History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.211.1

v5.c72.211.1

The Āśv. gr. IV.6, the Sat Śr. 28 4, Śāṅ Śr 4 6 (called *paridhikarma*) and some others prescribe a Śānti rite after collection of the charred bones of a deceased person. The Baud. P. S. (II. 3 3) and Viṣṇu Dh. S. 19.19 appear to prescribe the Śānti rite after the ten days of impurity have expired ('daśarātre śaucam kṛtvā śāntiḥ'). *It is described by Āśv. gr as follows:* They who have lost a *guru* (father or mother) by death should perform on the new moon day an expiatory ceremony. Before sunrise they should carry fire together with its ashes and with its receptacle to the south with the half verse 'I send away the flesh-devouring Agni' (Ṛg X 16 9) Having cast that fire down at a place where four roads meet or somewhere else, they walk round it thrice, with their left side turned to it and beating their left thighs with the left hand. They should then return home without looking back, bathe in water, have their hair, beards and hair on the body and nails cut, furnish themselves with new jars, pots, vessels for rinsing the mouth, with garlands of śamī flowers, with fuel of śamī wood, with two pieces of śamī wood for kindling fire⁵⁵⁶ and with branches for encircling the fire, with bull's dung and hide, fresh butter, a stone and as many bunches of kuśa grass as there are young women (in the house). At the time of the Agnihotra (in the afternoon) he should kindle fire (by means of the araṇis) with the half verse 'Here may this other Jātavedas' (Ṛg X. 16.9 latter half)'.