Ashwamedh Yagna: A brief Insight

Ashwamedh Yagna

Ashwamedha is the name of a famous yajna of ancient India. The 'universal king' that is A Chakravarti king was considered to be the officer to perform the Ashwamedha Yagna, but according to Aitareya Brahmana (8 Panchaika) other important diplomats were also empowered to perform it.

The Ashlavayan Srauta Sutra (10. 6. 1) states that he who wishes to attain all things, aspires for all victories and wishes to attain all prosperity is entitled to this yagya. Therefore, in addition to the universal universe, even the king of idolatry could perform Ashwamedha (Aap. Shrout. 20.1.1; Latyayana. 9.10.17). This seems to be a very ancient yajna because in the two Suktas of the Rigveda (1. 162; 1. 163) a special description is given of the Ashwamedhi Ashwa and its havan. There is a very detailed description of it in the Shatapatha (13. 1-5) and Taittiriya Brahmins (3. 8-9), which were followed in the Srauta Sutras, Valmiki Ramayana (1.13), the Mahabharata's Aesthetic Festival and the Jaiminiya Ashwamedha.The word अश्वमेध during the Vedic period was used in the sense of “administration of the state” or “increasing the strength of the state” as clear from  ‘राष्ट्रं वे अश्वमेध: (Satpath 13- 1-6) or वीर्यं वा अश्व

★ Rituals ★

Ashwamedha was started from Phalgun Shukla Ashtami or Navami or from Shuklashtami of Jyeshtha (or Ashadh) month. Aapastamba has considered the appropriate date for this Chaitra Purnima. The idolatrous king entered the pavilion in the form of Yajaman and was followed by his wives, dressed in golden garb, around the neck, accompanied by a number of maids and princesses. Their designations were: (a) Mahishi (Anointed Patrani with the King), (b) Vavata (Vaishya Women of the Society), (c) Parivrkrutri (Shudra Women of the Society). 

Very well-groomed handsome and scenic horse was chosen for Ashwamedha. His body had an aura of black color. He was anointed for this holy work by duly bathing in the pond water. He was then left to roam free throughout the year under the patronage of a hundred princes. In the absence of horse, three favors were offered daily to Savitradeva, and the Brahmin and Kshatriya caste harpist singers recited the hymn by playing the veena in praise of the king every day. Pariplav (specific narrative) was translated daily. The king used to take initiation when the horse returned to Sakushal after wandering around Nirvighan for a year. Avashmedha was the abode of the three sutya days (?). "Sutya" refers to Somalata codenamed Somaras (Savan, Abhishava). It consisted of twelve initiations, twelve subsets and three satyas. 21 Aratni high 21 Upps were presented.

The second Sutadivas was predominant and particularly important. On that day, Ashwamedhi Ashwa along with three other horses was plowed in a chariot and bathed in a pond. Brahmodya means to ask and understand esoteric puzzles. Then the king used to sit on Vyaghrachama or Singhcharam. On the third day, there were Yagangas, and Bhuri Dakshina was given to the rituals. Hota, Brahma, Adhvaryu and Udgata were given the wealth of the conquered countries in the east, south, west and north directions in Dakshina respectively and Ashwamedha was considered rich with this method.

★ Importance ★

Ashwamedha is a symbolic 'yoga' with each part having its secret.

Ashwamedhyagi in Aitareya Brahmana is a very important historical instruction of the ancient Chakravarti kings. Even in the historical period, the Brahmin kings or the Vedic Dharma Anuyayi kings constituted Ashwamedha with great enthusiasm. Ashwamedha of King Dasharatha and Yudhishthira are said to have concluded in ancient times.

Second century BC At the time of the Brahmin Renaissance, Shankuvanshi Brahmannaresh Pushyayamitra performed Ashwamedha twice, in which Mahabhashikar Patanjali himself was present (Ih Pushyamitram Yajayam :). The Gupta emperor Samudragupta also introduced Ashwamedha in the fourth century AD, which is introduced to his Ashwamedhi currencies. The Chalukya and Yadav kings of the south also continued this tradition. The last king to feed this tradition seems to be Sawai Jai Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur, by whom Ashwamedha Yajna is described by Srikrishna Bhatt Kavikalanidhi in the "Ishvaravilas epic" and Mahananda Pathak in his "Ashwamedhpaddhati" (which was compiled by the order of a Rajendra Varma Is a very detailed book of its subject).

Yudhishthira's detailed description of Ashwamedha is found in "Jaimini Ashwamedha".

 It has shown that initially this yajna was related to the equation and self-motivation of the inner and outer sun.

 credit :vedic texts and subhas kak

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