Mirror: https://www.academia.edu/12525750/Rigveda_%C4%81pr%C4%AB_ricas_offers_of_prayers_to_bestowers_of_riches._Exemplified_by_bh%C4%81ratam_janam_worshipping_Sivalinga_in_Sarasvati-Sindhu_civilization
In Sanatana Dharma traditions, divinity is seen in every phenomenon. This is exemplified by the performance of Yajna or Puja offering prayers to both animate and inanimate objects deifing them as Āprī divinities. Same principle applies to the performance of Puja which is more than a mere prayer. It is a communion with the metaphors of divinity by treating the manifestations of the divine as atithi-s, guests invited, invoked and offered respectful आतिथ्य
ātithya 'hospitality' in the sacred place of a temple or a puja room or precinct in a home. ātithya आतिथ्य a particular rite, the reception of Soma when it is brought to the sacrificial place (also called आतिथ्येष्टिः) -Comp. -रूप a. being in the place of the आतिथ्य Yajna; आतिथ्यरूपं मासरम् Vāj.19.14. This tradition becomes the doctrine for Pujavidhi, rules for performance of ātithya आतिथ्य when venerating Rudra-Siva and other divinities.
The place of work is the place of worship. The smithy, kole.l is a temple, kole.l (Kota language. Mleccha/Meluhha Indian sprachbund).
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Sivalinga, as a pillar of light. Lingam, grey sandstone in situ, Harappa, Trench Ai, Mound F, Pl. X (c) (After Vats). "In an earthenware jar, No. 12414, recovered from Mound F, Trench IV, Square I... in this jar, six lingams were found along with some tiny pieces of shell, a unicorn seal, an oblong grey sandstone block with polished surface, five stone pestles, a stone palette, and a block of chalcedony..." (Vats, MS, 1940, Excavations at Harappa, Vol. II, Calcutta, p. 370) "In the adjoining Trench Ai, 5 ft. 6 in. below the surface, was found a stone lingam [Since then I have found two stone lingams of a larger size from Trenches III and IV in this mound. Both of them are smoothed all over]. It measures 11 in. high and 7 3/8 in. diameter at the base and is rough all over.’ (Vol. I, pp. 51-52)." See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/04/sivalinga-in-dholavira-depicted-as.html
Āprī divinities are personified objects belonging to the fire-sacrifice, objects such as firewood , sacred grass , enclosure, all regarded as different forms of अग्नि.
Budha with consort Ilā (Ila as a woman). Ilā is praised as Idā (Sanskrit: इडा) in the Rigveda; signifies food and refreshment, personified as the goddess of speech and described as mother of Pururavas. She presides over the Earth. She is described as the Mānavi (daughter of Manu) and Ghṛtapadī (with the ghee-dripping foot) and she is represented by a cow. In RV 1.31.11 she is instructress of Manu: 1.031.11 The gods formerly made you, Agni, the living general of the mortal Nahus.a; they made Il.a_, the instructress of Manu, when the son of my father was born. [Nahus.a was the son of A_yus, son of Puru_ravas, who was elevated to heaven as an Indra. Il.a_ institues the first rules of performing sacrifices, hence she is S'a_sani_ = dharmopades'akartri_, the giver of instruction in duty]. She lays down the rules, doctrine śāsana शासन of a yajna and for dharma.
Ilā is considered the chief progenitor of the Lunar Dynasty. Ailas are "descendants of Ilā". iḍā f. (metaphorically see id - ), stream or flow of praise and worship (personified as the goddess of sacred speech and action, invoked together with aditi - and other deities, but especially in the āprī - hymns together with sarasvatī - and mahī- or bhāratī
http://sanskritdictionary.com/?q=i%E1%B8%8D%C4%81
Ilā is an Āprī divinity.
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Tiruvengadu Budha temple. http://www.southindiatoursandtravels.com/?Budhan
One Āprī divinity, a different form of Agni is Indra. Indras is also a rainbow, a divinity of rain: índra m. ʻ the god Indra ʼ RV. Pa. inda -- m., Pk. iṁda -- m.; Kt. ī˜dr ʻ name of a god ʼ, Pr. indr, Kal. in, gen. indras; S. ĩḍra -- laṭhi f. ʻ rainbow ʼ; OMarw. ī˜da, Si. in̆du. WPah.poet. indra m. ʻ god of rain ʼ (← Sk.?). (CDIAL 1572) A cognate gloss indhan points to the relationship with Agni by a play of words creating a metaphor: indhana n. ʻ lighting, kindling, fuel ʼ MBh. [√indh ] Pa. indhana -- n. ʻ fuel ʼ, Pk. iṁdhaṇa -- n., P. innhaṇ m., B. indhan (← Sk.?), Aw. lakh. ī˜dhanu , H. ī˜dhan m., G. ĩdhaṇ, ĩdhṇũ n., (North Gujarat) e_ dhṇã̄ n. pl. -- Kal. idhōn ʻ tripod to put over the fire ʼ semant. difficult, poss. *indhanakuṭaka ʻ fuel -- store ʼ [indhana -- , kuṭī -- ] H. ĩdhauṛā m. ʻ room for storing wood ʼ. (CDIAL 1584, 1585).
Indra is invoked in RV 1.4.2 as a drinker of Soma: RV 1.4: r.s.i: madhucchanda_ vais'va_mitra; devata_: indra; chanda: ga_yatri_ Anuva_ka II 1.004.02 Drinker of the Soma juice, come to our (daily) rites, and drink of the libation; the satisfaction of (you who are) the bestower of riches, is verily (the cause of) the gift of cattle.
This provides the lead for identifying participating resources in the Soma yajna deified as Āprī deities. The objects and resources deified are both animate and inanimate. Animate resources include: Narāśaṁsa and Tanūnapāt. Inanimate resources include objects such as samidhā and barhis which are kindled to augment fire in the yajna; in one semantic stream barhis becomes fire itself: बर्हिः Fire. -n. The Kuśa grass. -Comp. -न्यायः a rule of interpretation according to which an expression must be understood in its primary sense rathar than in its secondary sense. This is discussed and established by Jaimini and Śabara at MS.3.2.1 and 2.
samidha: sáminddhē ʻ sets fire to, takes fire, sámiddha -- ʻ ignited ʼ RV. [Cf. samídh -- f. ʻ fuel ʼ RV., Pa. samidhā -- f., Pk. samihā -- f. -- √indh ] P. sũdhkaṇā ʻ to be kindled ʼ, sũdhkāuṇā ʻ to kindle ʼ. (CDIAL 13225); barhis, Kuśa grass: barhis बर्हिस् m., n. [बर्ह् कर्मणि इसि] 1 Kuśa grass; प्राक् कूले बर्हिष्यासीनो गङ्गाकुल उदङ्मुखः Bhāg.12.6.1; नियमविधिजलानां बर्हिषां चोपनेत्री Ku.1.6. -2 A bed or layer of Kuśa grass. -3 A sacrifice, oblation; ये बर्हिषो भागभाजं परादुः Bhāg.4.6.5. -m. 1 Fire. -2 Light, splendour. -n. 1 Water. -2 Sacrifice. -3 Ether. --4 A kind of perfume. -Comp. -उत्थः, -केशः, -ज्योतिस्m. an epithet of fire. -मुखः (बर्हिर्मुखः) 1 an epithet of fire. -2 a god (whose mouth is fire). -शुष्मन् m. an epithet of fire. -सद् (बर्हिषद्) a. seated on a layer of Kuśa grass. (-m.) 1 the manes (pl.); Ms.3.199. -2 a Pitṛi or deified progenitor. (Samskritam. Apte)
The āprī ricas 3.4.8-11 = 7.2.8-11 are ascribed in the third book to ViSvAmitra GAthina, in the seventh book to VasiSTha MaitrAvaruNI. Apri devatas include Sarasvatī Nadi, a metaphoric transformation of a river as a divinity invoked in prayer and yajna. It is posited that the veneration of Soma as a divinity in Rigveda is comparable to this metaphoric transformation achieved in chandas prosody tradition.
Soma, an object, electrum is deified in a supreme āprī आप्री as propitiatory diction, presenting the entire Rigveda in nuce, in a nutshell related to processing of Soma, aṁśú.
Comparable to the metalwork as deified objects, the Indus Script Corpora consisting of metalwork catalogues are also a celebration of the innovations achievd during the Bronze Age with metalcastings, cire perdue techniques of casting and creation of alloys for hardened tools, pots and pans, metalware and weapons.
āprī आप्री f. [आप्रीणात्यनया आ-प्री-ड-गौरा˚ ङीष्] Ved. 1 Conciliation, propitiation, gaining one's favour. -2 (pl.) 'Propitiatory verses', a name given to certain invocations addressed to several deified objects in con- secutive order, and said to be introductory to the animal sacrifice; some take the Apris to represent the objects themselves, the verses being consequently called Apri verses. The objects invoked are 12:- Susamiddha, Tanūnapāt, Narāśaṁsa, the divine being bearing invocations to the gods, Barhis, the doors of the sacrificial chamber, night and dawn the two divine beings protecting the sacrifice, the three goddesses Ilā, Sarasvatī, and Mahī, Tvaṣṭṛi, Vanaspati and Svāhā, (all these being regarded by Sāyaṇa to be different forms of Agni); स एता आप्रीरपश्यत्ताभिर्वै स मुखत आत्मानमा- प्रीणीत; cf. also Max Muller's Hist. Anc. Lit. pp. 463-466.(Samskritam. Apte)
RV 1.13: r.s.i: medha_tithi ka_n.va; devata_: 1.idhma or samiddhi agni, 2. tanu_napa_t, 3.nara_s'am.sa, 4.il.a_, 5.barhi, 6.divyadva_ra, 7.us.a_sa_nakta_, 8.divyahota_ pracetas, 9.tisro devyah: sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_, 10.tvas.t.a_, 11.vanaspati, 12. sva_ha_kr.ti; chanda: ga_yatri_
1.142.01 Agni, who are samiddha, bring the gods today (to the worshipper), whose ladle is uplifted; extent (the merit of) former sacrificer to the giver (of the offering), by whom the Soma is poured forth. [A_pri's of Agni: cf. RV. 1.4.2].
1.142.02 Tanu_napa_t, be present at this well-flavoured and cutter-fed sacrifice, (the offering) of a pious offerer (of oblations); glorifying you.
1.142.03 The pure, purifying, wonderful Nara_s'am.sa, an adorable god among gods, (having come) from heaven, thrice mixes the sacrifice with the sweet (Soma). [Nara_s'am.sa is the deity presiding over the sacrifice: yajn~a_bhima_ni devah; thrice mixes: he comes thrice, or he thrice bestows rewards, perhaps an allusion to the three daily sacrifices].
1.142.04 Agni, who are Il.ita, bring hither Indra, the wonderful, the beloved; this my praise is recited, bright-tongued, before you.
1.142.05 The priests, bearing ladles, are strewing the sacred grass in this holy sacrifice, to prepare a god-frequented and well-spread abode for Indra.
1.142.06 Let the bright, separable doors, the augmenters of sacrifice, the purifiers of rites, the desired of many, be set open for the gods to enter. [The hymn is addressed to the divinities presiding over th e doors of the chamber of sacrifice; asas'cata = not adhering together, mutually separable; asajyama_na-paraspara viprakr.s.t.a, perhaps folding-doors of wide or open doors].
1.142.07 Beautiful night and morning, ever hymned, ever associated, progeny (yahuh sunuh--Nirukta 2.2.11) (of time), parents of sacrifice, sit down of your own good will on the sacred grass.
1.142.08 May the two pleasing-tongued receivers of praise, the divine and sage invokers (of the gods), officiate today at this our sacrifice, which confers (rewards) and attains heaven. [Attains heaven: mandra-jihva_ is an apithet applied to Agni, the two flames that give delight to the gods].
