Havirdhāna

By Swami Harshananda

Havirdhāna literally means ‘oblation receptacle’.

Among the Vedic sacrifices, the Soma-yāgas form an important group. The juice of the soma creeper is the main oblation material in these yāgas. The creepers are brought to the place of sacrifice in two carts. Each of these carts is called as ‘havirdhāna’.

A shed called ‘havirdhānamaṇṭapa’ is constructed within the mahāvedi,^[1] to the east of the sadas^[2] according to specified dimensions. The two carts are placed here after cleaning and washing them, on the day before the actual pressing.

References[edit]

↑ Mahāvedi is a trapezium shaped altar for the Soma sacrifice.
↑ Sadas is a place of assembly of the priests.

The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

Explore Other Articles

Aşţāyudha
Draviḍian
Durvigaha
Dulāla
Asvini

[1] Mahāvedi is a trapezium shaped altar for the Soma sacrifice.

[2] Sadas is a place of assembly of the priests.

[1]

[2]