Kriyapada 81 whether it be fresh or old. The melted. ghee is of the lowest prefer- ence. Grains and seasasum seeds used for oblation should be washed and dried. Honey should be fresh and candied sugar must be pure and white. The same kind of quality consciousness must be maintained in the case of vegetable roots and fruits. Purification of vessels is a must. A gold vessel can be simply washed with water whereas a copper vessel should be brushed in water mixed with Tamarind fruit. Cowdung is enough to purify silver vessel and ashes may be used in the case of brass. A jewel can be purified by drying in the sunlight or washed in water. An earthen pot gets purified by fire and a wooden pot is pure if it is fresh hewn. The following stanzas prescribe purificatory rites. वक्ष्ये शुद्धिमपीह पात्रविषयां द्रव्यादिकानां तथा यावद् गन्धविलेपनाद्यपगमस्तावज्जलैः क्षालयेत् । चूर्णेरप्यवघर्षयेत् पुनरपि प्रक्षाल्य चोष्णैर्जंलैः पात्राणां भवतीह शुद्धिरघुना शुद्धिर्विशिष्टोच्यते ॥ सौवर्णं सलिलेन शुध्यति यथा लेपापनोदो भवेत् पात्र शुल्बमयं त्वथाम्लसलिलैस्तारोद्भवं गोमयात् । कांस्यं भस्मजलैस्तथा मणिमयं सूर्यांशुभिर्वाम्भसा मृत्पात्रं दहनेन चेदभिनवं तत्तक्षणाद दारवम् ॥ In the case of other metals a touch by the hand of smith is enough to purify. Coir, leather, cloth etc., may be purified by sprinkling water mixed with ashes. Simple sprinkling is advised purify grains, fruits, and sacrificial wood. In the case of people, Praṇā- yama is advised for mental purification and bathing etc., for physi- cal purification. Mantras also purify men and materials. Fire is purified by sprinkiing water to the accompaniment of the chanting of hymns. Proper purification will yield untold benefits. (10) The chief priest or Sadhaka who intends to perform a religious ceremony or sacrifice has to prepare himself taking a vow. Technically this preparation is called Dikṣã The term is very significant since it consists of two verbal roots. The first syllable stands for the root Dã meaning to give, besto v, grant, impart etc. The second syllable stands for the root Kși, meaning to destroy, make an end of, etc. Hence the word Diksã means "that which
