The Functions and Significance of Gold in the Veda

278 Pages·38.321 MB·English

by  Jan Gonda

THE FUNCTIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF GOLD IN
THE VEDA
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ORIENTALIA
RHENO-TRAIECTINA
EDITED BY
J. GONDA
VOLUME37
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THE FUNCTIONS AND
SIGNIFICANCE OF
GOLD IN THE VEDA
BY
J. GONDA
=
E.J. BRILL
LEIDEN • NEW YORK • K0BENHAV N • KOLN
1991
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Library of Congrc11 Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gonda. . J. (Jan), 1905· .
The functions and significance of gold in the Veda I by J. Gonda.
p. cm.-(Orienralia Rhtno·trait:t:tina; v. 3i)
Includc.s bibli(>graphical rcfc:rcnt·es and index.
ISBN 90·04·09321 ·'I
I. Vcdas-Criticisn1, intC'rprecarion, et<·. 2. Gold-Religious
aspects-Hinduism. 1. Series.
BLI I 12.27.C65 1991
29'1 .5 '92 I - dc20 91-8571
CIP
ISSN
01~9504
ISBN 90 04 09321 4
©
Copyright 1991 by E.J. Brill, uuun, The Netherlands
All righls reserved. No part of this book may be nprodw:ed or
trans/aled in any form, by prinl, photoprinl, microfilm, microfiche
or any other means wilhoUl wrillen permission from the publisher
Pllll<l'EI> IN 11IE NE11fEIU.ANDS
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CONTENTS
Abbreviations . . . . . .. . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vn
Chapter one. The significance of gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
I. lntroductjon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1
II. The character of gold .................................................. 2
Ill. Gold and other objects of great value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
IV. Gold and light ................................. ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
V. Origin and provenance of gold .................................... 10
VI. Gold and fire (Agni) .. . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . . 14
Vil. Tejas, varcas, satyam ............ ..... ....... ... .. ... ..... ... .. ...... 18
VIII. Shining like gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
IX. Gold and royalty or other human beings ...... .. ... ....... ... .. 21
X. Ayus, prtlf}Q and amrtam . . . .. ..... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . .. . . . . . . 25
XI. Pu.ri ty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
XII. Amulets and talismans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
XIII. Ruk111tJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
XIV. Gold and animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
XV. Gold and the Waters ................................................ 39
XVI. Gold and plants ....................................................... 41
XVII. Honey .................................................................... 44
XVIII. Gold and sonaa . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
XIX. Gold and the gods ...... ... . . . . .. . ... . .. . . . . ... . . . .. . . . ... . . ... . . . . . .. 47
XX. Gold and individual gods ...... , . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. ... . . . .. . . 50
XXI. Gold and the sun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
XXII. Gold and silver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Chapter two. The use made of gold in rites and ceremonies . . . . . .. . . 79
I. Preliminary observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
II. Sacrificing on gold . .. ... ... . . ... . . .. . . . . ... . . ................. .. . .. .. . 81
III. Gold and sacrificial grass . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 83
IV. Utensilia made of gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 85
V. Symbolical actions transferring inherent power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
VI. Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9()
Vil. Sprinkling and purification . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . ... . .. . . . . . .. . . . ... . . ... . 92
VIII. Expiation and appeasement; ordeal . .. ... .. .. ... . ........... .... 94
IX. Domestic rites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
X. Magic . ... . . . . . . .. ... . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. ... . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . 105
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XI. Optional rites . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . 108
XII. The agnihotra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
XIII. Animal sacrifice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . 113
XIV. Vt ljapeya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
XV. Royal rites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
XVI. Rajasuya ................................................................ 119
XVII. Pravargya .... .. . . . . .. . . . . ... . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . ... . . ... . ... . . . .. . . . .. . . .. 123
XVIII. AJvamedha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
