The Śatapatha-Brāhmaṇa according to the Text of the Mādhyandina School, Part IV

Introduction: Explains the Agnicayana as a complex ritual and speculative system. It presents the fire-altar as a symbolic reconstruction of Prajāpati, relating sacrifice to creation, time, death, immortality, mind, self, and Brahman. Eighth Kāṇḍa — The Building of the Sacred Fire-altar Continued: Continues the construction of the altar. It discusses the completion of the first layer and the arrangement of the second, third, fourth, and fifth layers through special bricks such as Prāṇabhṛt, Lokampṛṇā, Aśvinī, Ṛtavyā, Vaiśvadevī, Apasyā, Chandasya, Diśyā, Viśvajyotis, Stoma, Spṛt, Sṛṣṭi, Āśapatnī, Nākasad, Pañcacūḍā, and Svayamātṛṇṇā. The section emphasizes correspondences between bricks, vital airs, seasons, metres, animals, regions, food, and Prajāpati’s body. Ninth Kāṇḍa — Rituals Following the Fire-altar Construction: Treats rites associated with the completed altar, including the Śatarudriya, oblations on the enclosure-stones, Avaṭa oblations, sprinkling of altar mounds, offerings connected with Nirṛti’s quarter, procession of bricks, chariot-related rites, installation and consecration of Agni, Vasor dhārā, Rāṣṭrabhṛt oblations, preparatory rites of the Soma-sacrifice, Agniṣomīya animal sacrifice, Sutya or Soma day, pressing and offering of Soma, unyoking of the fire-altar, concluding ceremonies, and propitiatory hymns. Tenth Kāṇḍa — The Mystery of the Fire-altar: Presents the esoteric and philosophical interpretation of the Agnicayana. Main themes include the fire-altar as Prajāpati, the year, the universe, the Vedas, the Mahad Uktham, the Mahāvrata, the metres, the sacred fire, Arka, Akṣara, Brahman, the sacrificer, Death, Mind, the golden Puruṣa, the Self, and the conquest of death through knowledge.