#6B8E23 Dr. R. Nagaswamy Then the rite introduces an offering called Prājāpatya offering i.e. the offering addressed to gods for the sake of all all men and living beings (prajas),. “The Prājāpatya offering is performed by spreading hundreds of darbha grass, with gold, is a pure sacrifice. By this Prājāpatya homa we become learned in brahma-vidyā (karma). We purify this brahma (action) which is pure. Indra with Suniti devi should purify me. Soma with Svasti should purify me. Varuna with Samichi devi purify me. Yama with Mrityu deities purify me. Agni with Ūrjayanti purify me We pray for peace for the present and future sufferings. We pray for the good of the sacred offering and the performer ( These are the prayers of the Priests) “Let there be divine blessings on us Let there be good for all human beings Let vegetations that sustain us grow Let there be good for two footed beings (dvipād) Let there be good for four footed animals (catushpād) Peace. Peace. Peace.” (Om Sānti Sānti and Sānti) At the end of this rite the God Varuna who remained invoked in the pot of water all these while is given leave to depart to his abode. The priests then with the mango leaves and darbha grass sprinkle the sanctified water in the pot on the performer, his relatives and all those assembled, on the material collected and all the the place which is the whole house or the mandapa. While sprinkling the waters on all the priests recite the following hymn. “By the imprecation of the God Savitā, the twin deities Aswins reside in thy shoulders, the god Pūsha reside in your hands, Goddess Saraswati in thy speech, by the leader in thy movement, and Agni with all leadership. (This is said by the priest.) “The performer says that by thy oblation I should be relieved from all sins, like the one who is relieved from the fetters, like the one who is cleaned of all the perspiration and like the ghee by purification”. “He (performer) says that the sanctified water are like the medicines and let them become medicines to me”. With this ends the Punyāha.” Comments The praise of the Pāvamāni hymns give us a glimpse into the essence of Vedic religion. They again and again tell us that they are the essence collected by the ancient sages (Rishis), and are meant for purification. Final achievements are possible only by purification. The Poems are personified as Goddesses. The sacred offerings are called Brahma. The performer prayed for happiness, prosperity, good health, wealth and peace in this and other world for all including all beings, men and animals. The four Gods mentioned here as Indra, Yama, Varuṇa and Soma are the four directions east, south, west, and north deified respectively and suggest thus invocation of all the space around. It may be seen thatthese deities are invoked not individually but in the company of their consorts, whose names are also mentioned. This shows that in Vedic religion women were as much deified and worshipped as male gods to bestow good things. The term “Brahmavid” is used in the sense of “knowledgeable in Vedic rituals”. (After these proclamation the Fire worship follows.)