Garudapurana 1.218

Garuḍa Purāṇa 218 / Brahmā said: / O Vyāsa, I shall explain the śrāddha, which bestows worldly enjoyment and liberation upon mortals: / First, one should invite brāhmaṇas, especially celibate students.

Wearing the sacred thread over the left shoulder [circumambulating] for the gods, and over the right shoulder for the ancestors, / one should invite them and wash their feet according to the verbal formula and mantra:

The question is: “Oṃ, is it welcome to you?” / When they say, “Oṃ, it is truly welcome,” the offering of water accompanied by unbroken kuśa grass is made at the feet of the divine brāhmaṇa via the deity-tīrtha, reciting: “Oṃ, to the Viśvedevas this foot-washing water and arghya-offering, svāhā!”

Then, facing south, with the sacred thread worn on the right shoulder, saying: 'To our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers belonging to such-and-such gotra, bearing such-and-such names, may this foot-washing water and arghya offering be svadhā', the giving of water accompanied by bent kuśa grass and flowers at the feet of the brāhmaṇas representing the father and others, via the pitṛtīrtha.

In the same manner, [offerings are made] to the maternal grandfathers and others. / Saying, "This water for sipping, svāhā, svadhā," into the hand of the brāhmaṇa, [and saying,] "This is your arghya offering," flowers are placed in the hand of the brāhmaṇa.

Saying, "Om, this seat is prepared; it is prepared here," with the seven sacred utterances, "Om bhūḥ, Om bhuvaḥ, Om svaḥ, Om mahaḥ, Om janaḥ, Om tapaḥ, Om satyam," the brāhmaṇa representing the gods is seated facing east. / The brāhmaṇa representing the ancestors is seated facing north. / One should mutter three times: "Om, reverence to the deities and to the ancestors, and to the great yogins; / reverence to svadhā, to svāhā; may they always be for you."

"Om, today, in this region, in such-and-such month, when the sun has entered such-and-such zodiacal sign, on such-and-such lunar day, I shall perform the śrāddha preceded by the Viśvedevas for our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers of such-and-such gotras and names! Om, svāhā to the Viśvedevas! Om, I shall invoke the Viśvedevas!" / When it is replied, "Invoke [them]," [he recites:] "Om, Viśvedevas, come together, hear this invocation of mine; / sit down upon this sacred grass. Om, Viśvedevas, hear this of mine, you who are in the atmosphere, you who dwell in heaven; / you whose tongue is fire, and you worthy of sacrifice, having sat down upon this sacred grass, rejoice! / Om, the medicinal herbs converse together with King Soma: / 'For whomever a brāhmaṇa prepares [us], him, O King, do we save!' / Om, may the fortunate Viśvedevas of great power come; / may those who are appointed here in this śrāddha be attentive! / Om, driven away are the asuras, the rakṣasas that dwell around the altar"—thus barley is scattered three times.

"Om, I shall prepare the vessel." / Permitted with "Om, prepare [it]," having placed the purifying strainers into the vessel,

Saying, "Om, may the divine waters be propitious for our assistance and for our drinking; / may they flow upon us for our peace and well-being," water is poured into the vessel. / Saying, "Om, you are barley; keep away from us hatred, keep away enemies," barley is offered. / Saying, "Approached by fragrance, unassailable, ever-bounteous, rich in manure, / the sovereign of all beings—that Śrī I summon here," sandalwood paste is offered. / Saying, "Om, the divine waters that arose with milk, those in the atmosphere and those belonging to the earth, / golden-coloured and worthy of sacrifice—may those waters be auspicious, peaceful, pleasant, and easy to invoke for us. / This is arghya, reverence!"—having offered water into the hand of the brāhmaṇa and having taken the purifying strainer with that very vessel, one should place the residue and the strainer at the side of the brāhmaṇa. / Then, having placed the residue water into the first vessel, one should set it facing upward upon kuśa grass. / Kuśa grass is placed over it.

"Reverence to the Viśvedevas: these are sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, a lamp, a pair of garments, and a sacred thread. / May the offering of perfume and other items be without defect." / "May it be so," is the response of the brāhmaṇa.

Then the words requesting permission [are spoken]: "I shall perform the śrāddha of the fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, and of the maternal grandfathers, maternal great-grandfathers, and maternal great-great-grandfathers, together with their wives." / When the brāhmaṇas reply, "Perform [it]," / he should mutter three times: "Om, to the deities and to the ancestors..."