XIX. Soma ceremonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
XX. Agnyadheya . ..... ... . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . ... 144
XX.I. Agnicayana .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 148
XXI.I. Funeral rites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
XXIII. Daqil}lls ............................................................... 161
ChaptLr three. Gold in speculative thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 178
I. Introduction . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
II. Use, nature, and importance of gold ........................... 178
111. Purification ............................................................ 180
IV. Gold in "philosophical" contexts ................................ 180
V. The golden reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
VI. The golden goose (/uuiua) ........................................ 184
VII. Prajapati and gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
VIII. The golden Puru.fa .................................................. 191
IX. The Golden Pur~a in the agnicayana ......................... 193
X. The yajamiina becomes amria. golden and 'deified' ........ 202
XI. The creation and the golden egg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 206
Chapter four. Hiraf}yagarbha ............................................... 216
I. lntroduction ........................................................... 216
II. 10, 121 ....................................................... 216
~gveda
Ill. Quotations of 10, 121, 1 etc. in the Veda .............. 219
~V.
IV. Hirai;iyagarbha and Prajapati ..................................... 221
V. Magic and expiations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
VI. The HiraQyagarbha vidhi (AV Par. 13} ........................ 226
VII. Garbha, germ and womb .......................................... 229
VIII. Garbha and egg ...................................................... 230
IX. Hirai:iyagarbha as a teacher or authority ...................... 232
X. Hirai:iyagarbha and the high gods or as a high god ......... 233
XI. Hirai:iyagarbha in the Vedanta ................................... 240
Index .............................................................................. 247
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ABB RE VIAT ION S
I. Texts (original sources)
AiA. Aitareya-Araoyaka
AiB Aitareya-Brihmaoa
Al'Y. Apastamba-Grhyasiitra
ADS.
Apastamba-Srautasiitra
~vG. Mvaliyana-Grhyasiitra
MvS. A'valiyana-Srautasiitra
AV. Atharvaveda
AVP. Atharvaveda-Sarphiti, Paippalida recension
AVPar.
Atharvaveda-Pari,~la
AVPr. Atharvaveda-priyakitta
AVS. Atharvaveda-Sarphiti, Saunakiya recension
BAU. Brbadarai;iyaka-Upan~d
BD. Brhaddevati
BG. Baudhliyana-Grhyasiitra
BhigPur. Bhigavata-Puraoa
Bbir. Pait. Bhiradvlija Paitrmedhikasiitra
BbG. Bharadva1a-Orhyasiltra
BhPar(S). Bhiradva1a-Pari~e~·S11tra
BhS. Bhiiradvi1a-Srautasiitra
Bm4P. Brahmiq4a-Purlioa
BrP. Brahma-Puriga
BS. Baudhiyana-Srautasiitra
ChU(p). Oliindogya-Upa~d
DS. Driihyiyana-Srautasiitra
GB. Gopatha-Brahmaoa
GG. Gobhila-Grhyasiitra
Hariv.
Harivalfl~&
HG.; HirG. Hirai;iyakdi-Orhyasiitra
HS. Hirai;iyakdi-Srautasiitra
JB. Jaiminlya-Brahmaoa
JG. Jaiminiya-Grhyasiitra
JUB. Jaiminlya-U[nipd-Briihmaoa
K.apS. Kapi$!hala- a1ha-)Sarphiti
KAthG. KA1haka·Gr yasiitra
KathaUp. Ka1ha-Upani$ad
Kall$.
K.au~ika-Siitra
Ka11$Up. Kau$itaki-Upanipd
KB. K.au$itaki·Brlihmaoa
KBU. Ka11$itaki-Brlihmaoopanipd
KG. Kithaka·Grhyas'litra
KhG. Khiidira-Grhyasiitra
Kithaka-Sal]lhiti
~:
Katyiyaoa-Srautasiitra
tLrau.grG.. Laugik$i-Grhyasiitra
Liliga·Purlio,a
Li!yiyana-Srautasiitra
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VJU ABBREVIATIONS
MabinirUp. Mabl·Nlrlyaoa-Upani$lld
MabiU . Mabl-Upanipd
Mait(r)Op. Maitraya.oi-UpaniJad
MiQ<jUp. Mil)<jukya-Ul)ani$ad
MaiU. Maitraya.oi-lfpani$ad
MiirkP. Miirka.o4eya-Purll)a
Mbb. Mahibblrata
MG. Minava-Grbyasiltra
MS. Maitriiyaqi-Saqihiti
MS. MAnava-Srautasiitra
MuU. Mu1,14aka·UpaniJad
Nlr.parUp.
Niiriiyal)8·pari§i~ia-Upani$8d
Nir. Nirukta
PB. PailcaviQttl·Brihmaoa
PG. Plraskara·Grbyasiitra
PrU p. Pra§na·UpaniJad
RV. ~eda·SaQthitl
RVidb.; J.lgVidb. Rgvidhana
RVkh.; J.lgVkh. Rgveda, khila
SB. Satapatha·Bribmaqa
~B. ~a4viQttl·Briihllllll)a
Siilkbiiyana·Grhyasiitra
~·
Sankhiiyana-Srautasiitra
sv.
Simaveda·SllJllhitii
SvU. Svetii§vatara-Upanif8d
SVB. Slmavidhina-Brahma.oa
TA Taittiriya-Aral)yaka
TB. Taittiriya-Briihma.oa
TS. Taittiriya-Sarphiti
TU. Taittiriya-Upanipd
ViidhS. Vidhiila-Siitra
VaiG-i VaikhG. Vaikhiinasa-Gfhyasiitra
Vaikh:>. Vaikhiinasa-Srautasiitra
Vait(S). Vaitana-Siitra
ViP. Viyu·Pu.rar:ia
ViiS.; ViirS. Viriiha-Srautasiitra
VG. Viriiha-Grhyasiitra
VGP. Viriiha·Grhya-Parifina
VGS. Viriha·Grhyasiitra
VS. VAjasaneyi-Saq1hitii, KiQva recension
JI. Abbreviated titles of books and articles mentioned in the footnotes
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Bodewitz, Jyotinoma. H. Bodewitz, The Jyoti.$toma ritual. Jaiminiya
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