Caste in India: The Facts and the System c8.s5.24

c8.s5.24

It is a remarkable thing that the Hindus, who have in other respects preserved more faithfully than any one else the significance of the common meal, and have to all appearance extended it, should, more than other peoples, have departed from the primitive type in the liturgical form of the funeral feast, Śrāddha. The banquet, according to theory, instead of bringing the relations together, is offered to Brahmans. But they are regarded as representatives of the ancestors and receive food in their name. Further, the Brahman who offers the sacrifice must, symbolically at least, join in the feast with the people, as was the practice among their ancestors. In spite of new conceptions which may have been introduced into it by the more highly developed ritual, this is certainly the ideal prolongation of the family-repast.