1.142.09 May the pure hota_, placed among the gods, and Bha_rati_, among the Maruts, and may the adorable Il.a_, Sarasvati_, Mahi_, sit down upon the sacred grass. [hota_ = homa-nis.pa_dika_, the presenter of the oblation; deves.u arpita_ = delivered amongst the gods, the praisers of priests (Marutsu); or, marutsu-bha_rati_ = va_c, situated in heaven, dyustha_na_ and connected with bharata, an A_ditya, or name of the sun; il.a_, sarasvati_, mahi_ = sound (va_c); or the goddesses presiding over sound in the three regions, severally of earth, firmament, and heaven].
1.142.10 May Tvas.t.a_, favourably disposed towards us, send to us, for our nourishment and prosperity, the quick (falling), wonderful, abundant (water), in the centre (of the cloud, effecting), of itself much (good). [Qucik (falling), wonderful: the hymn has epithets only related to udakam, water: turi_pam adbhutam puru va_ram puru tmana_; in the centre: na_bha_ na_bhau meghasya avasthitam udakam, i.e. rain; Tvas.t.a_ = personified fire or lightning, in which capacity he is the sender of rain, vr.s.t.ya_deh karta_].
1.142.11 Vanaspati, here present of your own accord, convey our offerings to the gods; the divine and intelligent Agni accepts (the oblations) for the deities. [vanaspati: the fire,or Agni of the sacrificial post, or yupa, from its being of timber].
1.142.12 (Priests), present the oblation with sva_ha_ to Indra, in the form of Ga_yatra, along with Pu_s.an and the Maruts; also to the assembled gods, and the Va_yu. [In the form of Ga_yatra: Ga_yatra-vepase--ga_yatra is substituted for itara-sa_ma: vepas = ru_pa; ga_yatram- ru_pam yasya; ga_yatravepas = a name or form of Indra; along with Pu_s.an and the Maruts: lit., having or possessed of Pu_s.an or the Maruts: pus.anvate marutvate; vis'vadeva_ya (singular) = vis'vadeva- san:gha_ya, the assemblage of all the gods; or, an epithet to identify Indra with all the deities; the personification of Agni is sva_ha_, as one of the A_pris].
1.142.13 Approach, Indra, to partake of the oblations consecrated with sva_ha_; approach and hear the invocation, as they invoke you to the sacrifice.
RV 1.188: r.s.i: agastya maitra_varun.i; devata_: 1 idhma or samiddha agni; 2 tanu_napa_t; 3 ila; 4 barhi; 5 devi_dva_ra; 6 us.a_sa_nakta_; 7 divya hota_gan.a pracetas; 8 sarasvati, il.a_, bha_rati_; 9 tvas.t.a_; 10 vanaspati; 11 sva_ha_kr.ti; chanda: ga_yatri_
1.188.01 You shine today, divine conqueror of thousands, kindled by the priests; do you, who are the sapient messenger (of the gods), convey (to them) our oblation. [The A_pris are also praya_jas; kim. devata_ = what sort of divinities are these; praya_ja, that which is an especial object of worship; such as divinities presiding over the seasons, over the metres of the Veda, over animals, over life, over the spirit, which are forms of Agni: praya_ja ritudevata_s'chandodevata_h pas'udevata_h pra_n.adevata_ a_tmadevata_ itya_dina_ bahu_n paks.a_n upnyasyu bra_hman.a_ni ca pradars'ya a_gneya_ eveti siddha_ntitam. samiddha is a particple, an epithet of deva; susamiddha = well-kindled, a name of Agni].
1.188.02 The adorable Tanu_napa_t proceeds to the rite and combines with the oblation, bearing (for the sacrificer) infinite (abundance of) food.
1.188.03 Agni, who are to be glorified, bring hither, being invoked by us, the adorable gods, for you are the donor of thousands. [Who are to be glorified: id.ya = i_l.ita; nara_s'amsa, a term which normally precedes i_l.ita, is here omitted].
1.188.04 By the power (of their prayers) they have strewn the sacred grass, the seat of numerous heroes, pointing to the east; on which, A_dityas, you are manifest.
1.188.05 They have sprinkled water on the doors (of the hall of sacrifice), which are variously and perfectly radiant, manifold, excellent, many, and numerous. [The doors: vira_t samra_t. vibhvi_h prabhvi_h bahvi_s'ca bhu_yasi_s'ca ya_h: the last two epithets are epithets of number, and the rest are names].
1.188.06 Let the brilliant and beautiful Day and Night, who shine with surpassing lustre, sit down here (upon the sacred grass).
1.188.07 Let these two chief, well-spoken, divine sages, the invokers (of the gods), perform this our sacrifice.
1.188.08 Bha_rati_, Il.a_, Sarasvati_, I invoke you all, that you may direct us to prosperity. [Bha_rati_, the goddess presiding over the heaven; Il.a_, the goddess presiding over the earth; Sarasvati_, the goddess presiding over the firmament; they are all three considered to be special manifestations of the majesty of the sun: etis tisra a_dityaprabha_va vis'es.aru_pa itya_huh].
1.188.09 Tvas.t.a_, who is the master (in fashioning) the forms (of beings), has made all animals distinct; grant us, (Tvas.t.a), their increase. [Tvas.t.a ru_pa_n.i hi prabhuh: kartum = to make, is understood; Tvas.t.a_ is the divinity presiding over the implements of sacrifice;he also fashions beings in the womb as soon as begotten: retasah siktasya tvas.t.a_ ru_Pa_n.i vikaroti; or, yonau sr.s.t.a_ni ru_pa_n.i kartumprabhuh].
1.188.10 Vanaspati, deliver of yourself the victim to the gods, so that Agni may taste the oblation.
1.188.11 Agni, the preceder of the gods [puroga_ puroga_mi_; agnih kasma_dagran.i_rbhavati (Nirukta 7.14), is characterized by the Ga_yatri_ measure; he blazes when the oblations are offered.
RV 2.3: r.s.i: gr.tsamada (a_n:girasa s'aunahotra pas'ca_d) bha_rgava s'aunaka; devata_: a_pri_ su_kta 1, idhma or samiddha agni; 2 nara_s'am.sa; 3 il.a; 4 barhi; 5 divyadva_ra; 6 us.a_sa_nakta_; 7 divya hota_gan.a pracetasa; 8 tisro devyah (sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati); 9 tvas.t.a_; 10 vanaspati; 11 sva_ha_kr.ti; chanda: jagati_
2.003.01 Agni, the well-kindled, placed upon (the altar of) the earth, stands in the presence of all beings; the invoker (of the gods), the purifier, the ancient, the intelligent, the divine; let the venerable Agni minister to the gods. [A_pris: cf. 1.142; 1.188].
2.003.02 May the bright Nara_s'am.sa, illuminating the receptacles (of the offering) making manifest by his greatness the three radiant (regions) and diffusing the oblation at the season of sacrifice with butter-dispensing purpose, satisfy the gods. [Nara_s'am.sa: in the preceding su_ktas, tanu_napa_t is the second personification of Agni addressed; in this su_kta, he is omitted].
2.003.03 Agni, who are the venerable i_l.ita, do you, with mind favourably disposed towards us, offer today sacrifice to the gods, before the human (ministrant priest) as such, bring hither the company of the Maruts, the undecaying Indra, to whom, seated on the sacred grass, do you priests offer worship.
2.003.04 Divine grass, let the Vasus, the VIs'vedevas, the adorable A_ditya, sit upon this flourishing, invigrating, well-grown, sacred grass, strewn for the sakeof wealth upon this altar, and sprinkled with butter. [Divine grass: the barhis, or a personification of Agni].
2.003.05 Let the divine doors, spacious and easily accessible, and to be saluted with prostrations, be set open; let them be celebrated as expansive, uninjurable, and conferring sanctity upon the illustrious class (of worshippers), possessed of virtuous progeny.
2.003.06 In regard of our good deeds, Day and Night, perpetually reverenced, are interweaving in concert, like two famous female weavers, the extended thread, (to complete) the web of the sacrifice, liberal yielders (of rewards), containers of water. [Like two famous female weavers: vayyeva ran.vite = vayya iva va_nakus'ale iva s'abdite, stute].
2.003.07 Let the two divine invokers of the gods, the first (to be reverenced), most wise, sincerely worshipping with sacred texts, most excellent in form, offering homage to the gods in due season, present oblations in the three high places upon the navel of the earth. [Two divine invokers of the gods: the personified fires of earth and the firmament, under the character of, two ministeringpriests; the navel of the earth: this is the usual altar; the three high places: sa_nus.u tris.u, are the three sacred fires: ga_rhapatya, a_havani_ya and daks.in.a_].
2.003.08 May the three goddesses, Sarasvati_, perfecting our understanding, the divine il.a_, and all-impressive Bha_rati_, having come to our dwelling, protect this faultless rite, (offered) for our welfare.
2.003.09 May a tawny-hued, well-grown (son), the bestower of food, active, manly, a worshipper of the gods, be born; may Tvas.t.a_ prolong for us a continuous (line of) progeny, and may the food of the gods come also to us.
2.003.10 May Agni, who is Vanaspati, approving (of our rite), approach; and by his especial acts fully dress the victim; may the divine immolator convey the burnt-offering to the gods, knowing it to have been thrice consecrated. [By his especial acts: agnir-havih su_daya_ti pra dhi_bhih =Agni, who is the supporter, or the instrument of cooking or maturing fitly, cooks the oblation of the nature of the victim with various acts, which are the means of cooking; he dresses the oblation, not under-dressing nor over-dressing it: agnih pa_kadharo havih pas'uru_pam karmavis.es'aih pa_kasa_dhanaih prakars.en.a su_daya_ti ks.a_rayati apa_ka_dhikapa_dira_hityena havih pacati; the divine immolator: daivyah s'amita_: s'amita_ = the person who kills the victim; Agni is the immolator of the gods: deva_na_m s'amita_; thice consecrated: tridha_ samaktam = thrice anointed or sprinkled; the three rites or ceremonies are termed: upastaran.a, avada_na, abhigha_ran.a].
2.003.11 I sprinkle the butter, for butter is his birth-place; he is nourished by butter; butter is his radiance; Agni, showerer (of benefits), bring the gods to the offered oblation; exhilarate them; convey to them the offering that has been reverently sanctified. [cf. Yajurveda 17.88; dha_ma - dwelling, or radiance; alternative reading: Adhvaryu, or priest, bring hither Agni to the oblation; exhilarate him; (and say to him). Showerer (of blessings), convey the consecrated oblation (to the gods).
RV 3.4: r.s.i: vis'va_mitra ga_thina; devata_: a_pri_su_kta (1 idhma agni or samiddha agni, 2 tanu_napa_t, 3 il.a, 4 barhi, 5 devi_dva_ra, 6 us.a_sa_nakta_, 7 divya hota_ pracetas, 8 tisro devyah: sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_, 9 tvas.t.a_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_ha_kr.ti; chanda: tris.t.up
3.004.01 Repeatedly, kindled, (Agni), wake up favourably disposed; (endowed) with reiterated lustre, entertain the kind purpose of (granting us) wealth; bring, divine Agni, the gods to the sacrifice; do you, the friend (of the gods), minister, well-affected, to (your) parents. [Repeatedly kindled: samit sama = samiddha; or, susamiddha, an appellative of Agni in the preceding su_ktas].
3.004.02 Tanu_napa_t, whom the deities, Mitra, Varun.a and Agni, worship daily thrice a day, render this our sacred rain-engendering sacrifice productive of water.
3.004.03 May the all-approved praise reach the invoker of the gods; may Il.a_ first proceed to worship and to praise with prostrations the showerer (of benefits) in his presence; may the adorable (Agni), instigated (by us), worship the gods. [Il.a_ = the il.ita of preceding su_ktas].