Saying, "Om, to our fathers and grandfathers of such-and-such gotras and names, together with their wives: this seat, svadhā," a seat is offered to the left of the brāhmaṇa. / "Om, I shall invoke the ancestors." / "Om!" / When it is replied, "Invoke [them]," [he recites:] "Om, yearning for you, we establish you; yearning, we kindle [you]; / yearning, do you yearningly bring the ancestors to eat the oblation! / Om, may our ancestors, gentle and consumed by fire, come by the paths trodden by the gods; / rejoicing at this sacrifice through svadhā, may they speak favourably of us and protect us"—thus is the invocation. / Saying, "Om, driven away are the asuras, the rakṣasas that dwell around the altar," sesame seeds are scattered. / Water is poured into the vessels set out in the manner previously described. / Saying, "Om, you are sesame, belonging to the deity Soma, an offering of cattle created by the gods; / united with the ancient waters through svadhā, please our ancestors and the worlds, svāhā," sesame is offered.

Having offered sandalwood paste and flowers with both hands and raised the ancestor-vessel, reciting "The divine [waters]...", [he says:] "O our father of such-and-such gotra, such-and-such devaśarman, together with your wife, this is your arghya, svadhā!" / Taking the vessel without the strainer, upon kuśa grass to the left and south, [saying,] "Om, you are a seat for the ancestors," the vessel is placed upside down.

"Om, purified be the worlds, the abodes of the ancestors; you are an abode for the ancestors." / The upside-down vessel is touched. / "To our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers of such-and-such gotras, together with their wives: these perfumes, flowers, incense, lamps, a set of clothes with an upper cloth, and sacred threads are for you, svadhā"—perfumes and other items are offered through the ancestor-tīrtha. / "May the offering of perfumes and other items be inexhaustible." / "May the intention be fulfilled," / is the statement of the brāhmaṇa. / The rites of requesting permission and the rest are likewise performed for the maternal grandfathers and others. / The ground is wiped, saying, "Om, the divine [waters]..." / Then, having taken the food smeared with clarified butter, having the sacred thread over the right shoulder, [he says] to the brāhmaṇa representing the ancestors: "Om, I shall make the offering into the fire." / When he replies, "Om, make [it]," [saying,] "Om, svāhā to Agni who conveys the kavya offerings," having given two oblations into the hand of the divine brāhmaṇa and having set aside the remaining food for the piṇḍas, one should cast the other half into the vessel of the fathers and into the vessel of the maternal grandfathers.

Having placed the vessel-mudrā and other marks and given kuśa grass, taking the vessel with both hands turned downward, [saying,] "Om, the earth is your vessel, the sky your cover; into the mouth of the brāhmaṇa, into the immortal, I offer immortality, svāhā," the vessel is consecrated. / Saying, "Through this Viṣṇu strode; thrice he placed his foot; / [the world] was gathered in its dust. / O Viṣṇu, protect the oblation," the thumb of the twice-born turned downwards is inserted into the midst of the food.

Saying, "Driven away...", barley is scattered three times. / Saying, "Om, I strike down all that may be unholy; and all asuras and dānavas have been slain by me; / the rakṣasas, the yakṣas, together with hosts of piśācas, have been slain by me, and all yātudhānas," white mustard seeds are scattered.

Then, saying, "To the deities known as Dhūrilocanas, this food with clarified butter, with water, and with side-dishes, svāhā," the dedication is made with water, kuśa grass, and other items. / "Om, may this food be inexhaustible! Om, may the intention be fulfilled!"

Then, wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder, having placed food with condiments and clarified butter in the vessel of the brāhmaṇa [representing] the ancestors, and having placed kuśa grass touching the ground upon it, holding the vessel with upturned hands with the mantra: 'Oṃ, the earth is your vessel,' one should place the upturned thumb of the brāhmaṇa upon the food with: 'Oṃ, this Viṣṇu [strode].' / Scattering of sesame seeds with: 'Oṃ, struck away [are the demons].' / Having dropped the left knee to the ground: 'To our fathers and grandfathers of such-and-such gotra, together with their wives, this food with clarified butter, water, and condiments, free of what is forbidden, svadhā!' / Having dedicated the food: 'Oṃ, bearing nourishment, ambrosia, clarified butter, milk, sweet drink, and foaming liquor, let there be svadhā; satisfy my father!' / The pouring of a stream of water facing the south.

