20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

680 JULIETA Rotaruof the rite prescribed by Kauśika, with the addition of new elements,such as the offering to the child of a piece of gold, a book, clods of earth(probably for divination 19 ), etc. This practice is recorded by late paddhatisas vṛddhiśrādha: different objects were spread around the child so that hecould crawl among them and whatever he will touch was thought to foretellhis future career. It is very interesting that the custom is witnessed in theAtharvavedic ritualism as early as Keśava’s paddhati 20 , from where it wastransmitted to the SRM 21 . Keśava and the late paddhatikāra mention twobe eaten, what should not be eaten – all food I make for thee poisonless.” (PS 16.4.8-9)(WHITNEY) Next, with the verse “Both to day and to night” (PS 16.4.10), having uttered“I commend you to day and night!”, he should feed [the child] the first bite for the sakeof the day and night. This is the second feeding. “Both to day and to night, to them bothwe commit thee. Defend ye this man for me from the arāyas that seek to devour [him].”(PS 16.4.10) (WHITNEY) Next, with the mantra “Unto autumn thee” (PS 16.5.2), havinguttered “I commend you to the seasons!” he gives [the child a bite]. This is the thirdfeeding. “Unto autumn, unto winter, unto spring, unto summer, we commit thee; [be] therains pleasant to thee, in which the herbs grow.” (PS 16.5.2) (WHITNEY) Next, he shouldfeed the child as per the latter’s capacity. Afterwards he should offer the child gold, etc.The thing that child grasps, that is his share, thus it is known. Next, he should perform thesecond part of the tantra, which is prescribed by the Nakṣatrakalpa, and the recitation ofauspicious verses. Nevertheless people put only rice and barley in a copper pot and so onand with the hymn “Propitious to thee be the rice and barley” (PS 16.4.8-9) perform thefirst feeding. Thus is [prescribed] in the Karmasamuccaya, in the chapter referring to theseven rites for the new born.”19Cf. ĀśvGS 1.5.4-5, wherein the would-be-bride has to choose from among clodsof earth taken from various places that are related to plenty, misfortune, death, etc.20On KauśS 58.19: prathamaṃ bhūme mātaḥ (ŚS 12.1.63) ity ṛcā bhūmyāmupaveśya tataḥ udvayaṃ tamaspari (ŚS 7.53.7) ityādityaṃ darśayitvā tato'annaprāśanaṃkuryāt puṇyāhānte | tataḥ śivau te stāṃ vrīhiyavau (ŚS 8.2.18-19) iti dvābhyām ṛgbhyāṃvrīhiyavau piṣṭvābhimamtrya kumāraṃ prāśayati | ājyatantre annāni ca sarvāṇi | tataḥsruvaṃ pustakaṃ dadāti |śive te stāṃ (ŚS 8.2.14-15) ity dvābhyāṃ pārthivasya (sic!) iti dve(ŚS 2.29.1-2) mā pra gāma iti (ŚS 13.1.59-60) dve etābhiḥ ṛgbhir vrīhyādi mūrdhni dadāti|dyāvāpṛthivībyāṃ tvā paridadāmi | śivau te stām (ŚS 8.2.18-19) ityādi | vrīhiyavābhyāṃtvā paridadāmi || – “First, with one verse of ŚS 12.1.63 he places [the chid] on the ground,then he makes him look to the sun with ŚS 7.53.7, then he should perform the rite forfeeding at the end of the “blessing of the day”. Next, with two stanzas ŚS 8.2.18-19,having pounded rice and barley and having consecrated them with appropriate verses,he should feed the child. In the ājyatantra all kind of foods [may be employed]. Then heoffers to [the child] the ladle and the book. With two stanzas of ŚS 8.2.14-15 with twoof ŚS 2.29.1-2, and with two of ŚS 13.1.59-60, with all these stanzas he offers on the[child's] head rice, etc. [He entrusts the child saying] “I commend you to the earth andsky” [and recites] the stanzas beginning with ŚS 8.2.18-19. [He entrusts the child saying]“I commend you to the rice and barley” etc.”21saṃpātitavrīhiyavān gṛhītvā piṣṭvā prāśayati || tataḥ sarvānnāni (em., sarvāni, cf.