History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.695

v4.c63.t2.695

The digests contain numerous examples about the customs and usages that were adhered to among the followers of the several Vedic branches (śākhās) and the gṛhya sūtras in performing several religious rites. A few examples may be set out here by way of illustration. According to Yāj. I. 242 the offering of *piṇḍas* to the *pitṛs* in a śrāddha takes place after the brāhmaṇas invited at the śrāddha are fed, while Manu III. 261 shows that they were offered also before the brāhmaṇas were fed. The Sm. C. (on śrāddha p. 471) says that one should follow the practice of one's own Vedic śākhā. Among the five daily sacrifices (*mahāyajñas*) one is pitṛyajña, which acc. to some (such as Kātyāyana) means tarpaṇa, while according to Manu III. 81 it means śrāddha and the Sm. C. (I. p. 208) provides that one should follow one's śākhā. The same remark applies to the number of handfuls of water offered in *tarpaṇa* (Sm. C. I. p. 191 and Madanapārijāta p. 286). About the month of pregnancy in which the ceremony of sīmantonnayana was to be performed each person was to follow his own gṛhyasūtra (Sm. C. I. p. 17, and Par. M. I. part 2 p. 22). The same holds good as to the day of nāmakaraṇa (Sm. C. I. p. 21, Par. M. I. part 2 p. 25). It is not necessary to multiply examples. According to Gaut. XI. 21-22 and others already cited above, the king has to enforce the usages of guilds (śreṇi) and corporations. Several such usages have been cited above (pp. 487-488).