163- Mode of performance of a śråddha 

Pushkara said:

1-2. Listen to me. Ishall describe the procedure for (the performance of) annual ceremony that yields enjoyment and liberation. After having invited brahmins the previous day, theyshould be welcomed in the afternoon, worshipped and seated on the seat. Two (brahmins are invited) in the ceremony intended for gods and one by one in the ceremony intend ed for departed forefathers. They (are made to sit) facing the east in the ceremony for the gods. There may be three or one (brahmin) in the ceremony for forefathers. 

3-7. The same (procedure is followed) in regard to the ceremonies) of the maternal forefathers also. (Ishall describe the procedure for) the vaisvadeva¹. After having given (waters) for washing hands and kuša (grass) for the sake of seat and having obtained permission (from brahmins) (all gods)should be invoked with the syllables, visvedevāsaḥ². After having spread the barley then, and pouring water in the vessel containing pavitraka (the purifying kusa) with (the syllables) fanno devi³ and then the barley with (the syllables) yavo'si⁴, the libation is placed on the hand with the sacred syllables ya divya¹. Then, after having offered waters, fragrance, flowers, incense and lamp, andshifted the sacred thread to (rest on) the right (shoulder), the forefathersshould be circumambulated. The forefathersshould be invoked with the syllables usantastva² extending two kusa (grass). After having been permitted by them, oneshould recite (the syllable) à yantu naḥ³. 

1. An offering made to gods.

2. Aps. S. 3-10-1 d.

3. RV. lú.9.4a.

4. Aps. S. 7.9.10. 

1. Aps.s. 22.28.13.

2. ApS.S.8.14.18.

3. Cf.a. yantu nah V. Sam, 19.58 a.

8-15. Sesammshould be used in the place of barley. Respectful offering of watershould be made as before. After having done it, the remains of libationshould be collected in a vessel as laid down and the vessel is turned upside down with the (syllable) pitrubhyaḥ sthānamasi⁴. Then the cooked rice covered with gheeshould be taken (in hand) and asked, “shall I offer it to the fire ?". Being permitted (to do so saying) “Do it”, oneshould offer it to the fire as in the ceremony (done) for the manes. The remnants of offeringshould be given with devotion in vessels secured according to one's status or especially in silver (vessels). After having offered food the vesselshould be consecrated with (the sacred syllable) pruthivipātram⁵. Then the thumb of the brahminshould be placed therein with (the recitation of the sacred syllable) idam Vishņuḥ⁶. After reciting gāyatri⁷ together with the vyähịtis⁸ and the hymn madhuvāta⁹ itshould be stated "(eat) comfortably". Theyshould also eat controlling their speech. Theyshould be served the cooked rice and the clarified butter after the repetition of (sacred syllable) of purification. Then cooked riceshould be taken (andshown and enquired): “Are you satisfied ?". The remaining cooked riceshould be scattered on the ground and watershould be sprinkled one by one. The cooked rice (that was scattered)should be gathered together with sesamum and as in the case of the ceremony for the manes the balls of riceshould be offered remaining facing the south in the proximity of the place where the food was eaten (by the brahmins). 

4. Y.Dh. 1.234.

         5. Y.Dh. 1.237.

6. Y.Dh. 1.237. Ap.S. 2-6-1.

7. Om bhurbhuvassuvaḥ tatsaviturvarenyam etc.

8. On bhuh etc.

9. ApS.S. 16-25-1. RV. 1-90-6a. 

16-20. (It is done) in the same way for the maternal forefathers also. Then water for sipping is offered. Then the words of benedictionshould be uttered. So also the undecaying waters (should be offered). After having paid fees befitting one's capacity, the syllable svadhashould be pronounced. Afterhaving been permitted to say, (the words) svapitrubhyaḥ svadha¹ (svadhā to my forefathers)should be said. When (the brahmin) says let svadha be (repeated), itshould be done so. Then watershould be sprinkled on the ground. Watershould be offered with the (repetition of the syllables) priyantām² or viśve devaḥ.³ After having said “Let our donors, the Vedas and the progeny flourish. Let not our earnestness dwindle. Let us have plenty to give”⁴ and uttering sweet words (the brahmins)should be allowed to go. The satisfied manesshould be bidden adieu after (repeating the syllable) vāje vāje⁵. 

