History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.87

v5.c73.87

It is remarkable that although the Vārtika quoted above, and the Kāṭhakagṛhya 61. 1 state that the word 'Aṣṭakā' is applied to a rite in which the *pitṛs* are the deities worshipped, the greatest divergence prevails as to the *devatā* of the Aṣṭakās. The Āśv. Gr. (II. 4. 3 and II. 5. 3–5) provides that on the 7th of the dark half the offerings are made to the *pitṛs* and on the 9th also, but Āśv. II. 4. 12 refers to the eight options as regards the deity of the 8th day, viz. Viśve-devāḥ (all the gods), Agni, Sūrya, Prajāpati, Rātrī (night), Nakṣatras (constellations), the seasons, the *Pitṛs*, Paśus (cattle). The Gobhila Gr. III. 10 1 starts⁸⁰⁸ by saying that Night is the *devatā* of Aṣṭakā, but adds that there are other views about the *devatā* being Agni, the *Pitṛs*, Prajāpati, Ṛtus (seasons) or all Gods.