The performance of a Yaga requires the participation of individuals learned in the Vedas for example Adhvayu ,usally lerned in Yajurveda and Udgata in Samaveda. The hymns from each of the Vedas are applied in different aspects of the Yaga. The number of officials required in a Yaga depends upon its complexity. The complex rituals require the participation of a large number of officials, each having a different expertise.

· YAJAMANA: The Yajamana is the individual on whose behalf the Yaga is conducted. Traditionally, the Yajamana is a male, and cannot perform the Yaga in the absence of his wife, the yajamana-patni.

· ADHVARYU : The adhvaryu is usually learned in the Yajurveda and is therefore an expert in ritual. The adhvaryu is the central official in the conduction of the Yaga.

· HOTA: The hota is a Rgvedin, and is necessary for the chanting of the invocatory hymns, which are primarily from the RgVeda.

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· UDGATA : The udgata is an expert Samavedin, who sings the saman chants that are part of the soma sacrifices.

· BRAHMA : The brahman is the overseer of the sacrifice. Although supposed to be affiliated to the Atharvaveda, the brahman is often an adherent of one of the three other Vedas. This substitution is unavoidable given the few Atharva vedis remaining in India.

The more complex yagas require a complete battery of 12 more experts to assist the above 4. These are listed below according to their vedic affiliation:

1. RG VEDA :

· maitravaruna

· acchavaka

· gravastut

2. YAJUR VEDA :

· pratiprasthata

· neshaa

· unneta

3. SAMA VEDA :

· prastota

· pratiharta

· subrahmanya

4. ATHARVA VEDA :

· brahmanacchamsin

· Agnidhra

· Pota

In the Agnichayana at Panjal, in 1975 was according to Samaveda tradition and the following personalities were the priests.

Yajamana Yajamnapatni Brahman Udgata Prastota Prathihartha Subramanya Hota Brchmanacchamsin Maitravaruna Pota Nesta Acchavaka Agnidhara or Agnidh Gravastut Adhvarya Pratiprasthata Unneta Sadasya

Cherumukku Vaidikan Nilakanthan Akkithiripad Parvathi,Mrs Muthedam Sankara Naryanan Namboothiri Muttathukkattu M .Itti Ravi Namboothiri Tottam Narayanan Namboothiri Nellikattu Vasudevan Namboothiri Thottam Aryan Namboothiri Narana Mangalathu .N . Namboothiri Tekkeparampathu Narayanan Namboothiri C.V. Sridharan Namboothiri C.V. Vallabhan Namboothiri C.V Vasudevan Namboothiri Tekku Cherumukku Parameswaran Namboothiri Kunnam Padmanabhan Namboothiri Murtiedam Sankaran Namboothiri C.V krishnan Namboothiri Kavapra Marath S.N Namboothiri Kavapra Marath Nilakanthan Namboothiri Erkkara Raman Namboothiri

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