https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=DvadasahaDvadasaha - Revision history2026-10-31T07:09:16ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dvadasaha&diff=497941&oldid=prevMishaelNab: starting details2024-03-02T15:24:15Z<p>starting details</p>
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'''Dvādaśāha''' – ([[Sanskrit]]: द्वादशाह) literally means the twelve-day sacrifice.<br />
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The ''Soma sacrifice'' that takes twelve-days is called ''Dvādaśāha'' in which a ten-day sequence called ''dāśa-rātra'', is flanked by two intensive day and overnight sacrifices called ''atirātras'' as opening and closing days.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Supreme Wisdom of the Upanishads|year=1998 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|page=270|isbn=9788120815735 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2jnPlEqwe_UC&q=dvadasaha&pg=PA270 }}</ref> The ''Agnistoma'' serves as the paradigm for all ''Soma sacrifices'' up to those of twelve days duration, the ''Dvādaśāha'' soma sacrifice is paradigmatic for ''Soma sacrifices'' of twelve days and more.<ref>{{cite book|title=Reflections on Resemblance, Ritual and Religion|author=Brian K. Smith|year=1998 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|page=126|isbn=9788120815322 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nkruE6UCz54C&q=dvadasaha&pg=PA126 }}</ref> The [[Aitareya Brahmana]] and the [[Kausitaki Brahmana]], belong to the [[Rig Veda]], both preserve this Rig Vedic rite.<ref>{{cite book|title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions|year=1999|publisher=Merriam-Webster|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 141]|url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440 |url-access=registration|quote=dvadasaha.}}</ref> The [[Aitareya Brahmana]] (IV.25) calls the ''Dvādaśāha sacrifice'' as the 'sacrifice of [[Prajapati]]', and the [[Jaiminiya Brahmana]] (III.302) calls the stomas of ''Dvādaśāha'' as the 'powerful sons of Prajapati'.<ref>{{cite book|title=Many Heads, Arms and Eyes|author=Doris Srinivasan|year=1997 |publisher=BRILL|page=65|isbn=9004107584 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vZheP9dIX9wC&q=dvadasaha&pg=PA65 }}</ref><br />
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The twelve-days ''Soma sacrifices'' are called ''Ahinas'', and the longer ones are called ''Sattras''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Echoes of Ancient Indian Wisdom|author=Shantha N. nair|year=2008 |publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=9788122310207 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=OzFvE0IR7rkC&q=dvadashaha&pg=PT202 }}</ref> The Aitreya Brahmana describes the ''Dvādaśāha sacrifice'' in its Pancika IV.iv.23 to V.iv.25, beginning with the origin and the initial ritual of this sacrifice.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sechzig Upanisad's des Veda|year=1980 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|page=9|isbn=9788120814684 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8mSpQo9q-tIC&q=dvadasaha&pg=PA9 }}</ref> The first six ''Prishtha'' days of the ''Dvādaśāha '' sacrifice represent the mouth, the ''Chandomah'' days are the seventh to the ninth which represent what is in the mouth as tongue palate and teeth; but that by which one produces articulate sounds of speech or by which one distinguishes sweet and not sweet, is the tenth day which is the 'day of happiness'. Those desirous of prosperity perform this ritual.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Aiterya Brahmanam of the Rig Veda Vol.2|page=356|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Vpw-AAAAcAAJ&q=dvadasaha&pg=PA356 |last1=Haug |first1=Martin |year=1863 }}</ref> The fundamental scheme of the sattras is that of a ''Dvādaśāha'' comprising a ''prayaniya-atiratra'' (one day), a ''prishthaya-shada-aha'' (six days), ''chandomas'' (three days), an ''avivakya'' (one day) and an ''udayaniya-atiratra'' (one day), which programme can be suitably extended.<ref>{{cite book|title=Antiquities of India|author=Lionel D.Barnett|date=30 April 1999 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers|page=173|isbn=9788171564422 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LnoREHdzxt8C&q=dvadasaha&pg=PA173 }}</ref><br />
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The ''Dvādaśāha'' sacrifice is both, ''Ahina'' and ''Sattra'' types of ''Soma sacrifice'', the former is ''Vyudha'', and the latter, ''Samudha''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sayana's Methodology in Interpreting the Rig Veda|author=Indrani Kar|year=2005 |publisher=Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar|pages=213, 214|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m3rXAAAAMAAJ&q=dvadasaha }}</ref> In the ''Sattra'' type of session, there is no sacrifice, only Brahmins perform this ritual.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of the Vedic Rituals|author=Chitrabhanu sen|publisher=Concept Publishing|page=115|isbn=9788170229452 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pW8E_bjmWD0C&q=dvadasaha&pg=PA115 }}</ref> In this context, [[Badarayana]] states:-<br />
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:द्वादशाहवदुभयविधं बादरायणोऽतः |<br />
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:"Hence Bādarāyana considers the released souls to be of both kinds (i.e. with or without bodies and senses) just as it is the case with the Dvādaśāha (twelve-day) sacrifice." - ([[Brahma Sutras]] IV.iv.12)<br />
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[[Adi Shankara|Shankara]] explains that when a liberated soul wishes to have a body, he gets one; and when he desires to remain without it, he has none; for his will is true and desires are diverse like the ''Dvādaśāha'' which can be both a ''sattra'' and an ''ahina'', because of the injunction about the sacrifice itself and the specification of the sacrificer. And, [[Gambhirananda]] clarifies that ''Dvādaśāha'' becomes ''Ahina'' when there is injunction about it along with the specification of its performer; it is ''Sattra'' when it is resorted to by many performers.<ref>{{cite book|title=Brahma Sutra Bhasya of Sankaracarya|publisher=Advaita Ashrama|page=904|id={{ASIN|8175051051|country=in}}}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
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{{Indian philosophy|state=collapsed}}<br />
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[[Category:Hindu practices]]<br />
[[Category:Indian philosophy]]</div>MishaelNab