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Kriyadpada 83 माषमुद्गकुलस्यानि निष्पावतिलशालय:।
सर्षपा मार्गगोधूमश्यामाकव्रीहयो यवाः॥ प्रियङ्गवस्तथानृक्यो वेणवश्चेत्यनुक्रमात् ।
त्रिपञ्चवर्गबीजानि कथितान्युत्तमाङ्कुरे॥
After sowing the seeds oblations are to be offered to attendant deities called Ganadevatās for seven consecutive nights. These nights are named as follows after the particular deity entitled for oblations : Brahmarātra, Bhūtaratra, Indrarā tra, Gandharvaratra, Yaksarātra. Raksasarātra and Pisācarătra. They are enumerated as:
ब्रह्म भूतेन्द्रगन्धर्वयक्षरक्ष: पिशाचकाः। गणा बलिभुजः सप्त ऋगात् तन्नामलक्षिताः॥
Oblations differ according to these dieties. Of them Piśāca alone requires oil and meat as oblations. All others need vegetarian oblations. According to another view the seven deities to be worshipped are as follows:
अन्यथा केचिदाचार्याः प्राहु गणसप्तकम् ।
तच्चात्र कथ्यते भूताः पितरोऽपि च गुह्यकाः।
नागा ब्रह्मा शिवो विष्णुर्देवताः सप्त रात्रिषु After these days are over the field is to be surveyed to judge growth or sprouting of the seed. If the sprouts are black, bent downwards, redish, stunted or broken. the whole situation is inauspicious, On the other hand, tall, white, yellow and thickly grown suggest prosperity and success. Depending on the result the priest is to perform appropriate rites to ward off evil effects and to achieve success. (11) This section enumerates the qualities of the Sadhaka or priest and his disciples. Almost all Agamas agree in describing the qualities of the priest. They also point out that people born in certain regions are not fit to ofisiate in a sacrifice. Only people with laudable qualities are considered for the post. Our author gives his own views as follows : विशिष्टदेशे च कुले प्रसूतः स्यादग्रजन्मा श्रुतवान् कुशीलः।
शुचिः सुधीः शोभनलक्षणाङ्गः सौम्यस्तषाचार्यपदाधिकारी ॥
