Tuesday, February 18, 2014

26. Sarpa Yaga - The Sacrifice that Pulled the Snakes to Death!

The snake-sacrifice commenced following the due procedure. 

Many eminent sages like Chandabhargava (belonging to the Chyavana lineage), Kautsa, Jamini, the Sarngarva and Pingala duo, Vyasa, his son Sukha and Vyasa’s disciples, Uddalaka, Pramataka, Swetaketu, Pingala, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kundajathara, Kalaghata, Vatsya, Srutasravas, Kohala Devasarman, Maudgalya, Samasaurava) participated in the sacrifice playing various roles.

The priests, well-versed in the nuances of the rituals were clad in black. Their eyes, in contrast, were red from contact with the smoke from the sacrificial fire. 

As they poured ghee into the sacrificial fire raised and contained in the huge homa kundas (trough like structures for containing the sacrificial fire) chanting the appropriate mantras, the snakes were lifted up from where they were, carried to the site of the sacrifice and fed to the fire.

The snakes came in large numbers, many of them twining with others and uttering loud cries out of fear, fell into the fire and were quickly burnt into ashes. 

The snakes were of different colors, sizes and breed. Thousands of snakes including some giant ones of the sizes of a horse and an elephant were killed. The atmosphere was filled with a pungent and unpleasant stench due to the incessant burning of the snakes.

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1 comment:

  1. why was this yegya carried out........ can you tell in detail....

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