History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c48.s1.1.4

v3.c48.s1.1.4

the piṇḍa is let off on the line from the part of the palm between the thumb and the index finger) with appropriate mantras, the first to the father with the words 'this is for you father,²⁴³⁵ N. N. and those who come after you', to the grand-father with the words 'this is for you grand-father &c.', to the great-grandfather with similar words. The piṇḍa (ball of rice) for the great-grandfather is the biggest of the three, that for the grand-father being larger than that for the father. There was a difference of view among the teachers as to the procedure when any of the three ancestors was living, Gāṇagāri holding that piṇḍas were offered only to the deceased ancestors and he who was living was only honoured, while Taulvali said that piṇḍas were to be offered to three ancestors whether living or dead and Gautama stating that if any ancestor out of the first three above the sacrificer was alive, three piṇḍas were to be offered and an ancestor beyond the great-grand-father may then be included. Āśv. (II. 6. 20-23) refutes all these views by saying that no piṇḍa can be offered to any ancestor beyond the great-grand-father and none to those who are alive nor to any ancestor between whom and a preceding ancestor a living ancestor intervenes, but that the piṇḍas meant for ancestors that are alive may be thrown into fire (with *svāhā* at the end and not *svadhā*). According to Āp. I. 9. 8 and Sat. p.