History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.154

v5.c73.t1.154

It is now time to describe the procedure of the Pārvana-śrāddha which is the pattern or norm (prakṛti) of the other śrāddhas⁹⁵⁶ (even including the *Aṣṭakās*). Here one meets with great divergences of views even from the times of the sūtras up to modern times. Though the main items and stages in the rite of śrāddha are generally the same, there is variation in the mantras, the details and sometimes in the order of the several items. Kātyāyana lays down that every man has to follow his own sūtra as to the use of the word 'svāhā' or the words 'svadhā namaḥ', as to wearing the sacred thread in the yajñopavīta or prācīnāvīta way and as to the number of *āhutis*⁹⁵⁷.