'Oṃ, let this śrāddha be without flaw; oṃ, let there be success of the resolve.' / Having recited: 'Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ; we meditate upon that excellent splendor of the divine Savitṛ, who may inspire our thoughts,' [and] having dismissed [it], the recitation: 'Oṃ, the winds blow sweetness for the righteous, the rivers stream sweetness; sweet to us may the plants be; sweet may the night and the dawns be, sweet the dust of the earth; / sweet may heaven our father be, full of sweetness our tree of the forest, full of sweetness the sun, sweet may the cows be to us. / Honey! Honey! Honey!'

He should say: 'Enjoy [it] at your ease, maintaining silence.' / When they have eaten, he should recite the hymn to the ancestors beginning with 'The seven hunters': / And that is: 'The seven hunters in Daśārṇa, the deer on Mount Kālañjara, / the cakravāka birds in Śaradvīpa, the haṃsas in Lake Mānasa,

they were born in Kurukṣetra as brāhmaṇas who have crossed to the farther shore of the Vedas. / Having set out on a long road, why do you despair?'

Then [saying] 'Be satisfied!', facing south, wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder, in front of the remains of that food: / 'Oṃ, and those living beings in my lineage who were burned by fire, and those who were not burned by fire, / let them be satisfied by what is given on the earth; being satisfied, let them go to the highest state.' / Thus on the ground, upon kuśa grass, he should scatter food mixed with clarified butter and flooded with water.

Then, having given a mouthful of water [for rinsing] in the order of the brāhmaṇas, and having recited as before the Gāyatrī accompanied by the vyāhṛtis and the triplet beginning with 'madhuvātā', the question to the divine brāhmaṇa is: 'Oṃ, was it pleasing to you?' / When he says: 'It was very pleasing,' the question is: 'Oṃ, what of the remaining food?' / [The answer:] 'Eating together with dear ones.' / To the brāhmaṇa [representing] the ancestors and others, with the sacred thread over the right shoulder, the question is: 'Oṃ, are you satisfied?' / When he says: 'Oṃ, we are satisfied,' the sprinkling of the ground and the scattering of sesame seeds at the four corners of the diagram [is performed].

'Oṃ, [father] of such-and-such gotra! Our father! Of such-and-such divine name! Together with your wife! This is your seat of the rice-ball, svadhā!' / Thus in the middle of the line for the grandfather, reciting three times the Gāyatrī with the vyāhṛtis and 'madhuvātā', having made a rice-ball of food mixed with clarified butter, upon the kuśa grass: '[Father] of such-and-such gotra! Our father! Of such-and-such divine name! Together with your wife! This rice-ball is for you, svadhā!' / Thus in the middle of the line for the grandfather. / Then, reciting three times the Gāyatrī with the vyāhṛtis and 'madhuvātā', the scattering of a rice-ball near the rice-ball [is done]. / 'Oṃ, let the partakers of the wiped-off remnants be pleased'—thus wiping the hand on the strewn kuśa grass; with the water used to wash the rice-ball: 'Oṃ, of such-and-such gotra! Our father! Such-and-such Śarman, together with your wife! This water is for you to wash; and whoever here follows you and whom you follow, to him and to you, svadhā'—thus is the sprinkling of the ancestral rice-ball. / Having turned the vessel of the rice-ball upside down, with folded hands, he should recite: 'Oṃ, rejoice, O ancestors; behave like bulls, each according to his portion!' / Having touched water, having turned to the left, facing north, having restrained the breath three times, the recitation: 'Homage to the six seasons!'

Having turned around by the left, the giving of flowers [is done]. / 'May I have imperishable and auspicious merit, bringing peace and nourishment.' / Facing south, the recitation: 'These ancestors have rejoiced; they have behaved like bulls, each according to his portion.' / Having loosened his garment and folded his hands, the recitation: 'Oṃ, homage to you, O ancestors, homage to you!' / 'Give us homes, O ancestors!'—thus looking at the house. / Then looking [and reciting]: 'May we never hate you, O ancestors'; having uttered: 'This is your garment, O ancestors', [saying:] 'O one of such-and-such gotra, this garment is yours, svadhā'—thus is the giving of thread. / Taking the water-vessel with the left hand, pouring a stream upon the rice-ball with: 'Bearing nourishment, ambrosia, clarified butter, milk...' and so forth.

