111. The details of the Srāddha ritual

 The sages said: 

1-2. O sage, tell us, further in detail about the ritual of Srāddha. O ascetic, let us know how it was performed, at what place, when and by whom? 

Vyāsa said: 

O great sages, hear in detail about the ritual of Srāddha, how it was performed, where, when, in which nakshatras or tithis, in what region and by whom? 

3. Brāhmaṇas and Vaisyas should perform Srāddha each following one's own dharma and reciting mantras. 

4. Women and Sūdras too should perform the same under the direction of Brāhmaṇas. But there should be no recitation of mantras or ritual of sacrifice. 

5-13. Srāddha should be performed in holy places as Puşhkara, or meritorious spots, peaks of mountains or sacred regions, in streams of holy waters, rivers or lakes, in the confluence of rivers or in any one of seven oceans or in one's own home purified or smeared with cowdung or spots enjoined by the Sāstras, at the root of holy trees or in lakes worthy of sacrifice. One should hold Srāddha at such places. Srāddha is prohibited among Kirātas, Kalingas, Konkaņas, Kurmis, Daśärnas, Kumāryas, Tangalas, Krathas, on the northern bank of Sindhu, on the southern bank of Narmadā, to the east of Karatoyā. Srāddha should be performed every month on the Amavāsa day. In Rakşhagocharya (?) Srāddha should be performed on Pūrņamāsī for the manes as well as Devas. Nitya Srāddha is performed for gods. There are other Srāddhas performed for the attainment of desired objects. O Brahmins, they should be done every year. Vruddhi Śrāddha should be performed on such occasions. 

14. When the sun enters zodiac Kanyā, there are fifteen days exclusively meant for Sräddha. 

15-33. Pratipat is for riches, Dvitiyā for progeny, Trtiyà for sons, Chaturthi for destroying foes, Panchami for obtaining wealth, Saptami for lordship, Astami for intelligence, Navami for conjugal relations, Dasami for fulfilling desire, Ekādaśī for acquiring Vedic knowledge, Dvādasi for victory, Trayodasi for increase in progeny, animals, intellect, independence, prosperity, longevity and supremacy, Chaturdaśī for those who died in youth or who were killed by weapons and Amāvāsyā for fulfilling all desires including the attainment of heaven as an abode for eternity. O best of sages, I shall now tell you the material for food which pleases the pitrus and the period of propitiation. 

If in the Srāddha, the sacrificial food is offered to the Brahmins, the Pitrus are fed for a month. If the flesh of a fish is offered, the Grandfathers are fed for two months. If a goat's flesh is offered, the Pitrus are fed for three months. If a hare's flesh is offered, the Pitrus are fed for four months. If a bird's flesh is offered, the Pitrus are fed for five months. If a hog's flesh is offered, the Pitrus are fed for six months. If a ram's flesh is offered the Pitrus are fed for seven months. If black deer's flesh is offered the Pitrus are fed for eight months. If ruru deer's nine months; if cow's for ten months; if ram's for eleven months. If cow's milk or rice cooked in cow's milk for one year; if of rhinoceros or of rohita fish for endless period of time. So also food for progeny. He who offers Srāddha at Gaya with sesamum seeds mixed with sugar, honey or honey-mixture obtains endless stock of corn. The Pitrus say: "May there be born one in our lineage who may give us oblation of water, rice cooked in milk and mixed with honey, during the rainy season, in Maghā nakshatra.” One should wish for many sons. If even one of them goes to Gayā or marries a girl of eight years or  releases a blue-coloured bull or worships Pitrus in Kruttikās he obtains heaven. 

