22 - Rules for performance of Shraddha (contd.) 

As this chapter is verbatim the same as Aushanasa Smruti ch. V, parallels for comparison from this Smruti are not cited. 

Vyasa said:

1-2. Having purified the ground with cowdung and water on the day previous to that of Shraddha, the performer of Shraddha should invite the Brahmanas with the above-mentioned quilifications, through good persons with the invitation: “Tomorrow there will be Shraddha at my place.” If this is not possible, he may invite on the next day³ (i.e., on the day of Shraddha. 

3. Cf. Mt. P. 16. 17-20; Prajapati Smru. 63. 

3. Hearing that the time of Shraddha has arrived, his manes will mentally communicate with each other and with the speed of the mind, they gather near him. 

4. The Pitrus take food along with those Brahmanas, though they (themselves) are in firmament.¹ They remain in their airy state. After taking food, they attain their greatest goal. 

1. The idea of ancestors hovering in the sky for participation of food on the Shraddha day and entering the body of Brahmanas invited for Shraddha is found elsewhere also, vide Pd. P. Srushti Khanda 9. 85-86, Vayu P. 75. 13-15. 

5. The Brahmanas who have been invited shall invariably observe celibacy, be self-controlled when the time for the Shraddha has arrived.² 

2. About the religious restrictions on the inviter and the invitee to Shraddha cf. Laghu Shankha Smru. 

6. The person who performs Shraddha must certainly avoid anger, hurry, carelessness; should speak the truth and have concentration of the mind, refrain from carrying heavy weight, sexual intercourse and long journey. 

7. If a Brahmana, invited by one accepts the invitation of another, he falls into the terrible hell and becomes a pig. 

8. If the Brahmana (householder), after inviting one Brahmana for the Shraddha invites another also out of delusion he is a greater sinner. He is reborn as a worm in the faeces. 

9. If a Brahmana invited for partaking of the Shraddha indulges in sexual intercourse, he incurs the sin of a Brahmana-slaughter. He is reborn as an animal. 

10. If a Brahmana invited for a Shraddha (accepts the invitation and) goes on a journey, the Pitrus of the wicked Brahmana subsist on sinful food that month. 

11. If a Brahmana, invited for a Shraddha were to quarrel, the Pitrus of that Brahmana become the eaters of filth that month. 

12. Hence, the Brahmana invitee for a Shraddha should control himself, be free from anger and devoted to cleanliness. The performer (of the Shraddha) also shall be one who has conquered his sense-organs. 

13. (Defective verse). On the morning of the next day (i.e., on the Shraddha day) he should go in the southern direction and with great concentration bring the Kusha grass along with their roots, and (he shall place them) with their tips to the South and water (?). They shall be clean. 

14. He shall select a clean isolated spot of all auspicious characteristics. It shall be smooth and sloping towards the south. He shall scrub it and smear cowdung over it.¹ 

1. For the selection of a spot for Shraddha, cf. Manu III 206-207, Yaj, I. 227. 

15. The Pitrus are always delighted with the Shraddha offered in holy centres, on the banks of the rivers, on his plot of land in isolated places but not in waters. 

16. One shall never perform Shraddhas in a plot of land belonging to others. What is done by men may be obstructed by the owner out of delusion. 

17. Forests, mountains, sacred holy centres and shrines - they say that these are without owners. No one can claim these as theirs.

18. (Defective verse). He shall scatter gingelly seeds there all round, but see that they do not grow (i.e., germinate?) A Shraddha affected by the Asuras becomes purified through the gingelly seeds if they do not germinate. 

19. He shall then prepare various kinds of cooked food with diverse pickles and side dishes. In accordance with his ability, he should prepare lambatives, beverages and cooked food. 

20. (Defective verse). Then, after midday, he should approach the Brahmanas who have shaved their hairs and pared their nails and give unto them the tooth-brush twig. 

21. When requested “Ye be seated”, they will sit separately. He should give them oil for anointing themselves with as well as water for bath, and various other necessary requisites. These shall be given in vessels made of Udumbara wood. Everything shall be given with Vaishvadaivatya rites (i.e., uttering Vaishvadeva hymns). 