3.004.04 An upward path has been prepared for you both in the sacrifice; the blazing oblations soar aloft; the invoker of the gods has sat down in the centre of the radiant (hall); let us strew the sacred grass for the seats of the gods. [You both: Agni and the Barhis, or sacred grass, to which, as in the parallel pages, the hymn is addressed].
3.004.05 The gods who gratify the universe with rain are present at the seven offerings (of the ministering priests), when solicited with (sincerity of) mind; may the many deities who are engendered in sensible shapes at sacrifices come to this our rite. [Deities in sensible shapes: in preceding su_ktas, the doors of the hall of sacrifice, are the personifications specified; here, the divinities presiding over the doors are implied].
3.004.06 May the adored Day and Night, combined or separate, be manifest in bodily form, so that Mitra, Varun.a, Indra, or (the latter), attended by the Maruts, may rejoice us by their glories.
3.004.07 I propitiate the two chief divine invokers of the gods; the seven offerers of (sacrificial) food, expectant of water, gratify (Agni) with oblations; the illustrious observers of sacred rites have saluted him in every ceremony as (identifiable), verily, with water. [As identifiable with water: r.tam it ta a_huh = agnim eva r.tabhu_tam a_huh, they have called Agni, verily, r.ta; r.ta is usually rendered water but it may mean truth; in the preceding phrase, r.tam s'ansanta = udakam, desirous or expectant of water].
3.004.08 May Bha_rati_, associated with the Bha_rati_s; Il.a_ with the gods and men; and Agni, and Sarasvati_ with the Sa_rasvatas; may the three goddesses sit down upon the sacred grass (strewn) before them. [bha_rati_bhih, with the connections of Bharata, or the Sun: bharatasya su_ryasya sambandhini_bhih, perhaps intending the solar rays; Bha_rati_ = va_k, speech; Il.a_ = bhu_mi, the earth; sarasvati_ = ma_dhyamika_ va_k; the sa_rasvatas are the madhyamastha_nas, the middle regions, or the firmament; Agni whose name is rather unconnectedly inserted, is thus identified through their several personifications as goddesses, with heaven, mid-heaven, and earth, or with speech or sound in the three regions].
3.004.09 Divine Tvas.t.a_, being well pleased, give issue to our procreative vigour, whence (a son), manly, devout, vigorous, wielder of the (Soma-bruising) stone, and reverencing the gods, may be born.
3.004.10 Vanaspati, bring the gods nigh; may Agni, the immolator, prepare the victim; let him who is truth officiate as the ministering priest, for, verily, he knows the birth of the gods. [May Agni the immolator: agnir havih s'amita_ su_daya_ti: cf. RV 2.3].
3.004.11 Agni, kindled into flame, come to our presence in the same chariot with Indra and with the swift-moving gods; may Aditi, the mother of excellent sons, sit down on the sacred grass, and may the immortal gods be satisfied with the reverentially-offered oblation. [May the immortal gods: sva_ha_ deva_ amr.ta_ ma_dayanta_m: sva_ha_ = sva_ha_ka_ren.a yuktah, joined with or addressed by the exclamation, sva_ha_].
RV 5.5: r.s.i: vasus'ruta a_treya; devata_: a_pri_ su_kta (1 idhma or samiddha agni; 2 nara_s'a3msa, 3 il.a, 4 barhi, 5 devi_dva_ra, 6 us.a_sa_nakta_, 7 divya hota_ pracetasa, 8 sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_, 9 tvas.t.a_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_hakr.ti); chanda: ga_yatri_
5.005.01 Offer abundant butter to the replendent Susamiddha, to Agni, to Ja_tavedas. [Susamiddha, an epithet of Agni].
5.005.02 Nara_s'am.sa animates this sacrifice he who is uninjurable, who verily is wise and sweet-handed.
5.005.03 Agno, who are I_l.ita, bring hither the wonderful and friendly Indra, with his easy going chariots for our protection.
5.005.04 (Grass), soft as wool, be spread; the worshippers praise you; be to us radiant (grass the source of) liberality. [(Grass): the barhis].
5.005.05 Open divine doors, our passages to preservation; fill full the sacrifice (with its rewards).
5.005.06 We glorify the evening and the morning lovely, food-bestowing, mighty, the mothers of sacrifice.
5.005.07 Praised (by us), divine invokers of the gods, come moving on the path of the wind, to this sacrifice of our patron. [On the path of the wind: va_tasya patman = with the swiftness of the wind, or through the firmament; to this sacrifice of our patron: manus.o no yajn~am = lit., to the sacrifice of our man, i.e. of the yajama_na].
5.005.08 May Il.a_, Sarasvati_, Mahi_, the three goddesses who are the sources of happiness, sit down, benevolent, upon the sacred grass.
5.005.09 Tvas.t.a_, being propitious, you who are diffusive in kindness, come to your own accord protect us in repeated sacrifices.
5.005.10 Wherever you know, Vanaspati, the secret forms of the gods to be, thither convey the oblations. [yatra vettha deva_na_m guhya_ na_ma_ni: na_ma_ni = ru_pa_n.i, forms; it is not soecufued as a faculty of vanaspati in any preceding hymn to the a_pris, although vanaspati, in the preceding hymns and also here represents Agni, as identified with the sacrificial post, or yu_pa, or the deity presiding over the post: yu_pa_bhima_ni_ deva].
5.005.11 The oblation is offered with reverence to Agni, to Varun.a; with reverence to Indra, to the Maruts; with reverence to the gods. [To Agni: the term is sva_ha_, who is an a_pri, or personification of Agni].
RV 7.2: r.s.i: vasis.t.ha maitra_varun.i; devata_: a_pri_ su_kta (1 i_dhma, samiddha agni, 2 nara_s'am.sa, 3 i_l.a, 4 barhi, 5 devi_dva_ra, 6 u_s.a_sa_nakta_, 7 divyahota_ pracetas, 8 sarasvati_, bha_rati_, i_l.a_-tisro devya, 9 tvas.t.a_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_ha_kr.ti; chand: tris.t.up
7.002.01 Be gratified, Agni, by the (sacred fire) kindled by us today, emitting abundant adorable smoke; touch with your scorching flames the celestial summit; combine with the rays of the sun. [Kindled: samiddham; implies one of the A_pris, or forms of fire, although used as an epithet].
7.002.02 We celebrate with sacrifices the greatness of the adorable Nara_s'am.sa among those who are divinities, the performers of good works, the bright-shining, the upholders of rites, who partake of both kinds of oblations. [Oblations of ghi_ and libations of Soma, or other offerings: Nirukta viii.6].
7.002.03 Let us ever worship the Agni who is to be adored by us; the mighty, the dextrous, the messenger passing between heaven and earth, the speaker of truth, kindled (of old) by Manu, as now by men, that (he may come) to the solemnity. [Tanu_napa_t, is omitted; the su_kta is called an A_pri_ su_kta, apra s'abdoktatva_n idam tanu_napa_d rahitam; Agni who is to be adored by us: i_l.enyam agnim is the i_l.ita of the other a_pri_ su_ktas; mahema = to you (priests) worship].
7.002.04The worshippers bearing the sacred grass offer it with reverence, upon their knees, to Agni; worship him, priests, with oblations, invoking him to (sit down) on the spotted (grass), smeared with clarified butter.
7.002.05 The devout performers of holy rites, desirous of chariots, have had recourse to the doors (of the sacrificial chamber); (the ladles), placed to the east, are plying the fire with ghee at sacrifices, as the mother cows lick the calf, or as rivers (water the fields). [The doors: among the A_pris; pu_rvi_ s'is'um na ma_tara riha_n.e samagruvo na samanes.u an~jan = the prio (or eastern) calf like two mothers licking rivers, like in sacrifices tey anoint = pu_rvi_ pra_gagre juhu_pabhr.tau, the two ladles -- the juhu and upabhr.t-- placed at sacrifices with their ends to the east].
7.002.06 May the two youthful females, the divine and mighty day and night, the invoked of many, the possessed of wealth, seated on the sacred grass, enitled to adoration, be with us like an easily-milked cow for our welfare.
7.002.07 I am minded to adore you two sages, the ministrants at sacrifices of men, from celebrated, convey our offspring aloft, and acquire (for our use) the precious (treasures preserved) among the gods.
7.002.08 May Bharati, associated with the Bharatis; Il.a_ with gods and men; and Agni and Sarasvati_ with the Sa_rasvatas; may the three goddesses sit down before us upon this sacred grass. [Il.a_ with gods and man: il.a_ devabhir manus.yebhir agnih; Il.a_ is associated with men; Agni is associated with the goddesses. This and the three following verses are repeated from the second as.t.aka].
7.002.09 Divine Tvas.t.a_, being well-pleased, give issue to our procreative vigour, whence (a son) manly, devout, vigorous, wielder of the Soma-bruising stone, and reverencing the gods, may be born.
7.002.10 Vanaspati, bring the gods night; may Agni, the immolator, prepare the victim; let him who is truth officiate as the ministering priest, for verily he knows the birth of the gods.
7.002.11 Agni, kindled (into flame), come to our presence in the same chariot with Indra, and with the swift moving gods; may Aditi, the mother of excellent sons, sit down on the sacred grass, and may the immortal gods be satisfied with the reverentially-offered oblation.
RV 9.5: r.s.i: asita ka_s'yapa or devala ka_s'yapa; devata_: a_pri_su_kta (1 idhma or samiddha agni, 2 tanu_napa_t, 3 il.a_, 4 barhi, 5 devi_ dva_ra, 6 us.a_sa_nakta_, 7 divya hota_gan.a pracetas, 8 sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_-- tisro devya, 9 tvas.t.a_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_ha_kr.ti
9.005.01 The pure-flowing (Soma) shines forth in its brightness, the universal lord, the showerer of blessings, the rejoicer, uttering a loud sound. [The deities, samidh and others are severally invoked in the successive verses. Soma is praised in the form of the A_pris, and samiddhah is explained as samyagdi_ptah].
9.005.02 The pure-flowing Tanu_napa_t, rushes sharpening its splendour on the height and hastens through the sky. [Tanu_napa_t = a name of Soma, abhyo ams'avo ja_yante tatah somo ja_yate, from the waters are born beams, from these is born Soma; hastens through the sky: that is, to the dron.akalas'a, according to the text, 'he takes a_grayan.a libation with two streams'].
9.005.03 The pure-flowing bright (Soma), the bounteous giver, worthy of all praise, shines forth in its might with the streams of water.
9.005.04 The bright golden-hued pure-flowing one rushes in its might, strewing the sacred grass in the sacrifice with its points towards the cast.
9.005.05 The bright golden doors, praised by the priests together with the Soma, rise up from the vast horizon.
9.005.06 The pure-flowing (Soma) longs for the fair-formed wide-reaching mighty Night and Dawn not yet visible.
9.005.07 I invoke the two divine priests, the two deities who behold men-- the pure-flowing (Soma) is radiant and the showerer (of benefits). [The pure-flowing Soma is radiant: perhaps, an identification of Soma with Indra, just as in the next verse, Indu (i.e. Soma) is identified with Indra.
9.005.08 May the three beautiful goddesses, Bha_rati_, Sarasvati_, and mighty Il.a_, come to this our offering of the Soma.
9.005.09 I invoke Tvas.t.a_, the first-born, the protector, the leader; the golden-coloured pure-flowing Indu is Indra, the showerer, the lord of all creatures.
9.005.10 Pure Soma, consecrate with your streaming ambrosia the green bright golden-hued Vanaspati with its thousand branches.
