History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.255

v5.c73.t1.255

It is to be noted that in the invocation (*āvāhana*) of the pitṛs there is a divergence of views as to the mantras to be employed and also as to the stage when it is to be made. Hemādri (śrāddha, pp. 1254-56) states that there were five different views on the latter point, the three most important of which were that *āvāhana* should come before giving darbhas as *āsana* on the left side of the seats of the *pitrya* brāhmaṇas or after giving such darbhas or after agnaukaraṇa. As regards the former (viz. the mantras), Yāj. (I 232-233), the Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa and several others say that the invocation mantra is 'uśantas-tvā' (Ṛg. X 16. 12, Vāj. S 19 70, Tai S II. 6. 12. 1) and after the *āvāhana* the performer should perform *japa* of the verse 'ā yantu naḥ' (Vāj. S. 19. 58). The Viṣṇudharmasūtra¹⁰²⁴ (73. 10-12) states 'The performer after having received permission from the brāhmanas should invite the Manes. Having driven away the *Yātudhānas* (demons) by strewing grains of sesamum and by reciting the two mantras (the first of which begins with 'may the Asuras go away') he should invite the Manes with the four mantras 'come near, ye Manes', 'conduct them here, O Agni!', 'May my (ancestors) come near', 'this is your (share), O Manes'. Hemādri (*śrāddha* pp. 1260-1267) points out how the mantras differ according to different writers.