22. When they return after taking bath, he should greet them with palms joined in reverence. He should offer them Padya and Achamaniya, (water for washing the feet and the Achamana) sipping water-rite in due order. 

23. The seats of those Brahmanas who had been previously invited on behalf of Vishve-Devas, are covered with three blades(?) of Darbha grass with their tips towards the East. 

24. The seats of the Brahmanas on behalf of the Pitrus are the Darbha grasses facing the South. They must be sprinkled with water and gingelly seeds. 

25. He should make them sit on these. Touching the seat, he should request: “Ye be seated”, They shall seat separately. 

26. Two (Brahmanas) shall represent Vishvedevas (?) They shall face the east. Three Brahmanas represent the Pitrus They face the north. One shall represent Pitamaha (grandfather) and one shall represent Matamaha (maternal grandfather) Or one Brahmana represents gods and one paternal and maternal grandfather. 

27. Five things are spoiled if performed elaborately in a crowd, viz.-hospitality, purity of the place (of respect), the time of respect, cleanliness, and the selection of a Brahmana. Hence one shall not wish for elaborateness and a big gathering. 

28. Or one shall feed only one Brahmana who is a master of the Vedas, endowed with learning, good conduct etc. and devoid of evil characteristics. 

29. Out of all articles of food thereof, he should take a portion (in a vessel and offer it to the Brahmana representing gods, in the shrine, and then pass it to others. 

30. He shall consign that cooked food to the fire. He should give that to a Brahmacharin. Hence, one shall feed only one Brahmana but he should be an excellent scholar. 

31. If a mendicant or a Brahmacharin be present for the purpose of food and he seats himself in the Shraddha, one should feed him also. 

32. Shraddha wherein the guest does not partake of the food, is not praised. Hence, guests should be worshipped in the Shraddhas by the Brahmanas. 

33. Those twice-born ones who partake of the food in a Shraddha devoid of hospitality (to a guest), are reborn as crows. There is no doubt about this. The performer of the Shraddha too (is reborn as a crow). 

34. The following shall be shunned and kept at a great distance from Shraddhas viz, one who is deficient in any limb a fallen one, a leper, one with running sores, an atheist cock, a pig and a dog. 

35. One shall avoid a loathsome fellow, an unclean fellow, the naked one, the intoxicated one, the rogue, a women in her monthly course, the blue-garmented, the ochre-garmented and the heretic. 

36. Whatever rite is performed in a Shraddha towards the Brahmanas shall be performed along with Vaishvadeva rites or invoking Vishvedevas. 

37. Even as they are seated, one should bedeck them in ornaments, garlands, coronets, fumigating incenses and unguents. 

38. Then with the permission of the Brahmanas, he should invoke Devas by means of the Ruk Vishvedevas (RV. II, 41. 13) etc. He shall duly recite it and face the north. 

39-40. He shall wear two Pavitras (the Darbha grass made to resemble a ring with a tail). Repeating the mantra Shanno devih, etc. he shall (RV.X. 9.4) pour water in the cleaned vessel. Repeating the mantra Yavosi (Vaja V. 26) etc. he should place Yavas (barley grains) there. Repeating the mantra “Ya Divya” (Tait. Br. II. 7. 15. 4) he should pour the Arghya on to the hand. He should then offer scents and garlands, incense etc. according to his ability. 

41. He shall then turn round anticlockwise and face the south, repeating the Ruk. Ushantas Tva (RV. X. 16. 12) etc. the learned man shall invoke the Pitrus, 

42-43. After invoking the Pitrus and being permitted by the Brahmanas he shall perform the Japa of the Mantra Ayantu nah: Pitarah (Vaj. Sam 19. 58) etc. Repeating the Mantra Shanno Devih etc. he should pour water in the vessel and place gingelly seed, repeating the mantra Tilosi etc. Pouring Arghya on the hands as before, he should, with concentration, put the Saṁsravas (mixing of waters from the Argha-vessel and vessel for Pitrus). 

