Dadhi
By Swami Harshananda
Dadhi literally means ‘that which sustains’.
Derived from the root ‘dhā’ (to support, to sustain) the word ‘dadhi’ represents curds (curdled milk or yoghurt). Since curd is considered to be a better food item than milk in sustaining the health of the body, it is said so.
It has important uses in Vedic sacrifices. It is used to curdle fresh, hot milk which is used for oblation. It is also consumed by the sacrificer in the Darśa sacrifice and Āgrayaṇa rite. In the animal sacrifice (Paśubandha) it is utilized to prepare pṛṣadājya (a mixture of curds and ghee) used for sprinkling over the immolated animal. It is expected to be consumed by the sacrificer in the dikṣā rite (consecration of the sacrificer in a Soma sacrifice).
Recipes From Dadhi[edit]
- ‘Dadhigraha’ refers to the drawing of curds offered to Prajāpati just before the morning pressing of the soma juice.
- ‘Dadhigharma’ is a beverage of hot milk and curdled milk poured into a warm pot by the adhvaryu priest and used as a libation at the midday pressing of the soma juice in a Somayāga.
- ‘Dadhimantha’ is a beverage of grains (saktu) mixed with curds. It is also used in sacrifices.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore