Atharvavedaparishishta 44.1

Om. Now, therefore, we shall explain the rules for the ancestral offering.

The ancestral offering is of four kinds:

the regular, the prosperity-conferring, the desire-prompted, and the offering to a single ancestor.

Among them, the regular is [performed] on the new moon day.

The prosperity-conferring is preceded by [offerings to] the mothers, during life-cycle rites such as the rite for conceiving a male child.

The desire-prompted is [performed] upon the conjunction of an auspicious lunar day, [requisite] substances, and brahmins.

The offering to a single ancestor is [performed] from the gathering of the bones until the rite of incorporating into the ancestral body.

There, in the regular [offering], one should invite an even number of brahmins for the gods.

In the prosperity-conferring [offering], an even number on both [sides].

Barley is used in place of sesame; straight darbha grass [is used]; one should perform [the rites] clockwise.

The desire-prompted, however, is like the regular.

Now, the offering to a single ancestor is performed silently as far as has been stated.

There is no rite to Agni and none to the gods; [there should be] an odd number of brāhmaṇas.

Sitting facing south, having served [them] according to the ancestral rite, [he provides] a single purifier, a single water vessel, a seat not returned, [and offers] a single rice-ball with name and lineage, [saying,] 'This is your food.'