century BCE" Jan N. Bremmer (2007): "c. 800 BC" Contents Forty adhyayas (chapters) of this work are grouped under eight pañcikās (group of five). The following is an overview of its contents: Pañcikā I Adhyāya I: The consecration rites Adhyāya II: The introductory sacrifice Adhyāya III: The buying and bringing of the Soma Adhyāya IV: The Pravargya Adhyāya V: The carrying forward of fire, Soma, and the offerings to the High Altar Pañcikā II Adhyāya I: The animal sacrifice Adhyāya II: The animal sacrifice and morning litany Adhyāya III: The Aponaptriya and other ceremonies Adhyāya IV: The cups of Indra and Vayu, Mitra and Varuna and the Ashvins Adhyāya V: The Ajya Shastra Pañcikā III Adhyāya I: The Prauga Shastra, the Vashat call and the Nivids Adhyāya II: The Marutvatiya and the Nishkevalya Shastra Adhyāya III: The Vaishvadeva and the Agnimaruta Adhyāya IV: General considerations regarding the Agnishtoma Adhyāya V: Certain details regarding the sacrifice Pañcikā IV Adhyāya I: The Shodashin and the Atiratra sacrifices Adhyāya II: The Ashvina Shastra and Gavam Ayana Adhyāya III: The Shadahas and the Vishuvant Adhyāya IV: The Dvadashaha rite Adhyāya V: The first two days of the Dvadashaha Pañcikā V Adhyāya I: The third and fourth days of the Dvadashaha Adhyāya II: The fifth and sixth days of the Dvadashaha Adhyāya III: The seventh and eighth days of the Dvadashaha Adhyāya IV: The ninth and tenth days of the Dvadashaha Adhyāya V: The Agnihotra and the Brahmana priest Pañcikā VI Adhyāya I: The office of the Gravastut and Subrahmanya Adhyāya II: The Shastras of the Hotrakas at Satras and Ahinas Adhyāya III: Miscellaneous points as to the Hotrakas Adhyāya IV: The Sampata hymns, the Valakhilyas and the Durohana Adhyāya V: The Shilpa Shastras of the third pressing Pañcikā VII Adhyāya I: The distribution of the portions of the victim of the sacrifice Adhyāya II: Expiations of the errors in the sacrifice Adhyāya III: The narrative of Shunahshepa Adhyāya IV: The preparations for the royal consecretation Adhyāya V: The sacrificial drink of the king Pañcikā VIII Adhyāya I: The Stotras and Shastras of the Soma day Adhyāya II: The anointing of the king Adhyāya III: The great anointing of Indra Adhyāya IV: The great anointing of the king Adhyāya V: The office of Purohita Cosmography Section 2.7 Astronomy played a significant role in Vedic rituals, which were conducted at different periods of a year. The