Month: February 2017

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Aptoryam Somayag 2017 – Daily Schedule

Somayag is a complex ritual, involving a team of 16 Rutviks (priests). Each has his own responsibilities and will chant from one of the four Vedas. Together, all four Vedas will be represented. A number of different processes and tasks are often going on simultaneously. Following is a brief description together with the approximate timings. (Timings are given in IST – Indian Standard Time – which is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT).

6th February

4pm to 6pm

Fire is first generated in the Tretagni Agnihotra altars (3 altars of the Yajaman). Fire is generated by traditional friction method using two-man block and spindle technique. It is known as Agni Mantan.

7th February

9.30am to 1.00pm

Opening ceremony.
Energetic clearing of the Somayag shala.
Team of priests is gathered.
Fire is transferred from Tretagni altars to the Somayag altars.

5.00pm to 7.30pm

Consecration (Diksha).

8th February

7.00am to 1.00pm

Somavalli herb is ‘purchased.’
Soma is welcomed with an Ishti (type of fire ceremony).
Rutviks (priests) pledge to complete the Somayag harmoniously.
Implements for Pravargya are consecrated.
First Pravargya
(In Pravargya a mixture of cow’s milk and goat’s milk is offered onto a specially prepared pot of boiling cow’s ghee. This produces a flame up to 30 feet high).

4.30pm to 7.30pm

Pravargya.
Soma is freshened by each priest in turn.
Pravargya

9th February

9.00am to 12.00pm

Pravargya
Quiet Mantras.
Soma is freshened.

4.30pm to 7.30pm

Pravargya.
Soma is freshened.

Somavalli

10th February

7.00am to 1.30pm

Pravargyas continue.

5.00pm to 9.00pm

Procession to Mahavedi.
Pravargyas continue.

11th February

6.00am to 1.00pm

Offering of Soma into the Uttarvedi.
Everyone has the opportunity to help crush the juice from the Soma.

5.00pm to 1.00am

Offering of Soma into the Uttarvedi.

12th February

4.00am to 7.00am

Rutviks chant, without break, 1,000 Mantras.

9.30am to 12.30pm

Rutviks make offerings to atone for any mistakes they may have made in carrying out their duties in the Somayag.
Final offerings are made.

1.00pm to 2.30pm

Procession down to the river.
Various implements used in the Somayag are thrown into the river.
Everyone takes bath in river.

Yajaman douses participants with water from the Narmada.