History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.487

v5.c73.t1.487

The word 'mātaraḥ' has two meanings. Gobhilasmṛti¹¹⁸⁴ prescribes that at the beginning of all rites the Mātṛs together with Gaṇeśa have to be worshipped and it names fourteen mātṛs such as Gaurī, Padmā, Śacī (I. 11-12).¹¹⁸⁵ In the Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa (88.11-20 and 38) they are said to be seven viz Brahmāṇī and others. Vide H. of Dh. vol. II pp. 217-218 for the Mātṛs and their worship.¹¹⁸⁶ Aparārka (p. 517) quotes verses to the effect that in Vṛddhiśrāddha one must offer worship to the seven mātṛs (Brahmāṇī and others), then to one's mother, paternal grandmother, and paternal great-grandmother, then to the Nāndīmukha pitṛs and then to the mātāmahas together with their wives The Śrāddhaprakāśa (of Vīramitrodaya) quotes Vṛddha-Vasiṣṭha to the effect that in the Mātṛśrāddha (as part of Vṛddhi-śrāddha) if a sufficient number of brāhmaṇas be not available then for the groups of mātṛs and of mātāmahīs four women (for each group) whose husbands are living and who have a son or sons should be invited to dinner1186a and honoured.