44-45. At the seat of the Pitrus, he should place the vessel face downwards. He should take the cooked rice soaked in ghee. Desirous of consigning it into the fire, he shall ask the Brahmanas’ permission for the same. On being permitted by them saying” Do so”, he should perform Homa, wearing the sacred thread in the usual manner. 

45. Homa should be performed by one with the Kusha grass in the hand, wearing the sacred thread in the normal manner. All the rites of the Pitrus should be performed with the sacred thread worn over the right shoulder and under the left arm. The Vaishvadeva rite is performed like Homa. 

46. While rendering homage to Devas, one shall always kneel upon the right knee; and during the obeisance and service to the Pitrus one shall kneel upon the other knee. 

47. At the time he should repeat the Mantra Somaya vai pitrumate svadha namah [svadha and obeisance into Soma (the deity) with the Pitrus]. Then he shall perform Homa by saying Agnaye kavya-vahaya svadha (svadha unto Agni (fire-god) the bearer of Kavyas]. 

48. In case fire is not available one should make use of the right hand of the Brahmanas. Or he shall perform it near god Mahadeva or in a cowshed with due concentration. 

49-51. Thereafter, on being permitted by them he should go to the southern direction. After cleaning and smearing the place with cowdung, he should cover it with sand. It shall be inclined towards the South and be auspicious. With a Darbha grass he shall scratch and scrape its middle thrice. On that spot he should strew Darbha grass, the tips of which are turned to the south. With the remainder of the Havis he shall make three Pindas there and offer them with great concentration. 

52. After placing the Pindas he shall wipe off the hand on the Darbha grass to remove the greasiness to Pitrus who partake of the Lepa.¹ He should then perform the Achamana rite thrice. He shall smell the cooked rice thrice slowly. The knower of the Mantras then shall make obeisance unto the Pitrus. 

1. Manu III 216 Mt. P. 18. 29 state that ancestors from the fourth are entitled to this lepa (food stuck to the hand of the performer of Shraddha). 

53. The remainder of the holy water, he should pour round and near the Pindas. After offering the Pindas he shall smell the Pindas with great concentration. 

54. He shall then feed the Brahmanas duly with the rice other than that of the Pindas. He should also offer them meat pies, etc. of various kinds, auspiciously prepared in accordance with the Shraddha Kalpa. 

55-56. After they have started taking food, he should strew the cooked rice of the Pindas in front of them ground. He should ask them “What shall I do with this rice (?) When they are satisfied, he should make them perform Achamana rite. After they have performed the Achamana, he should urge them saying “Be diverted all round”. The Brahmanas will say then Svadha be to you. 

57. Then when they have finished taking food, he should inquire of them about the remainder of the food. On being permitted by those Brahmanas he shall do so as they say. 

58. In the Pitru rite one shall say Svaditam (May it be well tasted). In the cow-sheds it shall be mentioned thus-Sushrutam (well-cooked). In prosperity it shall be mentioned thus: Sampannan-well endowed. In regard to a Deva Sevitam (served) should be mentioned. 

59. After bidding farewell to the Brahmanas he should stand before the Pitrus silently facing the southern direction. He shall then beg of the Pitrus the following boons:

60. “May the liberal person flourish. May the Vedas and our progeny flourish. May not our faith slip off. May there be much with us for giving.” 

61. The Pindas may be given to cows, goats, or Brahmanas or cast into fire or water. The wife, desirous of a son, may eat the middle Pinda.¹ 

1. Manu III. 260-261, Yāj. I. 257, Mt. P, 16. 52-53. 

62-64. He shall wash his hands and perform Achamana. With the remainder of the foodstuff, he should propitiate kinsmen. He shall give unto the Brahmanas whatever is liked by them viz: cereals, vegetables, fruits, sugarcane, milk, curds, ghee, honey, cooked rice as much as they want and various kinds of edibles and beverages. He should give them various kinds of grains and gingelly seeds of all kinds and different kinds of sugar. Except in the case of fruits, roots and Panakas (sweetened cold water), hot food should be given to the twice-born by one who wishes for welfare. 

65. One shall not rest the knee on the ground nor shall be furious. He shall not utter a falsehood. He shall not touch food with the foot. Nor shall he shun and reject it. 

