45 - The mode of performing Jivacchraddha rite.

The sages said:

1. Thus, the sixteen auspicious rites of charitable gifts have been mentioned by you. Now it behoves you to narrate the procedure of the Shraddha rite for the living ones.

Suta said:

2-3. I shall succinctly mention the mode of Jivacchraddha that is approved of by everyone. Formerly, it was mentioned by Brahma, the lord of Devas to Manu, to Vasishtha, to the well -disciplined Bhrugu and Bhargava. It is great and conducive to the achievement of all Siddhis. Listen ye with great fervour.

4. O sages of good holy rites,, 1 shall mention the manner and order of the Shraddhas, the order of those who deserve Shraddhas and the peculiarities of the Jivacchraddha.

5-7. The Jivacchraddha shall be performed on a mountain, on the banks of a river, in a forest or in one’s abode as also when death is imminent.277 When it is performed he is liberated even as he is alive; whether he does or does not perform the functions (ordained for him), whether he possesses perfect knowledge or not, whether he is well-versed in the Vedic passages or not, whether he is a Brahmin or a Kshatriya or a Vaishya or whether he follows the path of the Yoga. There is no doubt about this.

277. mrutakale -when death is imminent, but according to ST. it means Varudhakye — in old age.

8-13. The ground shall be carefully scrutinized by its smell, colour, taste etc. All the weeds and stumps shall be assiduously taken out. The middle of the ground, a cubit in extent, shall be covered with sand. If a Kunda is dug it shall be long and splendid or the bare ground shall extend to an arrow’s length. The ground shall be scrubbed, cleaned and smeared with cowdung and fire shall be placed there in accordance with the injunctions in the scripture. Water shall be sprinkled all round. The rites pertaining to the fire shall be performed and concluded along the traditional lines as mentioned in one’s own branch of the Vedas by repeating the following mantras. After worshipping on the bare ground he shall perform Horn as by means of sacrificial twigs, etc. Homas shall at the outset be performed with the twigs; then with Charu and ghee sparkling splendidly in a separate vessel. Homas shall be performed by oneself invoking 278 the Tattvas and Bhutas all round.

14-33. Om Bhub, obeisance to Brahma. Om Bhuh, Svaha unto Brahma. Om Bhuvah, obeisance to Vishnu. Om Bhuvah, Svaha unto Vishnu. Om Svah, obeisance to Rudra. Om Svah, Svaha unto Rudra. Om Mahah, obeisance to lshvara. Om Mahah, Svaha unto lshvara. Om Janah, obeisance to Prakruti. Om Janah, Svaha unto Prakruti. Om Tapah, obeisance unto Mudgala. Om Tapah, Svaha unto Mudgala. Om Rutam, obeisance unto Purusha, Om Rutam, Svaha unto Purusha. OmSatyam, obeisance unto Shiva. Om Satyam, Svaha unto Shiva. Om Sharva protect my earth, smell in the nose, obeisance unto lord Sharva, Bhuh, obeisance Om Sharva, protect my earth, smell in the nose; Bhuh, Svaha unto Sarva. Om Sharva, protect my earth, smell with nose. Bhuh, obeisance to the wife of lord Sharva. Om Sharva, protect my earth, smell in the nose; Bhuh, Svaha unto the wife of Sharva.

34-37. Om Bhava, protect my waters, taste in the tongue; Bhuvah, obeisance to lord Bhava.

Om Bhava protect my waters, taste in the tongue. Bhuvah, Svaha unto lord Bhava.

Om Bhava, protect my waters, taste in the tongue. Bhuvah, obeisance unto the wife of lord Bhava.

Om Bhava, protect my waters, taste in the tongue. Bhuvah Svaha unto the wife of Bhava.

38-41. Om Rudra, protect my fire, colour in the eye; Svah, Om obeisance to Rudra.

Om Rudra, protect my fire, colour in the eye. Svah Svaha, unto lord Rudra.

Om Rudra, protect my fire, colour in the eye. Svah Om, obeisance unto the wife of Lord Rudra.

278. tattvabhutani manasa uddhrutya — lit. extracting the twenty-four tattvas along with the mind. But ST. explains ‘uddhrutya’ as 'vicharya’, ‘thinking upon, i.e. distinguishing one tattva from the other.

Om Rudra, protect my fire, colour in the eye. Svah Svaha, unto the wife of lord Rudra.

42-45. Om Ugra, protect my wind, touch in the skin; Mahah, obeisance unto lord Ugra.

 Om Ugra, protect my wind, touch in the skin; Mahah Svaha, unto lord Ugra.

Om Ugra, protect my wind, touch in the skin. Mahah Om, obeisance to the wife of lord Ugra.

Om Ugra, protect my wind, touch in the skin. Mahah Svahi unto the wife of lord Ugra.

46-49. Om Bhima, protect my cavity, sound in the ears; Janah Om, obeisance unto lord Bhima.

Om Bhima, protect my cavity, sound in the ears; Janah Svaha, unto lord Bhima.

Om Bhima, protect my cavity, sound in the ears; Janah, Om, obeisance unto the wife of lord Bhima.

Om Bhima, protect my cavity, sound in the ears; Janah Svaha unto the wife of lord Bhima.

50-53. Om lsha, protect my Rajas (Guna), thirst for wealth; Japah Om, obeisance to lord Isha.

