adhvaryu

   The adhvaryu is the priest of the YAJUR VEDA at the traditional Vedic public ritual. He oversees all the ritual activity, carrying out most of the actions himself. He prepares and uses the implements, pours clarified butter, kills the ritual animal, and recites the appropriate verses (of either the Black or the White Yajur Veda) as the ritual actions are performed. The priests of the RIG, SAMA, and ATHARVA VEDAS are usually much less active on the ritual ground.

   Further reading: Julius Eggeling, trans., The Satapatha-Brahmana, Part I, According to the Text of the Madhyan-dina School (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1982); Jan Gonda, The Ritual Sutras (Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1977); Arthur B. Keith, trans., The Veda of the Black Yajus School (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1967); J. Frits Staal, The Science of Ritual (Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 1982).