History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.265

v5.c72.265

Many commentators and digests quote certain verses of the Viṣṇupurāṇa (III. 13. 34-39) wherein the rites (*kriyāḥ*) after death performed for a person are enumerated as falling into three classes, viz. pūrva, madhyama and uttara. The rites from cremation up to the end of the 12th day are called pūrva, the śrāddhas performed monthly and sapiṇḍīkaraṇa and ekoddiṣṭa are called madhyama rites and those that are performed after sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, when the deceased has reached the position of pitṛ after being a *preta*, are designated *uttara*.⁵⁹¹ The pūrva and madhyama rites of the deceased may be performed by the father, the mother, sapindas, samānodakas and those belonging to the deceased's group (gotra) or by the king if he takes the wealth of the deceased. But the rites called uttara are to be performed only by the son, grandson, great-grandson, daughter's son or the latter's sons Even in the case of women, on the day of the anniversary of death every year an ekoddiṣṭa śrāddha may be performed for them. There is also another classification of śrāddhas viz. Navaśrāddha (those rites up to ten days after death), Navamiśra (those performed after ten days up to six seasons ), Purāna (those performed after a year).[^591 a]