Darśapūrṇamāsāgnīdhra

Darśapaurṇamāsa is a yajña (sacrifice) that is an important part of the Iṣṭi class of sacrifices. Darśa means “amāvasyā” (new moon) and paurṇamāsī means “full moon.” This sacrifice is performed during a two-day period — one associated with the new moon and the other with the full moon. It spans two days starting from the day of the full moon, and likewise, two days starting from the day of the new moon. Four Vedic priests conduct the entire set of the Darśapaurṇamāsa rituals: the Hotā, Advaryu, Agnīdhra, and Brahmā. This text discusses the ritual procedures performed by the Agnīdhra during both the new moon and the full moon. A small and incomplete portion of the pātrāsādana (vessel-holding) ritual can be found after the colophon of the Darśapurṇamāsāgnīdhra. (Written in 9 lines per leaf.; 9 leaves foliated upper left and lower right verso. Mistakes covered over in yellow or blacked out, some corrections in margins, text highlighted in red throughout, vertical margins marked with double red line, accents in red throughout; second text Pātrāsādana is written in another hand (f. 9b).)