9.005.11 O all ye gods, come together to the consecration of the Soma-- Va_yu, Br.haspati, Su_rya, Agni and Indra.
RV 10.70: r.s.i: sumitra va_dhryas'va; devata_: a_pri_su_kta (1-idhma or samiddha agni, 2-nara_s'am.sa, 3-il.a_, 4-barhi, 5-devi_ dva_ra, 6-us.a_sa_nakta_, 7-divya hota_gan.a pracetas, 8-sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_: devi_traya, 9-tvas.t.a_, 10-vanaspati, 11-sva_ha_kr.ti); chanda: tris.t.up
Previous A_pri_ hymns: 1.12; 1.13.; 1.188; 2.3; 2.4; 5.5; 7.2; 9.5
10.070.01 Graciously accept, Agni, this my fuel (placed) on the place of libation (the altar); delight in the butter-laden (spoon); most wise, rise up upon the lofty place of the earth for the propitiousness of the days through the worship of the gods.
10.070.02 May Nara_s'am.sa, the preceder of the gods, come here with his horses of various forms; deserving of adoration, chief of the gods, may he effuse (oblations) to the gods by the path of the sacrifice with praise.
10.070.03 Men offering oblations adore the eternal Agni to (induce him to perform) the duty of messenger (to the gods); do you with your stalwart draught horses and your well-turning chariots bear (our offering) to the gods, and sit down here as the ministrant priest.
10.070.04 May our (sacred grass) acceptable to the gods, twining crookedly be stretched out, may it be long, lengthy, and fragrant; with mind free from wrath, divine Barhis, offer worship to the gods desiring (the sacrifice), of whom Indra is the chief.
10.070.05 Be in contact, doors, with the lofty height of heaven, or expand according to the measure of the earth; desiring the gods, desiring a chariot, sustain without might the shining chariot (that is mounted) by the mighty gods.
10.070.06 Radiant daughters of heaven, Dawn and Night, sit down on the place of sacrifice; O you, who are desirous and possessed of affluence, may the gods desirous (of oblations) sit down on your spacious lap.
10.070.07 (When) the grinding-stone is uplifted, the mighty Agni kindled, the acceptable vessels (ready) on the lap of earth; (then), most learned priests, who take the foremost place, bestow wealth upon us at this sacrifice.
10.070.08 Sit down, you three goddesses, upon this broad barhis, we have spread it out for you; Il.a_, radiant (Sarasvati_) and bright-footed (bha_rati_) accept our sacrifice and well-presented oblations as if they were Manu's.
10.070.09 Divine Tvas.t.a_, since you have attained to beauty (through our oblations), and have become the associate of the An:girasas, do you, the bestower of wealth, possessed of precious treasure, and knowing (to whom each portion belongs), offer the food of the gods (to them).
10.070.10 Vanaspati, who are intelligent, having fastened it with a rope, convey the food of the gods; may the divine (Vanaspati) taste it, may he take the oblations (to the gods); may heaven and earth protect my invocation. [Vanaspati: the sacrificial post or stake (yu_pa)].
10.070.11 Bring, Agni, to our sacrifice Varun.a and Indra from heaven, and the Maruts from the firmament, may the adorable universal gods sit down on the sacred grass, and may the immortal deities rejoice in (the oblation presented with) the sva_ha_.
RV 10.110: r.s.i: jamadagni bha_rgava or ra_ma ja_madagnya; devata_: a_pri_su_kta (1 idhma or samiddha agni, 2 tanu_napa_t, 3 il.a_, 4 barhi, 5 devi_dva_ra, 6 us.a_ sa_nakta_, 7 divya hota_gan.a pracetasa, 8 sarasvati_, il.a)_, bha_rati_: three devi_s, 9 tvas.t.ha_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_hakr.ti); chanda: tris.t.up
10.110.01 Kindled today, Ja_tavedas, in the dwelling of the worshipper, you who are divine, sacrifice to the gods. Bear (the oblation), you who respect your friends, who are intelligent; you are the wise, far-seeing messenger (of the gods).
10.110.02 Pure-tongued Tanu_napa_t, flavour the paths of the sacrifice which lead (to success), moistening them with the sweet (Soma); elevating our praises and our rite by understanding, convey our sacrifice to the gods. [Tanu_napa_t: Agni; tanu = a cow that has calved and yields milk, whence comes butter, and from butter fire-- Agni is thus the grandson of the cow; or, grandson of the waters, because from rain come the trees and trees supplying fuel propagate Agni].
10.110.03 Agni, who are the invoker (of the gods), and are to be solicited and praised, come, being propitiated, along with the Vasus; you, O mighty (Agni), are the invoker of the gods; do you, who are most entitled to worship, solicited by us, offer them adoration.
10.110.04 In the beginning of the day the sacred grass, pointing eastwards, is strewn with the prescribed (text) as a covering for the earth (of the altar); they spread it out far and wide as a pleasant (seat) for the gods and Aditi.
10.110.05 Expanding wide, let the doors give access as gracefully decorated wives give access to their husbands, divine doors, spacious and admitting all, be easy of entry for the gods.
10.110.06 May the adorable Day and Night, the givers of sound repose, having approached, sit down in the place (of sacrifice), two divine females, majestic and richly ornamented, bearing beauty of a bright form.
10.110.07 Divine ministers, prior (to those of earth), repeaters of pious praise, instituting the sacrifice at which men are to worship, (sit down) stimulating (the priests) at the sacrifices, makers (of praises), indicating the eastern fire with the prescribed (text). [Eastern fire: A_havani_ya. The two divine ministers, of Hota_ are Agni and A_ditya].
10.110.08 May Bha_rati_ come quickly to our sacrifice, and Il.a_ thinking (of what she has to do), like a human being; may Sarasvati_ also-- the three gracious goddesses, sit down upon this pleasant sacred grass.
10.110.09 To the divine Tvas.t.a_, who decked the parental heaven and earth and all the worlds with living forms, to him, O priest, who are venerable and wise, being solicited byu us, offer oblation here today.
10.110.10 Offer of your own will in due season the food (and other) oblations of the gods besmearing it. Let Vanaspati, S'amita_, the divine Agni, sweeten the oblation with honey and butter. [Vanaspati_ = the deified yu_pa, or sacrificial post; or, the r.ca may be addressed to the priest; S'amita_: immolator of the victim. The post, the immolator and the fire are here deified as the chief instruments or agents of the sacrifice].
10.110.11 As soon as he was born, Agni constructed a sacrifice, he was the preceder of the gods; may the gods partake of the oblation presented with the sva_ha_ through the voice of him the hota_ of the sacrifice at the eastern station.
Narāśaṁsa evokes the worship of Sun divinity on Sit Shamshi bronze.
nr̥śáṁsa -- [< *ni(ḥ)śaṁsa -- (~ niḥśás -- f. (TBr. niśás -- ) ʻ evil intent (?) ʼ RV.) contaminated by RV. nŕ̊śáṁsa<-> (with variants nú śáṁsa -- and naḥ śáṁsa -- ) ~ nárāśáṁsa-- ʻ praised by men ʼ Sāy. (J. C. W.)](CDIAL 14665)
नरा* शंस [p= 529] m. (°रा*श्°?) " the desire or praise of men(?) " , a mystic. N. of अग्नि (esp. in the आप्री hymns , besides or instead of तनू-नपात् q.v.) RV. VS. TS. Br. (rarely) of पूषन् e.g. RV. i , 164 , 3 ; x. 64 , 3 (Monier-Williams)
तनू--नपात् [p=435,3] m. (त्/अनू-) " son of himself , self-generated (as in lightning or by the attrition of the अरणिs cf. Nir. viii , 5) ", a sacred N. of Fire (chiefly used in some verses of the आप्री hymns) RV. (acc. °पातम् , x , 92 , 2) AV. v , 27 , 1 VS. v , 5 (dat. °प्त्रे ; = TS. i , 2 , 10 , 2)AitBr. ii , 4 S3Br. i , 5 , 3 ; iii (gen. °प्तुर् , 4 , 2 , 5 irr. nom. °प्ता [only etymological cf. 4 , 2 , 5] 4 , 2 , 11) Hit.; fire in general (Monier-Williams) नपात् m. 1 A grandson (usually restricted to the Vedas), as in तनूनपात्. -2 A descendant, son. (Samskritam. Apte)
Rks which invoke Narāśaṁsa :
In Sanatana Dharma traditions, divinity is seen in every phenomenon. This is exemplified by the performance of Yajna or Puja offering prayers to both animate and inanimate objects deifing them as Āprī divinities. Same principle applies to the performance of Puja which is more than a mere prayer. It is a communion with the metaphors of divinity by treating the manifestations of the divine as atithi-s, guests invited, invoked and offered respectful आतिथ्य
ātithya 'hospitality' in the sacred place of a temple or a puja room or precinct in a home. ātithya आतिथ्य a particular rite, the reception of Soma when it is brought to the sacrificial place (also called आतिथ्येष्टिः) -Comp. -रूप a. being in the place of the आतिथ्य Yajna; आतिथ्यरूपं मासरम् Vāj.19.14. This tradition becomes the doctrine for Pujavidhi, rules for performance of ātithya आतिथ्य when venerating Rudra-Siva and other divinities.
The place of work is the place of worship. The smithy, kole.l is a temple, kole.l (Kota language. Mleccha/Meluhha Indian sprachbund).
Sivalinga, as a pillar of light. Lingam, grey sandstone in situ, Harappa, Trench Ai, Mound F, Pl. X (c) (After Vats). "In an earthenware jar, No. 12414, recovered from Mound F, Trench IV, Square I... in this jar, six lingams were found along with some tiny pieces of shell, a unicorn seal, an oblong grey sandstone block with polished surface, five stone pestles, a stone palette, and a block of chalcedony..." (Vats, MS, 1940, Excavations at Harappa, Vol. II, Calcutta, p. 370) "In the adjoining Trench Ai, 5 ft. 6 in. below the surface, was found a stone lingam [Since then I have found two stone lingams of a larger size from Trenches III and IV in this mound. Both of them are smoothed all over]. It measures 11 in. high and 7 3/8 in. diameter at the base and is rough all over.’ (Vol. I, pp. 51-52)." See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/04/sivalinga-in-dholavira-depicted-as.html
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Relief with Ekamukha linga. Mathura. 1st cent. CE (Fig. 6.2). This is the most emphatic representation of linga as a pillar of fire. The pillar is embedded within a brick-kiln with an angular roof and is ligatured to a tree. Hieroglyph: kuTi 'tree' rebus: kuThi 'smelter'. In this composition, the artists is depicting the smelter used for smelting to create mũh 'face' (Hindi) rebus: mũhe 'ingot' (Santali) of mēḍha 'stake' rebus: meḍ 'iron, metal' (Ho. Munda). मेड (p. 662) [ mēḍa ] f (Usually मेढ q. v.) मेडका m A stake, esp. as bifurcated.
Āprī divinities are personified objects belonging to the fire-sacrifice, objects such as firewood , sacred grass , enclosure, all regarded as different forms of अग्नि.
Budha with consort Ilā (Ila as a woman). Ilā is praised as Idā (Sanskrit: इडा) in the Rigveda; signifies food and refreshment, personified as the goddess of speech and described as mother of Pururavas. She presides over the Earth. She is described as the Mānavi (daughter of Manu) and Ghṛtapadī (with the ghee-dripping foot) and she is represented by a cow. In RV 1.31.11 she is instructress of Manu: 1.031.11 The gods formerly made you, Agni, the living general of the mortal Nahus.a; they made Il.a_, the instructress of Manu, when the son of my father was born. [Nahus.a was the son of A_yus, son of Puru_ravas, who was elevated to heaven as an Indra. Il.a_ institues the first rules of performing sacrifices, hence she is S'a_sani_ = dharmopades'akartri_, the giver of instruction in duty]. She lays down the rules, doctrine śāsana शासन of a yajna and for dharma.
