History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c92.75

v7.c92.75

and all the sādhakas should engage in drinking and eating.¹⁷¹² Chap. IX enumerates and describes ten *samskāras* from garbhādhāna to marriage for members of the three varnas and nine for śūdras (omitting *upanayana*), wherein Vedic mantras are prescribed as in the Dharmasūtras and smṛtis. One interesting item is what is called Śaiva marriage, which is of two kinds, one entered into according to the rules of *cakra* and the other lasting for life. It is further provided that in Śaiva marriage¹⁷¹³ no question of *varṇa* or age arises and that if a man has children from a wife married in the *brāhma* form and also children of a Śaiva marriage, it is only the former that take as heirs and the latter are entitled only to food and raiment (IX. 261-264). Chapters X, XI, XII of the Mahānirvāṇa deal respectively with *śrāddhas*, *prāyaścittas* for sins and *vyavahāra*.