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SATAPATHA-BRÂHMANA.
offering is made), for it is from the head (downwards) that he who is anointed is anointed, --whilst it is held above (the Åhavaniya), for above (others) is he who is thus anointed ;-with the same formula (repeated each time), for one and the same (person) is he who is thus anointed , --whilst taking round (the chariot-head) in every direction? : on every side he thus is anointed.
15. And, again, as to why he makes offering on the head of the chariot ;-it is because this chariot is yonder sun; for it was by assuming that form that Pragâpati enclosed those couples, and took them to himself, and made them his own; and in like manner does this (Sacrificer) thereby enclose them, and take them to himself, and make them his own. Whilst it (the chariot-head) is held above (the fire, he offers), for above (others) was he who, enclosing those couples, took them to himself, and made them his own ;-and with the same formula, for one and the same is he who, by enclosing those couples, took them to himself, and made them his own
16. [He offers each time, with, Vâg S. XVIII, 44], O Lord of the world, Lord of creatures!' – for this (Agni), indeed, is the lord of the world, and the lord of creatures;—'thou whose dwellings are on high, or here below,—both on high and
The body (or 'nest,' seat-part) of the chariot is shifted sunwise round the fire on the great altai, so that the fore-pait keeps over the fire where the Adhvaryu's assistant holds it, and in each of the four directions, as well as in the centre of the fire, the Adhvaryu offers a libation of ghee, whilst facing the chariot-head. According to a comment on the respective rules (Kâty. XVIII, 5, 17-20) alluded to by Prof. Weber (Ind. Stud. XIII, p. 286), the fore-part of the chariot would, however, seem to be taken off the seat-part, the latter being carried round the fire as the oblations are made.