Ilā is considered the chief progenitor of the Lunar Dynasty. Ailas are "descendants of Ilā". iḍā f. (metaphorically see id - ), stream or flow of praise and worship (personified as the goddess of sacred speech and action, invoked together with aditi - and other deities, but especially in the āprī - hymns together with sarasvatī - and mahī- or bhāratī
http://sanskritdictionary.com/?q=i%E1%B8%8D%C4%81
Ilā is an Āprī divinity.
Tiruvengadu Budha temple. http://www.southindiatoursandtravels.com/?BudhanSoma and amśu in Rigveda as āprī deified objects of metalwork, transmutation in Vedic texts, metalwork catalogues of Indus Script Corpora
One Āprī divinity, a different form of Agni is Indra. Indras is also a rainbow, a divinity of rain: índra m. ʻ the god Indra ʼ RV. Pa. inda -- m., Pk. iṁda -- m.; Kt. ī˜dr ʻ name of a god ʼ, Pr. indr, Kal. in, gen. indras; S. ĩḍra -- laṭhi f. ʻ rainbow ʼ; OMarw. ī˜da, Si. in̆du. WPah.poet. indra m. ʻ god of rain ʼ (← Sk.?). (CDIAL 1572) A cognate gloss indhan points to the relationship with Agni by a play of words creating a metaphor: indhana n. ʻ lighting, kindling, fuel ʼ MBh. [√
Indra is invoked in RV 1.4.2 as a drinker of Soma: RV 1.4: r.s.i: madhucchanda_ vais'va_mitra; devata_: indra; chanda: ga_yatri_ Anuva_ka II 1.004.02 Drinker of the Soma juice, come to our (daily) rites, and drink of the libation; the satisfaction of (you who are) the bestower of riches, is verily (the cause of) the gift of cattle.
This provides the lead for identifying participating resources in the Soma yajna deified as Āprī deities. The objects and resources deified are both animate and inanimate. Animate resources include: Narāśaṁsa and Tanūnapāt. Inanimate resources include objects such as samidhā and barhis which are kindled to augment fire in the yajna; in one semantic stream barhis becomes fire itself: बर्हिः Fire. -n. The Kuśa grass. -Comp. -न्यायः a rule of interpretation according to which an expression must be understood in its primary sense rathar than in its secondary sense. This is discussed and established by Jaimini and Śabara at MS.3.2.1 and 2.
samidha: sáminddhē ʻ sets fire to, takes fire, sámiddha -- ʻ ignited ʼ RV. [Cf. samídh -- f. ʻ fuel ʼ RV., Pa. samidhā -- f., Pk. samihā -- f. -- √
Of the ten Aprisuktas mentioned in Gargya Narayana's commentary, I.13 and I.142 both invoke the Narāśaṁsa and Tanūnapāt manifestations of Agni, I.188, III.4, IX.5 and X.110 invoke only the Tanūnapāt manifestation and II.3, V.5, VII.2 and X.70 invoke only the Narāśaṁsa manifestation.
| Āprīsūkta | Ṛṣi | Gotra |
|---|---|---|
| 1.13 | Medhātithi Kāṇva | Kāṇva |
| 1.142 | Dīrghatamā Aucathya | Āngirasa |
| 1.188 | Agastya MaitrāvaruṇI | Agastya |
| 2.3 | Gṛtsamada Śaunahotra | Śaunaka |
| 3.4 | Viśvāmitra Gāthina | Kauśika |
| 5.5 | Vasuśruta Ātreya | Ātreya |
| 7.2 | Vasiṣṭha MaitrāvaruṇI | Vāsiṣṭha |
| 9.5 | Asita or Devala Kāśypa | Kāśypa |
| 10.70 | Sumitra Vādhryaśva | Bharata |
| 10.110 | Rāma Jāmadagnya or Jamadagni | Bhārgava |
Soma, an object, electrum is deified in a supreme āprī आप्री as propitiatory diction, presenting the entire Rigveda in nuce, in a nutshell related to processing of Soma, aṁśú.
Comparable to the metalwork as deified objects, the Indus Script Corpora consisting of metalwork catalogues are also a celebration of the innovations achievd during the Bronze Age with metalcastings, cire perdue techniques of casting and creation of alloys for hardened tools, pots and pans, metalware and weapons.
āprī आप्री f. [आप्रीणात्यनया आ-प्री-ड-गौरा˚ ङीष्] Ved. 1 Conciliation, propitiation, gaining one's favour. -2 (pl.) 'Propitiatory verses', a name given to certain invocations addressed to several deified objects in con- secutive order, and said to be introductory to the animal sacrifice; some take the Apris to represent the objects themselves, the verses being consequently called Apri verses. The objects invoked are 12:- Susamiddha, Tanūnapāt, Narāśaṁsa, the divine being bearing invocations to the gods, Barhis, the doors of the sacrificial chamber, night and dawn the two divine beings protecting the sacrifice, the three goddesses Ilā, Sarasvatī, and Mahī, Tvaṣṭṛi, Vanaspati and Svāhā, (all these being regarded by Sāyaṇa to be different forms of Agni); स एता आप्रीरपश्यत्ताभिर्वै स मुखत आत्मानमा- प्रीणीत; cf. also Max Muller's Hist. Anc. Lit. pp. 463-466.(Samskritam. Apte)
RV 1.13: r.s.i: medha_tithi ka_n.va; devata_: 1.idhma or samiddhi agni, 2. tanu_napa_t, 3.nara_s'am.sa, 4.il.a_, 5.barhi, 6.divyadva_ra, 7.us.a_sa_nakta_, 8.divyahota_ pracetas, 9.tisro devyah: sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_, 10.tvas.t.a_, 11.vanaspati, 12. sva_ha_kr.ti; chanda: ga_yatri_
1.013.01 Agni, who are Susamiddha, invoker, purifier, bring hither the gods to the offerers of our oblation, and do your sacrifice. [The A_pris are twelve including a name of fire, naras'ansa. Su = well; sam = completely; iddha = kindled; hence, Susamiddha = the thoroughly kindled].
1.013.02 Wise (Agni) who are Tanu_napa_t (= devourer of clarified butter), present this day our well-favoured sacrifice to the gods for their food. [Tanu_napa_t, deourer of clarified butter (tanu_napa); alternatively, tanu = own substance, or fuel, i.e. consumer of its own substance; napa_t = tanaya, son or offspring; alternatively, napa_t = who does not preserve, who destroys].
1.013.03 I invoke the beloved Nara_s'ams'a, the sweet-tongued, the offere of oblations, to this sacrifice. [Nara_s'am.s'a, him whom men praise: nara s'am.santi].
1.013.04 Agni, (who are) I_l.ita (= worshipped), bring hither the gods in an easy-moving chariot, for you are the invoker instituted by men. [I_l.ita, stutah, the worshipped; fr. i_l.a, to adore, to praise].
1.013.05 Strew, learned priests, the sacred grass, well bound together (in bundles), and sprinkled with clarified butter, the semblance of ambrosia. [Barhis is an appellative of Agni; amr.ta-sama_nasya ghr.tasya or maran.a-rahitasya barhirna_makasya, agneh:amr.ta (clarified butter sprinkled on grass) has the appearance of ambrosia; or agni is immortal].
1.013.06 Let the bright doors, the augmenters of sacrifice, (hitherto) unentered, be set open, for certainly today is the sacrifice to be made. [Doors: agnivis'es.amu_rtayah, personifications of agni].
1.013.07 I invoke the lovely night and dawn to sit upon the sacred grass, at this our sacrifice. [naktam = night; us.as = dawn; they denote two forms of fire, presiding over theose seasons: tat-ka_la_bhima_nivahnimu_rtidvaye].
1.013.08 I call the two eloquent divine and sage invokers (of the gods), that they may celebrate this our sacrifice. [Two agnis: daivyau hota_rau pracetasau, two divine invokers (pracetasas), who are sages (kavi)].
1.013.09 May the three undecaying goddesses, givers of delight, Il.a_, Sarasvati_, and Mahi_ (= Bha_rati_), sit down upon the sacred grass. [Mahi = Bha_rati; Il.a_, Sarasvati_, Bha_rati_ are personifications of agni: agnimu_rtayah; they are also three personified flames of fire. As goddesses, Il.a_ = earth (bride of Vis.n.u); Sarasvati_ = goddess of eloquence (wife of Brahma_); Bharati_ = speech (wife of Bharata, an A_ditya)].
1.0113.10 I invoke the chief and multiform Tvas.t.r. (= Vis'vakarma_); may he be solely ours. [Tvas.t.a_ = Vis'vakarma_, artificer of the gods, the fabricator of the original sacrificial vase or ladle. tvas.t.a_ vai pas'u_na_m mithuna_na_m ru_kakr.t---iti s'ruteh (Taittiri_ya.Sam.hita_ 6.1.8.5): Tvas.t.a_ forms in animals in pairs; he is also an A_ditya; here he is an Agni: Tvas.tr.-na_makam agnim].
1.013.11 Present, divine Vanaspati (= lord of the woods), our oblation to the gods, and may true knowledge be (the reward) of the giver.
1.013.12 Perform the sacrifice conveyed through Sva_ha_ (= an exclamation used in pouring the oblation on the fire) to Indra, in the house of the worshipper; therefore I call the gods hither. [sva_ha_ = an exclamation used in pouring the oblation on the fire, also identified with Agni. Sva_ha_ is called the daughter of Br.haspati, son of An:giras (Maha_bha_rata); she is also the daughter of Daks.a and wife of Agni].
RV 1.142: r.s.i: di_rghatama_ aucathya; devata_: (a_ri_su_kta) 1 idhma or samiddha agni, 2 tanu_napa_t, 3 nara_s'am.sa, 4 il.a, 5 barhi, 6 devi_dva_ra, 7 us.a_sa_nakta_, 8 divya hota_ pracetasa, 9 devi_: sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_, 10 tvas.t.a_, 11 vanaspati, 12 sva_ha_kr.ti, 13 indra; chanda: anus.t.up
1.142.01 Agni, who are samiddha, bring the gods today (to the worshipper), whose ladle is uplifted; extent (the merit of) former sacrificer to the giver (of the offering), by whom the Soma is poured forth. [A_pri's of Agni: cf. RV. 1.4.2].
1.142.02 Tanu_napa_t, be present at this well-flavoured and cutter-fed sacrifice, (the offering) of a pious offerer (of oblations); glorifying you.
1.142.03 The pure, purifying, wonderful Nara_s'am.sa, an adorable god among gods, (having come) from heaven, thrice mixes the sacrifice with the sweet (Soma). [Nara_s'am.sa is the deity presiding over the sacrifice: yajn~a_bhima_ni devah; thrice mixes: he comes thrice, or he thrice bestows rewards, perhaps an allusion to the three daily sacrifices].
1.142.04 Agni, who are Il.ita, bring hither Indra, the wonderful, the beloved; this my praise is recited, bright-tongued, before you.
1.142.05 The priests, bearing ladles, are strewing the sacred grass in this holy sacrifice, to prepare a god-frequented and well-spread abode for Indra.
1.142.06 Let the bright, separable doors, the augmenters of sacrifice, the purifiers of rites, the desired of many, be set open for the gods to enter. [The hymn is addressed to the divinities presiding over th e doors of the chamber of sacrifice; asas'cata = not adhering together, mutually separable; asajyama_na-paraspara viprakr.s.t.a, perhaps folding-doors of wide or open doors].
1.142.07 Beautiful night and morning, ever hymned, ever associated, progeny (yahuh sunuh--Nirukta 2.2.11) (of time), parents of sacrifice, sit down of your own good will on the sacred grass.
