History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.104

v5.c72.104

⁴⁹² According to Kāt Sr. quoted above in n. 486 the Anustaraṇī animal was to be struck behind the ear and killed. According to Jātūkarṇya the several limbs of the animal were to be placed on the corresponding limbs of the dead body. But Kāt. disapproves of this since when burnt there may be a doubt (in collecting bones) whether they are of the deceased or of the animal (and so only the flesh of the animal was to be placed on the limbs according to Kāt.). Compare Sat Br. XII 5. 9-12 for similar remarks. Āśv. gṛ IV 2. 4 (as interpreted by Nārāyaṇa) itself shows that there was an option viz. that the animal may be killed or let off and donated to a brāhmaṇa (vide also Baud P S I. 10. 2) The Śāṅ. Śr. (IV 14. 14-15) states that the kidneys were to be taken from the killed or living animal from behind and being slightly heated on the Dakṣiṇa fire were to be placed in the two hands of the deceased with the two mantras 'ati drava' (Ṛg. X 14 10-11)