The suovetaurilia was one of the most sacred and traditional rites of Roman religion: the sacrifice of a pig (sus), a sheep (ovis) and a bull (taurus) to the deity Mars to bless and purify land . It has been said to be derived from the Sautramani yagna.
Sautramani-yajna - a particular sacrifice in honor of Indra which is described in the Yajur Veda. It is said that by performing this yajna, one obtains a place in the heavenly planets.This yagna is also said to be associated with drinking of wine (soma) by the Brahmanas. Soma is not wine, it has a different esoteric meaning.
The Sautramani sacrifice is associated with the Pravagya rite and is one of the many soma sacrifices. Three animals a ram, bull and a boar are sacrificed during the Sautramani ceremony. The sacrifice is symbolic and actual animals are not killed. The origin of the Sautramani sacrifice is told in the story about the birth of Indra. Indra is born to Tvastar; his mother is Saraswati. The entire rite is performed to relieve Indra from the effects of drinking too much Soma. Indra cuts of the head of Tvastar to get control over soma. Tvastar is the Sun (Tvastar means fashioner or creator and refers to the Sun during summer time), Saraswati is dawn (She is also known as Vak and is the consort of creator Brahma). Indra who is referred to as the son of Tvastar and Saraswati is the summer rays of the Sun. To get control of Soma, he cuts of the head of Tvastar. This can be seen as the Orion-Sacrifice when the Sun is in conjunction. The head of Tvastar can be compared to the head of Orion or Mrigasiras. The belt stars are the home to the moon called as Soma. At dawn, Soma merges in the light of the young rays of Sun as if he is giving himself to the young Sun Indra who is said to drink too much Soma juice. The whole myth revolves around the Self-Sacrifice made by the moon.
More on Sautramani ritual to be continued tomorrow.
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