Srimad Ramayana Tathva Deepika #109 (Ba:la ka:nda)

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Srimathe: Ramanujayanamaha!

Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam!

 

(13th Sarga #2 )

 

The required paraphernalia for the Aswame:dha yaga would be as follows:

 

A rope has to be woven using palm fibre to a length of 12 hands (ja:na). The

‘Yajna Aswa’ would be tied by this rope and released. Water has to be procured

in four ways – rain water collected directly while it is falling, water from

the wells, still waters from the ponds and the flowing waters. When the horse is

released, four hundred guards have to follow it. Other than the Upaadhyaya, the

four rithwiks Adhvarvudu, Brahma, Ho:tha and Udgaatha should go each with one

hundred royal warriors to safe guard the ritual horse.

 

Thus after initiating the rithwiks in this manner and releasing the horse, in

the following year during the Vasanth rithu, deeksha has to be taken to perform

the yajna. First year, when the chitra star falls on the Chaitra bahula padyami

day in the Vasanth rithu, the yaga by name SangrahaNe:shti is conducted. Next

year four rithwiks tie the horse and bathe it with the procured water, sanctify

the horse by sprinkling holy water and then leave it. The horse thus released

has to return by the next spring(vasantha rithu). During the year every day they

perform rituals like ‘Saavithram’ etc.

 

To be continued...

Jai Srimannarayana!

Ramanujamma M. Ramanuja Dasi