History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.249

v5.c72.249

The persons entitled to perform the funeral rites after death (*antyakarmādhikārīn*) are the same as those entitled to offer srāddha. There is a good deal of difference as to the order of the persons so entitled For example, Gautama (Dh. S 15 13-14) states 'On failure of sons the sapiṇḍas (e g. brother, brother's son), the sapiṇḍas of the mother (e g maternal uncle or his son) and pupils may perform srāddha for the deceased; in default of these the family priest and the ācārya (veda teacher).' Śaṅkha says⁵⁸¹ 'The offering of piṇḍa and water should be done by the son for the father; in default (i e absence or death) of the son, the wife (of the deceased) should offer, but in default of her the full brother' The Viṣṇupurāṇa⁵⁸² provides 'the son, grand-son, great grandson (of the deceased), the offspring of the brother (of the deceased), the offspring of a sapiṇḍa become entitled to offer (piṇḍa)' The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa provides (30. 19-21, chap 27. 19-23 of the Veṅk. ed.) 'On failure of the sons, sapiṇḍas, on failure of them the samānodakas, then the sapiṇḍas of the mother, and samānodakas of her, should perform these rites, a daughter's son should perform them (if the man dies sonless), the putrikāputra should perform them for his maternal grand-father; in default of all these, women should perform these rites for their husbands but without Vedic mantras; in default of wife the king should get the rites performed by some one belonging to the family (of the deceased)