History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.220
History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.220
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Many of the Purāṇas contain detailed descriptions of the śrāddha to be performed on every amāvāsyā; for example, Matsya 17. 12-60 (closely resembling Yāj. 225-259), Viṣṇupurāṇa III. 15. 13-49, Mārkaṇḍeya 28 37-60, Kūrma (II. 22. 20-62), Padma (sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa) 9. 140-186), Brahmāṇḍa (Upodghātapāda, chap. 12), Skanda VI. 224. 3-51, Viṣṇudharmottara I. 140. 6-44. The Agnipurāṇa chap. 163 verses 2-42 are the same (with very slight variations and the omission of 2½ verses) as Yāj. I. 227-270; while Agni chap. 117 contains many verses that closely follow the Āśv. Gṛ and Yāj. Similarly the Garuḍapurāṇa contains numerous verses that are identical with Yājñavalkya's. For example, compare Yāj. I. 229-239 with Garuḍa I. 99. 11-19. The Purāṇas closely follow the Gṛhyasūtras, Manu and Yājñavalkya and often employ the same mantras and formulas, though here and there they introduce some details. As remarked by the Varāhapurāṇa 14 51, the procedure for śrāddha is the same in all Purāṇas (iyam sarvapurāṇeṣu sāmānyā paitrikī kriyā). For example, a summary of the procedure in the Padma (sṛṣṭi 9. 140-186) is set out here. The performer having honoured the Viśve-devāḥ (i e. the brāhmaṇa or brāhmaṇas invited to represent them) with a seat and with yava grains and flowers should fill two vessels with water and should place them on a *pavitra* of *darbhas* The water should be offered with the verse 'śam no devīr' (Ṛg. X. 9.4) and the yava grains with 'Yavosi'.
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They should be invoked with the verse 'Viśve devāsaḥ' (Ṛg. II. 41 13) and yavas should be scattered about with the two verses 'Viśve devāsaḥ' (Ṛg. II. 41. 13-14) and he should scatter about yava grains with the verse 'thou art yava, the king of grains &c.' (quoted¹⁰⁰³ below). After decking the brāhmaṇas with sandalwood paste and flowers he should honour them with water with the verse¹⁰⁰⁴ ‘yā divyā’ (vide n. 985). After taking leave of the Vaiśvadeva brāhmaṇas that have been honoured with *arghya* he should begin the pitṛyajña. He should prepare seats with darbhas on them, worship three vessels, place *pavitras* on them and pour water in them with ‘śaṁ no devīr’ (Ṛg. X. 9 4), should cast sesamum grains in them with ‘tilosi’ and then put in them sandalwood and flowers. (Then verses 147-152 speak about the vessels to be employed). He then should announce the names and gotra of his ancestors and give darbhas in the hands of the brāhmaṇas. He should then request brāhmaṇas with the words ‘I shall invite the pitṛs’ and when they reply ‘let it be so’ he should invoke the pitṛs with the two verses ‘uśantas tvā’ (Ṛg. X. 16.12) and ‘ā yantu’ (Vāj. S. 19.58). Then, having offered *arghya* to the brāhmaṇas (representing the pitṛs) with ‘yā divyā’ (vide n.
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985), having given them sandalwood paste and the other things including garment as the last, he should collect the remainder of the water (in the *arghya* vessels) into the vessel meant for the father and should keep aside the latter to the north with its top turned downwards with the words ‘thou art a seat of the pitṛs’. Then he should begin to serve various kinds of food after bringing the utensils in which the food was cooked and holding them with both hands. (Verses 157-165 speak of the various foods to be offered and the periods of gratification caused thereby to the pitṛs). While the brāhmaṇas are engaged in eating he should recite the Vedic hymns¹⁰⁰⁵ referring to the Fathers, all the Purāṇas, various eulogies of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the Sun, Rudra and the Vedic hymns addressed to Indra, Rudra and Soma and the Pāvamānī verses, the Sāmans called Bṛhat, Rathantara and Jyeṣṭha Sāman, the chapter on Śānti rites (propitiatory rites for removing evil events or prognostications), the Madhubrāhmaṇa, the Maṇḍala Brāhmaṇa and whatever else gives pleasure to the brāhmaṇas and the performer, and the Mahābhārata also should be recited, as it is very dear to the pitṛs.
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After the brāhmaṇas have finished their dinner the performer should collect together in a lump portions from all kinds of food, put water over them and spread ¹⁰⁰⁶ it (on the ground over darbhas) in front of the plates of the dining brāhmaṇas and should say ¹⁰⁰⁷ 'May those persons in our family that were cremated or not cremated be gratified by the food offered on the ground and being gratified may they attain the highest world (or bliss)! May this food offered on the ground for the gratification of those that have neither father nor mother nor relative nor any other friend and have no food (offered by any one else in śrāddha) proceed for union with them wherever it may have to go'! The remainder of the food cooked for śrāddha and food spread on the ground are the lot (or share) of those that died without the saṃskāras (*caula*, *upanayana* and the like) being performed on them, that abandoned their *gurus* and of (unmarried) women of the family. Finding that the brāhmaṇas are satisfied (by the dinner) he should give water once in the hand of each brāhmaṇa, should place on the ground smeared with cow's dung and urine darbhas with their ends turned to the south and place on them piṇḍas made from all kinds of foods (cooked for the śrāddha dinner) following the method employed in *Piṇḍapitṛyajña* after washing them with water.
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He should then utter the names and gotra (of the ancestors to whom the piṇḍas are to be offered) and should offer flowers and the rest and should again wash them (piṇḍas). He should perambulate the piṇḍas thrice holding darbhas in his hand and he should light lamps and offer flowers for the piṇḍas. When the brāhmaṇas sip water after eating the dinner, he should himself sip water and give water once to each of the brāhmaṇas and flowers and *akṣatas* and then *akṣayyodaka* with sesamum grains. He should then make according to his means presents (to the brāhmaṇas) of cows,¹⁰⁰⁸ land, gold, clothes, splendid beds and whatever else was liked by the brāhmaṇas or by the performer himself or his father. He should not be stingy in his presents. Then he should request the brāhmaṇas to say ‘*svadhā*’ and they should do so. Then he should request the brāhmaṇas to pronounce the following benedictions and should receive them from them while he faces the east They are ‘May the pitṛs be kind (not dreadful) to us’; the brāhmaṇas should say ‘let it be so’; ‘May our family increase’; they should say ‘so be it’; ‘May donors in my family prosper and also (the study of) the Vedas and progeny and may these benedictions come out true!’; they should respond ‘let it be so’. He should then remove the piṇḍas and request the brāhmaṇas to utter the word ‘*svasti*’ and they should do so. The remains of the food eaten by the brāhmaṇas remain (unremoved or unwiped) till the brāhmaṇas are dismissed;
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then he should perform the (usual) daily rites *Vaiśvadeva*, *balihoma*¹⁰⁰⁹ &c. The remnants of food that lie on the ground are the share of the group of slaves that were straight-forward and not roguish (dishonest or shirkers). The performer holding a vessel full of water and muttering the verse ‘vāje vāje’ (Ṛg. VII. 38 8, Vāj S. IX. 18, Tai. S I 7. 8. 2) should touch the brāhmaṇas with the tip of kuśas and dismiss them. He should follow them out of his house for eight paces, should circumambulate them, should then return with his relatives, sons and wife, should then perform the daily *Vaiśvadeva* and *balihoma*. Then after Vaiśvadeva he should together with his relatives, sons, guests and servants partake of the food that remains in the cooking pots after what was eaten by the brāhmaṇas.