34-42. One who performs Srāddha in Rohini gets progeny, in Saumya splendour, in Ardra valour, in Punarvasu fields for cultivation, in Pushya eternal wealth, in Aśleşā longevity, in Maghā progeny and prosperity, in Phālgunī, good fortune, in Uttara-s progeny and benevolence, in Hastā proficiency in Sästras, in Chitrā beauty, splendour and progeny. Srāddha performed in Svāti bestows gains in merchandise, in Visakhā gives sons, in Anuradhå sovereignty, in Jyeștha Lordship, in Mula good health, in Āsādhā attainment of fame, especially in Uttarās, in Sravana fulfilment of auspicious desires, in Dhanisthā abundant riches. in Abhijit the knowledge of the Vedas, in Vāruņa efficiency in medicine, in Prausthapadi skill in goats and sheep, in Uttara Bhadrapada cows, in Revati a vessel of brass, in Asvinī horses, in Bharani longevity. The performer of Srāddha obtains the result in these nakshatras. O Brahmins, thus are the Srāddhas performed for the attainment of particular desire. 

43. When the sun has entered the Kanyā Zodiac, the performer of Srāddha in that period obtains whatever desire he has in his mind. Nándimukha should be performed during the same period. It should be done in Purnimā as stated in Varaha Purāņa. 

44-47. When the sun entered the Kanyā zodiac, the Pitrus mobile or immobile, living in heaven, earth or firmament, wish for the rice-ball. The first sixteen days of the month, when the sun has entered Kanya, one should propitiate Pitrus with the libation of water, vegetable and roots. He gets the rare fruit desirable from the performance of Rajasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices. 

48-56. If a person propitiates Pitrus, when the sun has entered Uttarā or Hastā, he goes to heaven. 

When the sun enters Hastā asterism, Pitrus leave home at the command of Yama. They remain out till the sun enters the sign Scorpion of the Zodiac. 

When the sun has passed through Scorpion, Pitrus return to their abode, together with Devas, sobbing and cursing their progeny. 

In the ages of Manu, the Srāddha should be performed in Astakas and Anvaştakas. It should start serially beginning with the Mother. During the period of eclipse, in Vyatīpāta at the confluence of the Sun and the Moon, on the day of natal star, during the oppression caused by the planet, he should perform Pārvana Srāddha. 

 During the interval between the solstices, on the day of equinox or at the sun's equinoctial passage, Srāddha should be performed without offering the rice-ball. On the third of Vaisakha, on the ninth of Kärttika, on the Pūrņima day, the Srāddha should be performed as at the equinoctial passage. 

On the thirteenth day of the Bhadrapada month, on the amāvāsyā day of the month of Magha, one should do Srāddha by means of rice cooked with milk in the manner it is performed at the winter solstice. 

57. When a Brahmin versed in the Vedas and the fire rituals comes to the house, he alone should be considered as worthy of Srāddha. 

58. When the material for Srāddha approved by the experts is available, he should perform Parvana Srāddha with the help of Brahmins well versed in the Srāddha. 

59. One should celebrate the anniversary of one's departed parents, also of the uncle and elder brother if they died sonless. 

60-62. In Pārvana offerings should begin with Devas. In Ekoddista no offerings should be made to Devas. In Srāddha pertaining to Devas, he should offer two Pindas, in that pertaining to Pitrus three or a single pinda should be offered to each. Similarly, in regard to maternal grandfather. 

When a person is dead his son should offer rice-ball with libation of water with Kuśa grass and sesamum seeds outside the village on the bank of a river or a pond. On the third day, they should collect the bones. 

63. If the deceased is a Brāhmaṇa, the purification of relatives of the same gotra is effected after ten days, if Kshatriya, after twelve days, if Vaishya after fifteen days, if Sūdra after a month. 

64. After purification, they enjoin Ekoddişța, on the twelfth day, or after the expiry of a month or at the end of three fortnights. 

65. O Brahmins, Śrāddha should be performed every month, for a year. Then he should perform sapiņdikaraṇa rite after a year. When that is done, he should perform Pārvana. The deceased then change their states as Preta to that of Pitrus. 

66. Pitrus are twofold: mūrta and amūrta. Nändimukhas are amūrta and Pārvaņas are mūrta. Pretas receive Ekoddista, Pitrus receive Pārvaņa Sräddha.