Artic Home of the Aryans by Lokamanya Bal ... - Mandhata Global

194
a civil year of 360 days formed their basis, and the position of the
Vishuvân was of great importance inasmuch as the ceremonies after
it were performed in the reverse order. I have shown elsewhere what
important inferences can be drawn from the position of the Vishuvân
regarding the calendar in use at the time when the scheme was
settled. But we have now to consider of times which preceded the
settlement of this scheme, and for that purpose we must describe
another set of Soma sacrifices included under the general class of
Sattras. It has been stated above that side by side with the
Dvâdashâha, there are Ahîna sacrifices of two nights, three nights,
etc. up to twelve nights. But these sacrifices do not stop with the
twelve nights’ performance. There are thirteen nights’, fourteen
nights’, fifteen nights’, and so on up to one hundred nights’ sacrifice
called Trayodasha-râtra, Chaturdasha-râtra and so on up to Shatarâtra.
But since the Ahîna has been defined to be a sacrifice
extending over not more than twelve or less than thirteen days, all the
night-sacrifices extending over a period longer than twelve-nights are
included in the third class, viz., the Sattras. If we, however, disregard
this artificial division, it will be found that along with the Ekâha, the
Dvâdashâha and the annual Sattras, there is a series of, what are
termed, the night-sacrifices or sattras extending over a period of time
from two to one hundred nights, but not further. These night-sacrifices
or Ratri-sattras are mentioned in the Taittirîya Samhitâ, the
Brâhmanas and the Shrauta Sûtras in clear terms and there is no
ambiguity about their nature, number, or duration. The Taittirîya
Samhitâ in describing them often uses the word Râtrih (nights) in the
plural, stating, that so and so was the first to institute or to perceive
so many nights meaning so many nights’ sacrifice, (vimshatim râtrih,
VII. 3, 9, 1; dvâtrimshatam râtrih VII, 4, 4, 1). According to the
principle of division noted above all night-sacrifices of less than
thirteen nights’ duration will be called Ahîna, while those extending
over longer time up to one hundred nights will come under Sattras;
but this is, as remarked