History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c74.t2.239

v5.c74.t2.239

Chap. 110 deals with Gayāyātrā. To the east of Gayā is a great river (Phalgu). (If it is dry) one should dig a pit for water and take a bath, should perform *tarpaṇa* and śrāddha according to one's own recension of the Veda, but without *arghya* (water for showing respect) and *āvāhana* (invoking) In the afternoon the pilgrim should go to the Pretaśilā, take a bath in the Brahmakuṇḍa, offer tarpaṇa to the gods and perform śrāddha of his sapiṇḍas on the Pretaśilā with the mantras set out in Vāyu (110. 10-12) and offer piṇḍas to his ancestors. In Aṣṭakās, in Vṛddhiśrāddha, at Gayā and on the anniversary of death, one may offer a śrāddha separately to one's mother but on all other occasions with her husband.¹⁴⁹⁵ To the sapiṇḍas other than one's paternal ancestors he should offer śrāddha to the south (of the place where he offers to his father &c.) viz. should spread kuśas and once offer water mixed with sesame and should offer them a piṇḍa made of barley flour and repeat the mantras (Vāyu 110. 21-22). The piṇḍas to be offered at Gayāśiras may be in size as¹⁴⁹⁶ big as one's closed hand, or an undried āmalaka (myrobalan) fruit or of the size of śamī leaves. By means of these he saves seven gotras viz. that of his father, of his mother, of his wife, sister, daughter, paternal aunt and maternal aunt. Water mixed with sesame and piṇḍas are offered to all persons on the maternal grandfather's side, to all bandhus, to all infants, to persons cremated or not cremated, to persons that were killed by lightning or robbers or that committed suicide in various ways and, to those who may be undergoing torments of Hells of various kinds and those who have become beasts or birds or insects or trees owing to evil deeds (Vāyu 110, verses 30-55). The verses of most comprehensive character about offering water have been cited in n. 1237 p. 550 and on pp. 616-617 above.