Om lsha, protect my Rajas (Guna) thirst for wealth; Tapah Svaha unto lord Isha.

Om lsha, protect my Rajas (Guna) thirst for wealth; Tapah Om, obeisance unto the wife of lord Isha.

Om lsha protect my Rajas (Guna), thirst for wealth; Tapah Svaha unto the wife of Isha.

54-57. Om Mahadeva, protect my truth, faith in virtue; Rutam, obeisance to Mahadeva.

Om Mahadeva, protect my truth, faith in virtue; Rutam Svaha unto Mahadeva.

Om Mahadeva, protect my truth, faith in virtue; Rutam

obeisance unto the wife of Mahadeva.

Om Mahadeva, protect my truth, faith in virtue; Rutam Svaha unto the wife of Mahadeva.

58-63 Om Pashupati, protect my noose, the state of the enjoyer and the enjoyment; Satyam, obeisance to lord Pashupati. Om Pashupati, protect my noose, the state of the enjoyer and the enjoyment; Satyam Svahi unto lord Pashupati.

Om Pashupati, protect my noose, the state of the enjoyer and the enjoyment; Satyam, obeisance onto the wife of lord Pashupati.

Om Pashupati, protect my noose the state of being the enjoyer and the enjoyment; Satyam Svaha unto the wife of lord Pashupati.

Om obeisance to Shiva. Om Satyam, Svaha unto Shiva279.

279. Shiviya, but ST. adds ‘mokshaya', i.e. for the achievement of salvation.

64-66. Thus, Homa of Shiva shall be performed; that of Virinchi, etc. as before. Om at the outset unto Virinchi280 and others, according to the paths of creation, O sages of good holy rites. He shall, thereafter, worship the wife of Pashupati and Pashupati in order. After worshipping the lord, Homas shall be performed as before serially by using mantras. The article of oma at the outset shall be ghee, then Charu and it shall conclude with sacrificial twigs. The sacrificer shall have concentration and mental purity.

280. Virinchadyam— beginning with Virinchi (Brahma).

67-68. Om Sharva, split my earth, split the smell into the nose, dispel the dense fat — Bhuh Svaha, Bhuvah Svaha, Svah Svaha. Bhur Bhuvah Svah Svaha. Thus, the devotee shall perform Homa separately a thousand, and five hundred, or a hundred and eight times with ghee alone.

A separate Homa shall be performed a hundred and eight times with ghee alone repeating the Viraja mantras281.

281. Viraja— by reciting Viraja mantras.

He shall perform Homa with ghee alone repeating the following mantra beginning with “Prana” (as follows)- “Om, I am placed within Pranaa, I perform Homas of Amruta (nectar).

O Shiva, enter me. Svaha unto the burner unto Svaha unto the overlord of Prana, unto Rudra, unto the slayer of Vrusha(?).

Om Bhuhb Svaha; Om Bhuvah Svaha;Om Svah Svaha; Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah Svaha.”

79. Thus, Homa shall be performed in this order as is mentioned in the treatises on Shraddha. On the seventh day he shall feed leading Yogins and those who deserve to partake of the Shraddha

80-81. To the brahmin devotees of Shiva,282 garments, ornaments, shawls, vehicles, beddings, bell-metal, copper and other vessels, pots made of gold and silver, cows, gingelly seeds, fields, other assets as well as male and female slaves shall be given. Dakshina also shall be given.

282. shrvadinam i.e. the Brahmins representing Shiva and other deities.

82. Balls of rice shall be given as before in eight 283 ways separately. He shall feed a thousand brahmins and give them Dakshinas too.

283. astaprakaratah — in the eightfold manner, i.e. in the order of eight-formed (ashtamurti) Shiva.

83. Or the devotee shall feed a single person engaged in the practice of Yoga. He shall strictly adhere to the Bhasman and shall have strict control over his senses. The Mahacharu shall be dedicated unto Rudra for three days.

84. Only particular things (about Jivachshraddha) have been mentioned here as other things are similar to all other Sraddhas. If the devotee dies the Shraddha may or may not be formed, since he becomes a liberated soul.

85. He can perform or eschew the obligatory and the optional rites. Even if any kinsman of his dies there is neither pollution nor purification of the same.

86-89. His post-natal pollution can no doubt be cleansed by mere bath. If afterwards he himself begets a son or a son is born to his wife, he shall perform all the holy rites for him. That son shall become a knower of Brahman. If a daughter is born to him, O sages of good holy rites, she will become one like Ekaparna or Aparna. Persons born in her family are liberated from hell. There is no doubt about this. By means of this holy rite his ancestors on his father’s as well as mother’s side are liberated.

90-94. When this brahmin passes away he shall either be buried after digging the ground or he shall be cremated. By performing all the duties of a son there cannot be any defect. He is not to attain any further salvation by means of later holy rites. Everything has been mentioned by Brahma to the sages of sanctified souls. Again this was mentioned to Santkumara by that intelligent lord.284 It was mentioned to Krishna Dvaipayana by the son of Brahma. It was due to the grace of the intelligent saintly lord Vedavyasa that everything was known by me. It was at his behest that everything was performed by me.

284. tena—i.e. by Brahma.

Thus, the secret doctrine has been mentioned to you. It yields the achievement of Brahman. O sages of good holy rites this should be imparted, to a devotee having control over his senses and never to one who is not a devotee.