. In this ritual, the fire...