1.142.08 May the two pleasing-tongued receivers of praise, the divine and sage invokers (of the gods), officiate today at this our sacrifice, which confers (rewards) and attains heaven. [Attains heaven: mandra-jihva_ is an apithet applied to Agni, the two flames that give delight to the gods].
1.142.09 May the pure hota_, placed among the gods, and Bha_rati_, among the Maruts, and may the adorable Il.a_, Sarasvati_, Mahi_, sit down upon the sacred grass. [hota_ = homa-nis.pa_dika_, the presenter of the oblation; deves.u arpita_ = delivered amongst the gods, the praisers of priests (Marutsu); or, marutsu-bha_rati_ = va_c, situated in heaven, dyustha_na_ and connected with bharata, an A_ditya, or name of the sun; il.a_, sarasvati_, mahi_ = sound (va_c); or the goddesses presiding over sound in the three regions, severally of earth, firmament, and heaven].
1.142.10 May Tvas.t.a_, favourably disposed towards us, send to us, for our nourishment and prosperity, the quick (falling), wonderful, abundant (water), in the centre (of the cloud, effecting), of itself much (good). [Qucik (falling), wonderful: the hymn has epithets only related to udakam, water: turi_pam adbhutam puru va_ram puru tmana_; in the centre: na_bha_ na_bhau meghasya avasthitam udakam, i.e. rain; Tvas.t.a_ = personified fire or lightning, in which capacity he is the sender of rain, vr.s.t.ya_deh karta_].
1.142.11 Vanaspati, here present of your own accord, convey our offerings to the gods; the divine and intelligent Agni accepts (the oblations) for the deities. [vanaspati: the fire,or Agni of the sacrificial post, or yupa, from its being of timber].
1.142.12 (Priests), present the oblation with sva_ha_ to Indra, in the form of Ga_yatra, along with Pu_s.an and the Maruts; also to the assembled gods, and the Va_yu. [In the form of Ga_yatra: Ga_yatra-vepase--ga_yatra is substituted for itara-sa_ma: vepas = ru_pa; ga_yatram- ru_pam yasya; ga_yatravepas = a name or form of Indra; along with Pu_s.an and the Maruts: lit., having or possessed of Pu_s.an or the Maruts: pus.anvate marutvate; vis'vadeva_ya (singular) = vis'vadeva- san:gha_ya, the assemblage of all the gods; or, an epithet to identify Indra with all the deities; the personification of Agni is sva_ha_, as one of the A_pris].
1.142.13 Approach, Indra, to partake of the oblations consecrated with sva_ha_; approach and hear the invocation, as they invoke you to the sacrifice.
RV 1.188: r.s.i: agastya maitra_varun.i; devata_: 1 idhma or samiddha agni; 2 tanu_napa_t; 3 ila; 4 barhi; 5 devi_dva_ra; 6 us.a_sa_nakta_; 7 divya hota_gan.a pracetas; 8 sarasvati, il.a_, bha_rati_; 9 tvas.t.a_; 10 vanaspati; 11 sva_ha_kr.ti; chanda: ga_yatri_
1.188.01 You shine today, divine conqueror of thousands, kindled by the priests; do you, who are the sapient messenger (of the gods), convey (to them) our oblation. [The A_pris are also praya_jas; kim. devata_ = what sort of divinities are these; praya_ja, that which is an especial object of worship; such as divinities presiding over the seasons, over the metres of the Veda, over animals, over life, over the spirit, which are forms of Agni: praya_ja ritudevata_s'chandodevata_h pas'udevata_h pra_n.adevata_ a_tmadevata_ itya_dina_ bahu_n paks.a_n upnyasyu bra_hman.a_ni ca pradars'ya a_gneya_ eveti siddha_ntitam. samiddha is a particple, an epithet of deva; susamiddha = well-kindled, a name of Agni].
1.188.02 The adorable Tanu_napa_t proceeds to the rite and combines with the oblation, bearing (for the sacrificer) infinite (abundance of) food.
1.188.03 Agni, who are to be glorified, bring hither, being invoked by us, the adorable gods, for you are the donor of thousands. [Who are to be glorified: id.ya = i_l.ita; nara_s'amsa, a term which normally precedes i_l.ita, is here omitted].
1.188.04 By the power (of their prayers) they have strewn the sacred grass, the seat of numerous heroes, pointing to the east; on which, A_dityas, you are manifest.
1.188.05 They have sprinkled water on the doors (of the hall of sacrifice), which are variously and perfectly radiant, manifold, excellent, many, and numerous. [The doors: vira_t samra_t. vibhvi_h prabhvi_h bahvi_s'ca bhu_yasi_s'ca ya_h: the last two epithets are epithets of number, and the rest are names].
1.188.06 Let the brilliant and beautiful Day and Night, who shine with surpassing lustre, sit down here (upon the sacred grass).
1.188.07 Let these two chief, well-spoken, divine sages, the invokers (of the gods), perform this our sacrifice.
1.188.08 Bha_rati_, Il.a_, Sarasvati_, I invoke you all, that you may direct us to prosperity. [Bha_rati_, the goddess presiding over the heaven; Il.a_, the goddess presiding over the earth; Sarasvati_, the goddess presiding over the firmament; they are all three considered to be special manifestations of the majesty of the sun: etis tisra a_dityaprabha_va vis'es.aru_pa itya_huh].
1.188.09 Tvas.t.a_, who is the master (in fashioning) the forms (of beings), has made all animals distinct; grant us, (Tvas.t.a), their increase. [Tvas.t.a ru_pa_n.i hi prabhuh: kartum = to make, is understood; Tvas.t.a_ is the divinity presiding over the implements of sacrifice;he also fashions beings in the womb as soon as begotten: retasah siktasya tvas.t.a_ ru_Pa_n.i vikaroti; or, yonau sr.s.t.a_ni ru_pa_n.i kartumprabhuh].
1.188.10 Vanaspati, deliver of yourself the victim to the gods, so that Agni may taste the oblation.
1.188.11 Agni, the preceder of the gods [puroga_ puroga_mi_; agnih kasma_dagran.i_rbhavati (Nirukta 7.14), is characterized by the Ga_yatri_ measure; he blazes when the oblations are offered.
RV 2.3: r.s.i: gr.tsamada (a_n:girasa s'aunahotra pas'ca_d) bha_rgava s'aunaka; devata_: a_pri_ su_kta 1, idhma or samiddha agni; 2 nara_s'am.sa; 3 il.a; 4 barhi; 5 divyadva_ra; 6 us.a_sa_nakta_; 7 divya hota_gan.a pracetasa; 8 tisro devyah (sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati); 9 tvas.t.a_; 10 vanaspati; 11 sva_ha_kr.ti; chanda: jagati_
2.003.01 Agni, the well-kindled, placed upon (the altar of) the earth, stands in the presence of all beings; the invoker (of the gods), the purifier, the ancient, the intelligent, the divine; let the venerable Agni minister to the gods. [A_pris: cf. 1.142; 1.188].
2.003.02 May the bright Nara_s'am.sa, illuminating the receptacles (of the offering) making manifest by his greatness the three radiant (regions) and diffusing the oblation at the season of sacrifice with butter-dispensing purpose, satisfy the gods. [Nara_s'am.sa: in the preceding su_ktas, tanu_napa_t is the second personification of Agni addressed; in this su_kta, he is omitted].
2.003.03 Agni, who are the venerable i_l.ita, do you, with mind favourably disposed towards us, offer today sacrifice to the gods, before the human (ministrant priest) as such, bring hither the company of the Maruts, the undecaying Indra, to whom, seated on the sacred grass, do you priests offer worship.
2.003.04 Divine grass, let the Vasus, the VIs'vedevas, the adorable A_ditya, sit upon this flourishing, invigrating, well-grown, sacred grass, strewn for the sakeof wealth upon this altar, and sprinkled with butter. [Divine grass: the barhis, or a personification of Agni].
2.003.05 Let the divine doors, spacious and easily accessible, and to be saluted with prostrations, be set open; let them be celebrated as expansive, uninjurable, and conferring sanctity upon the illustrious class (of worshippers), possessed of virtuous progeny.
2.003.06 In regard of our good deeds, Day and Night, perpetually reverenced, are interweaving in concert, like two famous female weavers, the extended thread, (to complete) the web of the sacrifice, liberal yielders (of rewards), containers of water. [Like two famous female weavers: vayyeva ran.vite = vayya iva va_nakus'ale iva s'abdite, stute].
2.003.07 Let the two divine invokers of the gods, the first (to be reverenced), most wise, sincerely worshipping with sacred texts, most excellent in form, offering homage to the gods in due season, present oblations in the three high places upon the navel of the earth. [Two divine invokers of the gods: the personified fires of earth and the firmament, under the character of, two ministeringpriests; the navel of the earth: this is the usual altar; the three high places: sa_nus.u tris.u, are the three sacred fires: ga_rhapatya, a_havani_ya and daks.in.a_].
2.003.08 May the three goddesses, Sarasvati_, perfecting our understanding, the divine il.a_, and all-impressive Bha_rati_, having come to our dwelling, protect this faultless rite, (offered) for our welfare.
2.003.09 May a tawny-hued, well-grown (son), the bestower of food, active, manly, a worshipper of the gods, be born; may Tvas.t.a_ prolong for us a continuous (line of) progeny, and may the food of the gods come also to us.
2.003.10 May Agni, who is Vanaspati, approving (of our rite), approach; and by his especial acts fully dress the victim; may the divine immolator convey the burnt-offering to the gods, knowing it to have been thrice consecrated. [By his especial acts: agnir-havih su_daya_ti pra dhi_bhih =Agni, who is the supporter, or the instrument of cooking or maturing fitly, cooks the oblation of the nature of the victim with various acts, which are the means of cooking; he dresses the oblation, not under-dressing nor over-dressing it: agnih pa_kadharo havih pas'uru_pam karmavis.es'aih pa_kasa_dhanaih prakars.en.a su_daya_ti ks.a_rayati apa_ka_dhikapa_dira_hityena havih pacati; the divine immolator: daivyah s'amita_: s'amita_ = the person who kills the victim; Agni is the immolator of the gods: deva_na_m s'amita_; thice consecrated: tridha_ samaktam = thrice anointed or sprinkled; the three rites or ceremonies are termed: upastaran.a, avada_na, abhigha_ran.a].
2.003.11 I sprinkle the butter, for butter is his birth-place; he is nourished by butter; butter is his radiance; Agni, showerer (of benefits), bring the gods to the offered oblation; exhilarate them; convey to them the offering that has been reverently sanctified. [cf. Yajurveda 17.88; dha_ma - dwelling, or radiance; alternative reading: Adhvaryu, or priest, bring hither Agni to the oblation; exhilarate him; (and say to him). Showerer (of blessings), convey the consecrated oblation (to the gods).
RV 3.4: r.s.i: vis'va_mitra ga_thina; devata_: a_pri_su_kta (1 idhma agni or samiddha agni, 2 tanu_napa_t, 3 il.a, 4 barhi, 5 devi_dva_ra, 6 us.a_sa_nakta_, 7 divya hota_ pracetas, 8 tisro devyah: sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_, 9 tvas.t.a_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_ha_kr.ti; chanda: tris.t.up
3.004.01 Repeatedly, kindled, (Agni), wake up favourably disposed; (endowed) with reiterated lustre, entertain the kind purpose of (granting us) wealth; bring, divine Agni, the gods to the sacrifice; do you, the friend (of the gods), minister, well-affected, to (your) parents. [Repeatedly kindled: samit sama = samiddha; or, susamiddha, an appellative of Agni in the preceding su_ktas].
3.004.02 Tanu_napa_t, whom the deities, Mitra, Varun.a and Agni, worship daily thrice a day, render this our sacred rain-engendering sacrifice productive of water.
