22:1 'The Pravargya ceremony lasts for three days, and is always performed twice a day, in the forenoon and afternoon. It precedes the animal and Soma sacrifices. For without having undergone it no one is allowed to take part in the solemn Soma feast prepared for the gods.' HAUG's "Aitareya Brhmanam". Ved. II. p. 41. note,. "q. v."
22:2 \"Upasads". 'The Gods said, Let us perform the burnt offerings called Upasads ("i. e." besieging). For by means of an "Upasad", "i. e." besieging, they conquer a large (fortified) town.' --"Ibid." p. 32.
22:3 The Soma plant, or Asclepias Acida. lts fermented juice was drunk in sacrifice by the priests and offered to the Gods who enjoyed the intoxicating draught.
23:1 'Dum* in caerimoniarum intervallis Brachmanae facundi, sollertes, crebros sermones de rerum causis instituebant, alter alterum vincendi cupidi. This public disputation in the assembly of Brhmans on the nature of things, and the almost fraternal connexion between theology and philosophy deserves some notice; whereas the priests of some religions are generally but little inclined to show favour to philosophers, nay, sometimes persecute them with the most rancorous hatred, as we are taught both by history and experience.... This s'loka is found in the MSS. of different recensions of the Rmyan, and we have, therefore, the most trustworthy testimony to the antiquity of philosophy among the Indians.' Schlegel.
23:2 The "Angas" or appendices of the Vedas, pronunciation, prosody, grammar, ritual, astronomy, and explanation of obscurities.
23:3 In Sanskrit "vilva", the Aegle Marmelos. 'He who desires food and wishes to grow fat, ought to make his Ypa (sacrificial Post) of Bilva wood.' HAUG'S Atareya Brhmanam. Vol. II. p. 73.
23:4 The "Mimosa Catechu". ' He who desires heaven ought to make his Ypa of Khdira wood.' --"Ibid".
23:5 The "Butea Frondosa". 'He who desires beauty and sacred knowledge ought to make his Ypa of Pals'a wood.' --"lbid".
23:6 The "Cardia Latifolia".
23:7 A kind of pine. The word means literally the tree of the Gods; Compare the עצי יהוה 'trees of the Lord.'
23:1b The Hindus call the constellation of Ursa Major the Seven Rishis or Saints.
24:1 A minute account of these ancient ceremonies would be out of place here. 'gnishtoma is the name of a sacrifice, or rather a series of offerings to fire for five days. It is the first and principal part of the Jyotishtoma, one of the great sacrifices in which especially the juice of the Soma plant is offered for the purpose of obtaining Swarga or heaven.' Goldstcker'S Dictionary. 'The "gnishtoma" is Agni. It is called so because they (the gods) praised him with this Stoma. They called it so to hide the proper meaning of the word: for the gods like to hide the proper meaning of words.'
'On account of four classes of gods having praised Agni with four Stomas, the whole was called "Chatushtoma" (containing four Stomas).'
'It (the gnishtoma) is called "Jyotishtoma", for they praised Agni when he had risen up (to the sky) in the shape of a light ("jyotis").'
'This (gnishtoma) is a sacrificial performance which has no beginning and no end.' HAUG'S "Aitareya Brhmanam".
The Atirtra, literally lasting through the night, is a division of the service of the Jyotishtoma.
The Abhijit, "the everywhere victorious", is the name of a sub-division of the great sacrifice of the Gavmanaya.
The Vis'vajit, or "the all-conquering", is a similar sub-division.
yus is the name of a service forming a division of the Abhiplava sacrifice.
'The "Aptorym", is the seventh or last part of the Jyotishtoma, for the performance of which it is not essentially necessary, but a voluntary sacrifice instituted for the attainment of a specific desire. The literal meaning of the word would be in conformity with the "Praudhamanoram", a sacrifice which procures the attainment of the desired object. Goldstcker'S Dictionary.
'The "Ukthya" is a slight modification of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. The noun to be supplied to it is "kratu". It is a Soma sacrifice also, and one of the seven Sansthas or component parts of the Jyotishtoma. Its name indicates its nature. For "Ukthya" means "what refers to the Uktha," which is an older name for Shstra, i.e. recitation of one of the Hotri priests at the time of the Soma libations. Thus this sacrifice is only a kind of supplement to the Agnishtoma.' Haug.
24:1b 'Four classes of priests were required in India at the most solemn sacrifices. 1. The officiating priests, manual labourers, and acolytes, who had chiefly to prepare the sacrificial ground, to dress the altar, slay the victims, and pour out the libations. 2. The choristers, who chant the sacred hymns. 3. The reciters or readers, who repeat certain hymns. 4. The overseers or bishops, who watch and superintend the proceedings of the other priests, and ought to be familiar with all the Vedas. The formulas and verses to be muttered by the first class are contained in the Yajur-veda-sanhit. The hymns to be sung by the second class are in the Sama-veda-sanhit. The Atharva-veda in said to be intended for the Brahman or overseer, who is to watch the proceedings of the sacrifice, and to remedy any mistake that may occur. The hymns to he recited by the third class are contained in the Rigveds,' "Chips from a German Workshop".