1. MS. 1.6.1.45.

2. MS. 11.9.2.

 3. Sce p. 457, vv 3-7.

4. Y.Dh. 1.245.

5. RV. 1.30.7b. 

21-23. The vessel in which the remnants of libation had been poured earlier, that vessel of the manesshould be made upright and the brahminsshould be bade adieu after following them in such a way as circumambulating. After having eaten (remnants of) the food partaken by the forefathers, oneshould observe continence that night in the company of brahmins. After having done the circumambulation of the manes in the nândi⁶ in connection with the impurity caused by the birth of a child, theyshould be worshipped with the balls of barley mixed with curd and (fruit of) jujube. 

6. The ceremony performed in memory of the manes, preliminary to any festive occasion such as marriage etc. 

24. The ekoddisfa⁷ (ceremony) (is done) without (the worship of) (Visve)devas. There would be only one libation and one purificatory rite. The (offeringshould be made) in the dvdhana fire without the instrumental (syllable) with the sacred thread lying on the rightshoulder. 

7. The rite performed for one individual deceased not including other ancestors. 

25.. Oneshould say 'let you get up' in place of 'imperishable' and 'may you be satisfied' in place of bidding adieu to the manes (in the former). Theyshould say “We are satisfied” 

26-27. Four vessels containing fragrant waters and sesamumshould be kept apart, the vessel of the dead personshould be sprinkled with (waters), the waters of libation from the vessels of the forefathers with the two (sacred syllables) beginning with) ye samāna¹. The remaining (acts)should be done as before. When this ekoddista² becomes the sapiņdikarana³ (itshould be done adding the (dead) woman also. 

 1. ApS. S. 1.9.12 a; T. Dh. 1.253.

 2. Sce p. 453. fn. 7. 

 3. The rite performed to merge the soul of the dead person with the ancestors. 

28. If the sapiņdikaraṇa has to be performed for a (dead) person within a year (after death), the food for himshould be given to a brahmin the whole year together with a vessel filled with water. 

29. The ceremonyshould be done on the day of death for every month in a year andshould be done for every year as the food (offered) every month. 

30-31. (The forefathers would be satisfied for) a month with cooked rice and a year with pāyasa (sweet liquid made with flour, rice, sago etc.). The forefathers get pleased by a month more with (the offer of) flesh of the fish, deer, ram, bird,sheep, spotted antelope, black antelope, ruru deer, boar and hare in the succeeding order. 

32-33. The offer of any one of the following—the flesh of a buffalo, of a kind of sea crab, cooked rice with honey, the flesh of the red goat, kālašāka, the flesh of a rhinoceros while at Gaya would (please the manes) immensely. So also (the offer made) on the thirteenth day in the asterism of magha in the rainy season (would) no doubt (please the manes). 

34-35. One who does the (annual) ceremony always makes grow the prosperity of his daughter, progeny, attendants, animals, chief among the sons, ghee, agriculture, trade, animals-cloven- footed and not cloven-footed, sons possessing the lustre of brahman, gold, silver and the excellence of the relatives. He will also get his desires fulfilled. 

36. The ceremony is to be done on all days from the first lunar day except the fourteenth day. (The ceremony) is to be done on that day (fourteenth) for the sake of those who were killed by weapons. 

37-39. One who does the ceremony as laid down gets heaven, progeny, radiance, valour, land, strength, excellence of sons, progeny with prosperity, importance, sons, unimpeded soyereignty, trade, lordship, unimpaired health, fame, absence of grief, excellent state, wealth, learning, the accomplishment of a physician, silver, cows, small cattle, horses and long life. 

40-41. (If the ceremony) is done in the asterisms commencing with Krittikā and ending with bharaṇi one gets all these desires fulfilled. The Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, the deities in the form of manes get pleased with the men who satisfy the manes with (the performance of) ceremony. The forefathers being pleased confer on men long life, progeny, wealth, learning, heaven, liberation and comforts.