66. The demons take away the benefit of what is partaken of in fury or against the conventional procedure or when served by one who prattles. 

67. O excellent Brahmanas one should not stand near is one perspires profusely, he should not see* the crows and other birds going contrary to the natural order. The Pitrus desirous of eating, come there assuming those forms. 

**pashyet’ in this instruction is unsuitable as it stands. The v.l. na pratishedhayet, one should not drive away crows etc. is better.” 

68. He should not directly give salt into the hand. Nor should the food be served in an iron vessel. It should never be served with carelessness. 

69. What is offered in the following types of vessels yields everlasting benefit viz.-golden, silvery, made of Udumbara wood or made of horn of rhenoceros. 

70. He who feeds Brahmanas in mud pots at the time of of the Shraddha falls into the terrible hell. He who partakes of the offerings too falls into the hell. 

71. One should not discriminate between persons sitting in the same row and serve irregularly. One shall not beg nor force anyone to give (?). He who begs, who forces anyone to give and who serves with partiality falls into the terrible hells. 

72. They should eat the most excellent things prior to others. (v. l. vagyatah ‘observing silence”). But they should not speak out their material good qualities (?). The Pitrus partake of food only as long as the qualities of the Havis are not mentioned. 

73. The Brahmana occupying the seat of priority should not eat it at the very outset. If he eats while many look on, he will incur the sin of all sitting in the row. 

74. An excellent Brahmana engaged in the Shraddha should not avoid anything served. He should not refuse the meat offered. One should not look at the food serve another person. 

75. If the Brahmana who engaged in the Pitru rite, does not partake of the meat served, he is reborn as an animal for twenty-one births. 

76. One shall read or narrate unto these Vedic passages of self-study, the Dharmashastras, Itihasas, Puranas and the auspicious Shraddhakalpas. 

77. Then the partaker of the food should strew the cooked food in front on the ground. He shall ask them Svaditam? “Well tasted?”. If they are satisfied, he should make them perform the Achamana rite. 

78. If they have performed the Achamana rite, he should permit them saying “Be diverted’. Thereafter, the Brahmanas shall say to him—” May Svadha be unto you.” 

79. When they have partaken of the food he should inform them about remaining cooked food. On being permitted by those Brahmanas, he should do as they mention. 

80. In the Pitrus rite, the word Svaditam is to be mentioned, in the goshtha-Shraddha word, it shall be mentioned thus Sushrutam. In Abhyudayika Shraddha,¹ Sampannam is mentioned and in regard to Deva, Sevitam shall be mentioned. 

1. Abhyudayika or Vruddhi Shraddha is performed in recognition of prosperity or good luck e.g., birth of a son, marriage of a son or daughter. The Pitrus are called here Nandimukhas. It is also called Nandi-Shraddha. 

81. After eulogising and bidding farewell to the Bramanas, he should stand silently before the Pitrus facing the southern direction and beg of the Pitrus these boons. 

82. “May those charitable donors around flourish. May the Vedas and progeny flourish. May not our faith decrease. May there be much with us to be given.” 

83. He shall give the Pindas to the cows, goats or Brahmanas. Or he should consign them to the fire or to the water. The wife who is desirous of a son shall partake of the middle Pinda. 

84. He should then wash his hands and perform the Achamana rite. With the food that remains, he shall feed his own servants. 

85. Afterwards he himself should take the remaining food along with the womenfolk. One should not remove their leavings before sunset. 

86-87. The husband and wife should observe celibacy on the night. After performing the Shraddha or partaking of it, he who indulges in sexual intercourse falls into the hell Maharaurava and then attains the birth of a worm. 

88. He should be pure and clean; quiescent and truthful. He should not be furious. He shall have good concentration. The performer and the partaker should avoid self-study and travel. 

89. The Brahmanas, who partake of another Shraddha (immediately) after partaking of a Shraddha, are on a par with the great sinners. They fall into many hells. 

90. Thus the Shraddhakalpa has been explained briefly but clearly to you. A Brahmana in difficulties shall prosper by performing it. 

