History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.82

v5.c73.82

According to the Āśv. Gṛ. II. 4. 1 the Aṣṭakā days (and rites) were four, viz. the 8th *tithis* of the dark halves of the four months of the two seasons of *hemanta* and *śiśira* (i. e. of Mārgaśīrṣa, Pauṣa, Māgha and Phālgūna). Most of the Gṛhyasūtras viz. Mānava Gṛ. II. 8, Śāṅ. Gṛ. III. 12. 1, Khādira Gṛ. III. 3 27, Kāṭhaka Gṛ. 61. 1, Kauṣītaki Gṛ. III. 15. 1 and Pār. Gṛ. III. 3 say that there are only three Aṣṭakā rites viz. on the 8th after the Full Moon day of Mārgaśīrṣa (called āgrahāyaṇī) i e. in the dark halves of Mārgaśīrṣa, Pauṣa (or Taiṣa) and Māgha. The Gobhila Gṛ. III 10. 48 mentions that the Aṣṭakās are four according to Kautsa and in all flesh is to be offered, but that Gautama, Audgāhamāni and Vārkakhaṇḍi prescribe only three and Gobhila follows these latter. The Baud. Gṛ. II. 11. 1 provides that the three Aṣṭakā homas are performed in the months of Taiṣa, Māgha and Phālguna. Āśv. Gṛ II. 4. 2 refers to an option that Aṣṭakā rites were performed only on one Aṣṭamī (and not on three or four). The Baud. Gṛ. provides that⁸⁰⁶ the rite may be compressed into the three days (7th, 8th and 9th) of the dark half of Māgha or even in one day (i e 8th of the dark half of Māgha). The Hir. Gṛ (II 14 2)