3.004.03 May the all-approved praise reach the invoker of the gods; may Il.a_ first proceed to worship and to praise with prostrations the showerer (of benefits) in his presence; may the adorable (Agni), instigated (by us), worship the gods. [Il.a_ = the il.ita of preceding su_ktas].
3.004.04 An upward path has been prepared for you both in the sacrifice; the blazing oblations soar aloft; the invoker of the gods has sat down in the centre of the radiant (hall); let us strew the sacred grass for the seats of the gods. [You both: Agni and the Barhis, or sacred grass, to which, as in the parallel pages, the hymn is addressed].
3.004.05 The gods who gratify the universe with rain are present at the seven offerings (of the ministering priests), when solicited with (sincerity of) mind; may the many deities who are engendered in sensible shapes at sacrifices come to this our rite. [Deities in sensible shapes: in preceding su_ktas, the doors of the hall of sacrifice, are the personifications specified; here, the divinities presiding over the doors are implied].
3.004.06 May the adored Day and Night, combined or separate, be manifest in bodily form, so that Mitra, Varun.a, Indra, or (the latter), attended by the Maruts, may rejoice us by their glories.
3.004.07 I propitiate the two chief divine invokers of the gods; the seven offerers of (sacrificial) food, expectant of water, gratify (Agni) with oblations; the illustrious observers of sacred rites have saluted him in every ceremony as (identifiable), verily, with water. [As identifiable with water: r.tam it ta a_huh = agnim eva r.tabhu_tam a_huh, they have called Agni, verily, r.ta; r.ta is usually rendered water but it may mean truth; in the preceding phrase, r.tam s'ansanta = udakam, desirous or expectant of water].
3.004.08 May Bha_rati_, associated with the Bha_rati_s; Il.a_ with the gods and men; and Agni, and Sarasvati_ with the Sa_rasvatas; may the three goddesses sit down upon the sacred grass (strewn) before them. [bha_rati_bhih, with the connections of Bharata, or the Sun: bharatasya su_ryasya sambandhini_bhih, perhaps intending the solar rays; Bha_rati_ = va_k, speech; Il.a_ = bhu_mi, the earth; sarasvati_ = ma_dhyamika_ va_k; the sa_rasvatas are the madhyamastha_nas, the middle regions, or the firmament; Agni whose name is rather unconnectedly inserted, is thus identified through their several personifications as goddesses, with heaven, mid-heaven, and earth, or with speech or sound in the three regions].
3.004.09 Divine Tvas.t.a_, being well pleased, give issue to our procreative vigour, whence (a son), manly, devout, vigorous, wielder of the (Soma-bruising) stone, and reverencing the gods, may be born.
3.004.10 Vanaspati, bring the gods nigh; may Agni, the immolator, prepare the victim; let him who is truth officiate as the ministering priest, for, verily, he knows the birth of the gods. [May Agni the immolator: agnir havih s'amita_ su_daya_ti: cf. RV 2.3].
3.004.11 Agni, kindled into flame, come to our presence in the same chariot with Indra and with the swift-moving gods; may Aditi, the mother of excellent sons, sit down on the sacred grass, and may the immortal gods be satisfied with the reverentially-offered oblation. [May the immortal gods: sva_ha_ deva_ amr.ta_ ma_dayanta_m: sva_ha_ = sva_ha_ka_ren.a yuktah, joined with or addressed by the exclamation, sva_ha_].
RV 5.5: r.s.i: vasus'ruta a_treya; devata_: a_pri_ su_kta (1 idhma or samiddha agni; 2 nara_s'a3msa, 3 il.a, 4 barhi, 5 devi_dva_ra, 6 us.a_sa_nakta_, 7 divya hota_ pracetasa, 8 sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_, 9 tvas.t.a_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_hakr.ti); chanda: ga_yatri_
5.005.01 Offer abundant butter to the replendent Susamiddha, to Agni, to Ja_tavedas. [Susamiddha, an epithet of Agni].
5.005.02 Nara_s'am.sa animates this sacrifice he who is uninjurable, who verily is wise and sweet-handed.
5.005.03 Agno, who are I_l.ita, bring hither the wonderful and friendly Indra, with his easy going chariots for our protection.
5.005.04 (Grass), soft as wool, be spread; the worshippers praise you; be to us radiant (grass the source of) liberality. [(Grass): the barhis].
5.005.05 Open divine doors, our passages to preservation; fill full the sacrifice (with its rewards).
5.005.06 We glorify the evening and the morning lovely, food-bestowing, mighty, the mothers of sacrifice.
5.005.07 Praised (by us), divine invokers of the gods, come moving on the path of the wind, to this sacrifice of our patron. [On the path of the wind: va_tasya patman = with the swiftness of the wind, or through the firmament; to this sacrifice of our patron: manus.o no yajn~am = lit., to the sacrifice of our man, i.e. of the yajama_na].
5.005.08 May Il.a_, Sarasvati_, Mahi_, the three goddesses who are the sources of happiness, sit down, benevolent, upon the sacred grass.
5.005.09 Tvas.t.a_, being propitious, you who are diffusive in kindness, come to your own accord protect us in repeated sacrifices.
5.005.10 Wherever you know, Vanaspati, the secret forms of the gods to be, thither convey the oblations. [yatra vettha deva_na_m guhya_ na_ma_ni: na_ma_ni = ru_pa_n.i, forms; it is not soecufued as a faculty of vanaspati in any preceding hymn to the a_pris, although vanaspati, in the preceding hymns and also here represents Agni, as identified with the sacrificial post, or yu_pa, or the deity presiding over the post: yu_pa_bhima_ni_ deva].
5.005.11 The oblation is offered with reverence to Agni, to Varun.a; with reverence to Indra, to the Maruts; with reverence to the gods. [To Agni: the term is sva_ha_, who is an a_pri, or personification of Agni].
RV 7.2: r.s.i: vasis.t.ha maitra_varun.i; devata_: a_pri_ su_kta (1 i_dhma, samiddha agni, 2 nara_s'am.sa, 3 i_l.a, 4 barhi, 5 devi_dva_ra, 6 u_s.a_sa_nakta_, 7 divyahota_ pracetas, 8 sarasvati_, bha_rati_, i_l.a_-tisro devya, 9 tvas.t.a_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_ha_kr.ti; chand: tris.t.up
7.002.01 Be gratified, Agni, by the (sacred fire) kindled by us today, emitting abundant adorable smoke; touch with your scorching flames the celestial summit; combine with the rays of the sun. [Kindled: samiddham; implies one of the A_pris, or forms of fire, although used as an epithet].
7.002.02 We celebrate with sacrifices the greatness of the adorable Nara_s'am.sa among those who are divinities, the performers of good works, the bright-shining, the upholders of rites, who partake of both kinds of oblations. [Oblations of ghi_ and libations of Soma, or other offerings: Nirukta viii.6].
7.002.03 Let us ever worship the Agni who is to be adored by us; the mighty, the dextrous, the messenger passing between heaven and earth, the speaker of truth, kindled (of old) by Manu, as now by men, that (he may come) to the solemnity. [Tanu_napa_t, is omitted; the su_kta is called an A_pri_ su_kta, apra s'abdoktatva_n idam tanu_napa_d rahitam; Agni who is to be adored by us: i_l.enyam agnim is the i_l.ita of the other a_pri_ su_ktas; mahema = to you (priests) worship].
7.002.04The worshippers bearing the sacred grass offer it with reverence, upon their knees, to Agni; worship him, priests, with oblations, invoking him to (sit down) on the spotted (grass), smeared with clarified butter.
7.002.05 The devout performers of holy rites, desirous of chariots, have had recourse to the doors (of the sacrificial chamber); (the ladles), placed to the east, are plying the fire with ghee at sacrifices, as the mother cows lick the calf, or as rivers (water the fields). [The doors: among the A_pris; pu_rvi_ s'is'um na ma_tara riha_n.e samagruvo na samanes.u an~jan = the prio (or eastern) calf like two mothers licking rivers, like in sacrifices tey anoint = pu_rvi_ pra_gagre juhu_pabhr.tau, the two ladles -- the juhu and upabhr.t-- placed at sacrifices with their ends to the east].
7.002.06 May the two youthful females, the divine and mighty day and night, the invoked of many, the possessed of wealth, seated on the sacred grass, enitled to adoration, be with us like an easily-milked cow for our welfare.
7.002.07 I am minded to adore you two sages, the ministrants at sacrifices of men, from celebrated, convey our offspring aloft, and acquire (for our use) the precious (treasures preserved) among the gods.
7.002.08 May Bharati, associated with the Bharatis; Il.a_ with gods and men; and Agni and Sarasvati_ with the Sa_rasvatas; may the three goddesses sit down before us upon this sacred grass. [Il.a_ with gods and man: il.a_ devabhir manus.yebhir agnih; Il.a_ is associated with men; Agni is associated with the goddesses. This and the three following verses are repeated from the second as.t.aka].
7.002.09 Divine Tvas.t.a_, being well-pleased, give issue to our procreative vigour, whence (a son) manly, devout, vigorous, wielder of the Soma-bruising stone, and reverencing the gods, may be born.
7.002.10 Vanaspati, bring the gods night; may Agni, the immolator, prepare the victim; let him who is truth officiate as the ministering priest, for verily he knows the birth of the gods.
7.002.11 Agni, kindled (into flame), come to our presence in the same chariot with Indra, and with the swift moving gods; may Aditi, the mother of excellent sons, sit down on the sacred grass, and may the immortal gods be satisfied with the reverentially-offered oblation.
RV 9.5: r.s.i: asita ka_s'yapa or devala ka_s'yapa; devata_: a_pri_su_kta (1 idhma or samiddha agni, 2 tanu_napa_t, 3 il.a_, 4 barhi, 5 devi_ dva_ra, 6 us.a_sa_nakta_, 7 divya hota_gan.a pracetas, 8 sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_-- tisro devya, 9 tvas.t.a_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_ha_kr.ti
9.005.01 The pure-flowing (Soma) shines forth in its brightness, the universal lord, the showerer of blessings, the rejoicer, uttering a loud sound. [The deities, samidh and others are severally invoked in the successive verses. Soma is praised in the form of the A_pris, and samiddhah is explained as samyagdi_ptah].
9.005.02 The pure-flowing Tanu_napa_t, rushes sharpening its splendour on the height and hastens through the sky. [Tanu_napa_t = a name of Soma, abhyo ams'avo ja_yante tatah somo ja_yate, from the waters are born beams, from these is born Soma; hastens through the sky: that is, to the dron.akalas'a, according to the text, 'he takes a_grayan.a libation with two streams'].
9.005.03 The pure-flowing bright (Soma), the bounteous giver, worthy of all praise, shines forth in its might with the streams of water.
9.005.04 The bright golden-hued pure-flowing one rushes in its might, strewing the sacred grass in the sacrifice with its points towards the cast.
9.005.05 The bright golden doors, praised by the priests together with the Soma, rise up from the vast horizon.
9.005.06 The pure-flowing (Soma) longs for the fair-formed wide-reaching mighty Night and Dawn not yet visible.
9.005.07 I invoke the two divine priests, the two deities who behold men-- the pure-flowing (Soma) is radiant and the showerer (of benefits). [The pure-flowing Soma is radiant: perhaps, an identification of Soma with Indra, just as in the next verse, Indu (i.e. Soma) is identified with Indra.
9.005.08 May the three beautiful goddesses, Bha_rati_, Sarasvati_, and mighty Il.a_, come to this our offering of the Soma.
9.005.09 I invoke Tvas.t.a_, the first-born, the protector, the leader; the golden-coloured pure-flowing Indu is Indra, the showerer, the lord of all creatures.
9.005.10 Pure Soma, consecrate with your streaming ambrosia the green bright golden-hued Vanaspati with its thousand branches.