91. When he performs Amashraddha (i.e., Shraddha without cooked food) the knower of the procedure endowed with faith should perform the Agnaukarana¹ rite (consigning offerings into the fire) as well as the offerings of Pindas with that alone (i.e., the material used). 

1. Agnaukarana literally means offering unto the fire, Mitakshara on Yaj. I. 236 quotes Markandeya’s decision that if the performer of Shraddha is an Agnihotri, he should oblate the offerings in Dakshinagni; if he does not keep Shrauta fire but only Aupasana fire (gruhyagni) he should oblate in that fire; if the performer keeps neither (as in the case with most of us), the offering is to be made in the right hand of the Brahmana invited for Shraddha). 

-Vishnudharmottara I. 140.18 

92. He whose mind is quiet, who is devoid of sins, and who performs Shraddha in accordance with this procedure shall attain the region of ascetics. 

93. Hence, an excellent Brahmana should assiduously perform the Shraddha rite. Thereby the eternal Ishvara would be well-propitiated by him. 

94. An indigent Brahmana may perform Shraddha even with fruits and roots after taking the ablution with concentration and performing the Pitru-Tarpana rites with an and gingelly seeds. 

95. A person whose father is alive should not perform Shraddha. Some say that he can perform Shraddha to those Pitrus to whom his father offers Shraddha. Or he can perform those rites upto the Homa. 

96. One can offer Shraddha unto one’s father, grandfather and great grandfather. He should offer Shraddha unto him who is his beloved* and not to anyone else. 

*v.l. my yate ‘is dead’, is better as Shraddha is to be offered to the dead. 

97. One must feed him with devotion who is alive and to his satisfaction. One who is pure and self-controlled does not give unto the dead by transgressing the living one. 

98. Dvyamushyayaṇika¹ son of two fathers i.e., natural as well as father by adoption) shall offer Shraddha to both. Similarly, a son born of the Niyoga rite should perform Shraddha to his progenitor as well as the dead husband of his mother. Then he shall be the true heir. 

99. If a son is born out of the semen virile without the sanction of Niyoga, the son should offer Pindas to the progenitor. However, he may perform Shraddha to the Kshetrin (mother’s husband). 

100. He should prepare two separate Pindas to the Kshetrin (mother’s husband) and to the Bijin (progenitor). He should proclaim the Kshetrin and the Bijin in the course of the rite.¹ The Ekoddishta type of Shraddha is to be performed on the (anniversary) day of the death in accordance with the procedure. When the Ashaucha (impurity) period is over, he can perform any Kamya rite as he pleases.

1. VV. 98-100 refer to sons having two fathers: Though Niyoga is now an obsolete custom, the injunction regarding Pinda-dana giving priority to the procreator (bijin) first and to the Kshetrin (mother’s husband) next is supported by Harita: 

tesham utpadayituh prathamah pravarah bhavati/

 quoted in Madana-Părijata, pp. 607-608.

101-103a. The Abhyudayika Shraddha should be performed in the forenoon by one who seeks prosperity. All the rites should be performed as though towards Devas. No rites should be performed with gingelly seeds. The Darbhas shall be made straight. He should feed the Brahmanas in even number. As an auspicious beginning, he should recite - “May the Pitrus be pleased.” 

103b. The Shraddha to the mothers should be performed at the outset. That to the Pitrus should be performed thereafter. 

104. Thereafter, the Shraddha to the maternal grandfather shall be performed. These three Shraddhas are to be performed when there is a prosperous occasion in the family, such as a birth of a son. This shall be offered along with Vaishvadeva rites. The anti-clockwise circumambulation is not performed. 

105-107. The scholar should sit facing the east and wear the sacred thread in the normal manner with good concentration and then perform Shraddha. The mothers along with the Ganeshavara should be worshipped at the outset, with devotion, either on the ground coloured in diverse ways or in idols or in Brahmanas. One should worship with incense, food offerings and ornaments. A Brahmana should perform the three Shraddhas after worshipping the groups of Matrus (mothers). If anyone performs Shraddhas without the worship of the Matrus, they become infuriated and cause injuries.