History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.69.1

v5.c73.t1.69.1

About the number of brāhmaṇas to be invited at a śrāddha there were several options and several views. The Āśv. Gṛ. S. states⁹⁰³ that at the Pārvaṇa-śrāddha (performed on a *parvan* day i. e. on Amāvāsyā), the Ābhyudayika śrāddha, the Ekoddiṣṭa or *Kāmya*, the larger the number of brāhmaṇas the greater is the reward, that in no case should a person invite only one brāhmaṇa at a śrāddha meant for all pitṛs or he may optionally invite only one brāhmaṇa except at the first śrāddha, that he may invite one, two or three brāhmaṇas for each of the three paternal ancestors. The Sāṅ. Gṛ. (IV. 1.2) and Kauṣītaki Gṛ III. 14. 1-2 prescribe that one should⁹⁰⁴ invite an uneven number of brāhmaṇas, at least three, to sit down as (representing the) fathers. Gaut. requires⁹⁰⁵ 'He shall feed an uneven number . of brāhmaṇas, at least nine or as many as he is able (to feed) and that they should be learned in the Veda and endowed with polished speech, good appearance, mature age and good character'. If five were invited two would be for gods and three for pitṛs; if seven, then four for gods and three for pitṛs and so on. Vas. XI. 27 (= Manu III. 125 = Baud. Dh. S. II. 8. 29), Yāj. I. 228, Matsya 17. 13-14, Viṣṇupurāṇa III. 15.14 provide that one must feed two brāhmaṇas at the rite for the gods and three for the manes or one only for each of the two purposes and even a rich man should not go in for a large company. The Padmapurāṇa (Sṛṣṭi 9.98 and 141) says the same thing.