9.005.11 O all ye gods, come together to the consecration of the Soma-- Va_yu, Br.haspati, Su_rya, Agni and Indra.
RV 10.70: r.s.i: sumitra va_dhryas'va; devata_: a_pri_su_kta (1-idhma or samiddha agni, 2-nara_s'am.sa, 3-il.a_, 4-barhi, 5-devi_ dva_ra, 6-us.a_sa_nakta_, 7-divya hota_gan.a pracetas, 8-sarasvati_, il.a_, bha_rati_: devi_traya, 9-tvas.t.a_, 10-vanaspati, 11-sva_ha_kr.ti); chanda: tris.t.up
Previous A_pri_ hymns: 1.12; 1.13.; 1.188; 2.3; 2.4; 5.5; 7.2; 9.5
10.070.01 Graciously accept, Agni, this my fuel (placed) on the place of libation (the altar); delight in the butter-laden (spoon); most wise, rise up upon the lofty place of the earth for the propitiousness of the days through the worship of the gods.
10.070.02 May Nara_s'am.sa, the preceder of the gods, come here with his horses of various forms; deserving of adoration, chief of the gods, may he effuse (oblations) to the gods by the path of the sacrifice with praise.
10.070.03 Men offering oblations adore the eternal Agni to (induce him to perform) the duty of messenger (to the gods); do you with your stalwart draught horses and your well-turning chariots bear (our offering) to the gods, and sit down here as the ministrant priest.
10.070.04 May our (sacred grass) acceptable to the gods, twining crookedly be stretched out, may it be long, lengthy, and fragrant; with mind free from wrath, divine Barhis, offer worship to the gods desiring (the sacrifice), of whom Indra is the chief.
10.070.05 Be in contact, doors, with the lofty height of heaven, or expand according to the measure of the earth; desiring the gods, desiring a chariot, sustain without might the shining chariot (that is mounted) by the mighty gods.
10.070.06 Radiant daughters of heaven, Dawn and Night, sit down on the place of sacrifice; O you, who are desirous and possessed of affluence, may the gods desirous (of oblations) sit down on your spacious lap.
10.070.07 (When) the grinding-stone is uplifted, the mighty Agni kindled, the acceptable vessels (ready) on the lap of earth; (then), most learned priests, who take the foremost place, bestow wealth upon us at this sacrifice.
10.070.08 Sit down, you three goddesses, upon this broad barhis, we have spread it out for you; Il.a_, radiant (Sarasvati_) and bright-footed (bha_rati_) accept our sacrifice and well-presented oblations as if they were Manu's.
10.070.09 Divine Tvas.t.a_, since you have attained to beauty (through our oblations), and have become the associate of the An:girasas, do you, the bestower of wealth, possessed of precious treasure, and knowing (to whom each portion belongs), offer the food of the gods (to them).
10.070.10 Vanaspati, who are intelligent, having fastened it with a rope, convey the food of the gods; may the divine (Vanaspati) taste it, may he take the oblations (to the gods); may heaven and earth protect my invocation. [Vanaspati: the sacrificial post or stake (yu_pa)].
10.070.11 Bring, Agni, to our sacrifice Varun.a and Indra from heaven, and the Maruts from the firmament, may the adorable universal gods sit down on the sacred grass, and may the immortal deities rejoice in (the oblation presented with) the sva_ha_.
RV 10.110: r.s.i: jamadagni bha_rgava or ra_ma ja_madagnya; devata_: a_pri_su_kta (1 idhma or samiddha agni, 2 tanu_napa_t, 3 il.a_, 4 barhi, 5 devi_dva_ra, 6 us.a_ sa_nakta_, 7 divya hota_gan.a pracetasa, 8 sarasvati_, il.a)_, bha_rati_: three devi_s, 9 tvas.t.ha_, 10 vanaspati, 11 sva_hakr.ti); chanda: tris.t.up
10.110.01 Kindled today, Ja_tavedas, in the dwelling of the worshipper, you who are divine, sacrifice to the gods. Bear (the oblation), you who respect your friends, who are intelligent; you are the wise, far-seeing messenger (of the gods).
10.110.02 Pure-tongued Tanu_napa_t, flavour the paths of the sacrifice which lead (to success), moistening them with the sweet (Soma); elevating our praises and our rite by understanding, convey our sacrifice to the gods. [Tanu_napa_t: Agni; tanu = a cow that has calved and yields milk, whence comes butter, and from butter fire-- Agni is thus the grandson of the cow; or, grandson of the waters, because from rain come the trees and trees supplying fuel propagate Agni].
10.110.03 Agni, who are the invoker (of the gods), and are to be solicited and praised, come, being propitiated, along with the Vasus; you, O mighty (Agni), are the invoker of the gods; do you, who are most entitled to worship, solicited by us, offer them adoration.
10.110.04 In the beginning of the day the sacred grass, pointing eastwards, is strewn with the prescribed (text) as a covering for the earth (of the altar); they spread it out far and wide as a pleasant (seat) for the gods and Aditi.
10.110.05 Expanding wide, let the doors give access as gracefully decorated wives give access to their husbands, divine doors, spacious and admitting all, be easy of entry for the gods.
10.110.06 May the adorable Day and Night, the givers of sound repose, having approached, sit down in the place (of sacrifice), two divine females, majestic and richly ornamented, bearing beauty of a bright form.
10.110.07 Divine ministers, prior (to those of earth), repeaters of pious praise, instituting the sacrifice at which men are to worship, (sit down) stimulating (the priests) at the sacrifices, makers (of praises), indicating the eastern fire with the prescribed (text). [Eastern fire: A_havani_ya. The two divine ministers, of Hota_ are Agni and A_ditya].
10.110.08 May Bha_rati_ come quickly to our sacrifice, and Il.a_ thinking (of what she has to do), like a human being; may Sarasvati_ also-- the three gracious goddesses, sit down upon this pleasant sacred grass.
10.110.09 To the divine Tvas.t.a_, who decked the parental heaven and earth and all the worlds with living forms, to him, O priest, who are venerable and wise, being solicited byu us, offer oblation here today.
10.110.10 Offer of your own will in due season the food (and other) oblations of the gods besmearing it. Let Vanaspati, S'amita_, the divine Agni, sweeten the oblation with honey and butter. [Vanaspati_ = the deified yu_pa, or sacrificial post; or, the r.ca may be addressed to the priest; S'amita_: immolator of the victim. The post, the immolator and the fire are here deified as the chief instruments or agents of the sacrifice].
10.110.11 As soon as he was born, Agni constructed a sacrifice, he was the preceder of the gods; may the gods partake of the oblation presented with the sva_ha_ through the voice of him the hota_ of the sacrifice at the eastern station.
Narāśaṁsa evokes the worship of Sun divinity on Sit Shamshi bronze.
nr̥śáṁsa -- [< *ni(ḥ)śaṁsa -- (~ niḥśás -- f. (TBr. niśás -- ) ʻ evil intent (?) ʼ RV.) contaminated by RV. nŕ̊śáṁsa<-> (with variants nú śáṁsa -- and naḥ śáṁsa -- ) ~ nárāśáṁsa-- ʻ praised by men ʼ Sāy. (J. C. W.)](CDIAL 14665)
नरा* शंस [p= 529] m. (°रा*श्°?) " the desire or praise of men(?) " , a mystic. N. of अग्नि (esp. in the आप्री hymns , besides or instead of तनू-नपात् q.v.) RV. VS. TS. Br. (rarely) of पूषन् e.g. RV. i , 164 , 3 ; x. 64 , 3 (Monier-Williams)
तनू--नपात् [p=435,3] m. (त्/अनू-) " son of himself , self-generated (as in lightning or by the attrition of the अरणिs cf. Nir. viii , 5) ", a sacred N. of Fire (chiefly used in some verses of the आप्री hymns) RV. (acc. °पातम् , x , 92 , 2) AV. v , 27 , 1 VS. v , 5 (dat. °प्त्रे ; = TS. i , 2 , 10 , 2)AitBr. ii , 4 S3Br. i , 5 , 3 ; iii (gen. °प्तुर् , 4 , 2 , 5 irr. nom. °प्ता [only etymological cf. 4 , 2 , 5] 4 , 2 , 11) Hit.; fire in general (Monier-Williams) नपात् m. 1 A grandson (usually restricted to the Vedas), as in तनूनपात्. -2 A descendant, son. (Samskritam. Apte)
Rks which invoke Narāśaṁsa :
Chapter X, VERSE 64
कथा देवानां कतमस्य यामनि सुमन्तु नाम शर्ण्वताम्मनामहे |
को मर्ळाति कतमो नो मयस करत कतम ऊती अभ्या ववर्तति ||
करतूयन्ति करतवो हर्त्सु धीतयो वेनन्ति वेनाः पतयन्त्या दिशः |
न मर्डिता विद्यते अन्य एभ्यो देवेषु मे अधिकामा अयंसत ||
नरा वा शंसं पूषणमगोह्यमग्निं देवेद्धमभ्यर्चसे गिरा |
सूर्यामासा चन्द्रमसा यमं दिवि तरितंवातमुषसमक्तुमश्विना ||
Rig Veda, tr. by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1896]
HYMN LXIV. Viśvedevas.
1. WHAT God, of those who hear, is he whose well-praised name we may record in this our sacrifice; and how?
Who will be gracious? Who of many give us bliss? Who out of all the Host will come to lend us aid?
2 The will and thoughts within my breast exert their power: they yearn with love, and fly to all the regions round.
None other comforter is found save only these: my longings and my hopes are fixt upon the Gods.
3 To Narāśaṁsa and to Pūṣan I sing forth, unconcealable Agni kindied by the Gods.
To Sun and Moon, two Moons, to Yama in the heaven, to Trita, Vāta, Dawn, Night, and the Atvins Twain.
Chapter X, Verse 182
बर्हस्पतिर्नयतु दुर्गहा तिरः पुनर्नेषदघशंसायमन्म |
कषिपदशस्तिमप दुर्मतिं हन्नथा करद्यजमानाय शं योः ||
नराशंसो नो.अवतु परयाजे शं नो अस्त्वनुयाजो हवेषु |
कषिपदशस्तिमप दुर्मतिं हन्नथा करद यजमानायशं योः ||
तपुर्मूर्धा तपतु रक्षसो ये बरह्मद्विषः शरवेहन्तवा उ |
कषिपदशस्तिमप दुर्मतिं हन्नथा करद्यजमानाय शं योः ||
HYMN CLXXXII. Bṛhaspati.
Rig Veda, tr. by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1896]
1. BṚHASPATI lead us safely over troubles and turn his evil thought against the sinner;
Repel the curse, and drive away ill-feeling, and give the sacrificer peace and comfort!
2 May Narāśaṁsa aid us at Prayāja: blest be our Anuyāja at invokings.
May he repel the curse, and chase ill-feeling, and give the sacrificer peace and comfort.
3 May he whose head is flaming burn the demons, haters of prayer, so that the arrow slay them.
May he repel the curse and chase ill-feeling, and give the sacrificer peace and comfort.
Chapter 5 verse 5
सुसमिद्धाय शोचिषे घर्तं तीव्रं जुहोतन |
अग्नये जातवेदसे ||
नराशंसः सुषूदतीमं यज्ञम अदाभ्यः |
कविर हि मधुहस्त्यः ||
ईळितो अग्न आ वहेन्द्रं चित्रम इह परियम |
सुखै रथेभिर ऊतये ||
Rig Veda, tr. by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1896]
1. To Agni, Jātavedas, to the flame, the well-enkindled God,
Offer thick sacrificial oil.
2 He, Narāśaṁsa, ne’er beguiled, inspiriteth this sacrifice:
For sage is he, with sweets in hand.
3 Adored, O Agni, hither bring Indra the Wonderful, the Friend,
On lightly-rolling car to aid.
S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
May 22, 2015