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Atidesha

Atidesha, in the context of Vedic sacrifices, holds significant importance as it allows for the extension or transference of details from one ritual to another. This principle is often employed in Vedic sacrifices to streamline the performance of similar rites and ensure consistency across different rituals.

The concept of atidesha involves two key elements: the prakriti and the vikriti. The prakriti refers to the model or archetype sacrifice that contains all the intricate details of the ritual, while the vikriti is the derived or secondary sacrifice that adopts many of its details from the prakriti.

There are two primary methods through which atidesha is provided: through vacana (Vedic text) or nama (name). When a Vedic text explicitly states that the details of a particular sacrifice are to be filled in from another similar sacrifice that has already been described, it is atidesha by vacana. On the other hand, when two rites share similar names, the details of one can be derived from the other. For example, the rites Masagnihotra and Agnihotra have similar names. In such cases, any details of Masagnihotra that are not explicitly mentioned or are taken for granted can be adopted from the more commonly known Agnihotra. This method is known as atidesha by name.

Overall, atidesha serves as a crucial mechanism in Vedic sacrifices, facilitating the performance of rituals with precision and ensuring the continuity and coherence of sacred practices across different rites.