With the remaining water of the vessels set out before, the sprinkling of each rice-ball [is performed]—having invoked the rice-ball, the giving of scents and other offerings—and having placed a blade of kuśa grass upon the rice-ball, the recitation three times of: 'Oṃ, they have eaten, they have rejoiced; the beloved ones have shaken off [infirmity]; the wise, self-luminous sages have praised with the newest song of praise. / Harness, O Indra, your two bay steeds!'

'Oṃ'—thus is the sipping of water by the brāhmaṇas [representing] the maternal grandfathers and others. / Having sprinkled the ground with: 'Oṃ, let it be well sprinkled!' / 'Oṃ, the gods abide in the midst of the waters, everything is established in the waters; / placed in the hand of the brāhmaṇa, may the waters be auspicious to us!' / 'May the waters be auspicious!'—thus is the giving of water into the hand of the brāhmaṇa. / 'Lakṣmī dwells in flowers, Lakṣmī dwells in the lotus, / Lakṣmī dwells in cattle-pens; may there always be cheerfulness for you!' / 'May there be cheerfulness!'—thus is the giving of flowers. / 'May my merit be imperishable; may peace, nourishment, and steadfastness be mine; / whatever is conducive to welfare in the world, let that always be mine!' / 'Oṃ, may it be imperishable and free from misfortune!'—thus is the giving of barley and unbroken rice.

'To our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers of such-and-such gotras, along with their wives, may this food, drink, and the like be imperishable!'—thus is the giving of sesame-water into the hands of the brāhmaṇas [representing] the ancestors and others. / The brāhmaṇa should say: 'So be it!' / This is the imperishability and the blessings for the maternal grandfathers and others: / 'Oṃ, may the ancestors be gentle; may our family lineage increase; may donors multiply for us, and the Vedas, and offspring as well! / And may faith never depart from us, and may we have much to give!' / 'And may our food be plentiful, and may we receive guests! / And may there be supplicants coming to us, and may we never beg of anyone!' / May these blessings come true!

"May there be good cheer." / When it is replied, "Let it be so," releasing the ring of kuśa-grass for the arghya in the place where the piṇḍa was offered; / having taken the purificatory kuśa-grass, touching the brāhmaṇa representing the father and ancestors with that kuśa: "I will recite the svadhā." "Om, let it be recited." "Om, let svadhā be uttered for the fathers and grandfathers, of such-and-such names and blessings, along with their wives." / When it is replied, "May there be svadhā," with the verse "Carrying nourishment, ambrosia, and clarified butter..." one should pour a stream of water over the piṇḍas.

Then, offering barley-water into the hand of the brāhmaṇa representing the deities with the formula: "Om, may the Viśvedevas be pleased in this sacrifice." / When he has said, "Om, may they be pleased," one should recite three times: "Om, to the deities..."

Facing downwards, having moved the vessels of the piṇḍas, having sipped water, wearing the sacred thread over the left shoulder [upavītin], facing east: "Om, to the brāhmaṇa of such-and-such gotra, of such-and-such name, along with his wife, for the fulfillment of the śrāddha, I offer this silver as a priestly fee to you," thus one should give the dakṣiṇā. / Thus ends the offering of the priestly fee to the brāhmaṇa representing the deities.

Then the question to the brāhmaṇa representing the ancestors: "Are the piṇḍas complete?" / He says: "They are well-completed." Having poured a stream of milk on the piṇḍas, moving the piṇḍas, having turned the piṇḍa-vessel upwards before the guest brāhmaṇa, with the verse: "Om, in every race, win, O coursers, our riches, O inspired, immortal, truth-knowing seers; / drink of this honey, exhilarate yourselves; satisfied, depart along the paths trodden by the gods," dismissal of the piṇḍas... With the verse: "May the impulse of strength come to me; may Heaven and Earth, all-shaped, come to me; may the two parents come to me; may Soma come to me with immortality"— / this is the dismissal of the deities. / "Om, depart!"—this is the dismissal of the brāhmaṇa representing the ancestors. / Turning back after following the brāhmaṇas [as they leave]. / Disposing of the piṇḍas to cows and others—this is the remainder.

This procedure for the śrāddha has been proclaimed; recited, it destroys sins. / A śrāddha performed according to this procedure anywhere whatsoever

becomes inexhaustible for the ancestors, and attainment of heaven is assured. / Thus has been declared the pārvaṇa-śrāddha, which grants the world of Brahman to the ancestors.

Thus ends the two hundred and eighteenth chapter, titled "Explanation of the Pārvaṇa-śrāddha," in the Ācārakāṇḍa of the first part in the first section of the glorious Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa.