14 - Rules for Shräddha

Märkandeya said:

1. O Brahmin sage, this was said to me by the intelligent Brahmin, younger brother of Sanaka, son of Brahma. Listen to me now:

2-4. One who knows all the six Vedäñgas, who worships the three sacred fires at three sandhyäs (morning, noon, and evening) and who offers libations with the three madhus (sugar, honey and ghee), the priest (of the family), nephew, daughter’s son, father-in-law, son-in-law, maternal uncle, saintly Brahmin, particularly one who worships the five sacred fires, disciple, matrimonial relative and one who respects his parents— these are fit to be invited in Shräddha.

5-7. One who troubles his friend, one having bad nails, a brown-toothed Brahmin, an outrager of virgins, one who donates his sacred fire, one who sells Soma-juice, one who is cursed, a thief, a slanderer, a priest who conducts the religious ceremonies for all castes, a hired teacher, a charioteer’s teacher, one who has married another’s wife, one who does not look after his parents, one who is born of or looked after by a Šhüdra woman, the husband of a Shüdra girl, and one who performs worship to an idol for the sake of others— none of these deserves to be invited for Shräddha rites.

8. The invitation should be made on the day previous to the Shräddha. They should be fed first (on the day of the Šhräddha) and afterwards the sannyäsin and others who come uninvited.

9. The feet of the Brahmins come to the house should be washed, and then with pavitra (the ring of Kušhagrass in hand) they should be seated.

10. The performer of Shräddha should offer oblations to the manes in odd numbers and to the gods in even numbers or to both these each in single.

11. Likewise, he should perform Šhräddha rites for his maternal grandfather with great devotion, along with Vaišhvadeva (an offering to all deities made by presenting oblations to fire before meals) or may perform Vaišhvadevika rites alone.

12. The Brahmin representing (Višhvedevas should be seated to face the east and the Brahmin representing the father and paternal grandfather should be seated to face north.

13. Some sages say that a Brahmin should perform both these (for the gods and the manes) separately whereas others hold that both should be done together.

14. Giving Kušha-grass as the seat and receiving with arghya (oblation consisting of rice, Dürvä-grass etc.) the performer should invoke the gods with their permission.

15. He should offer oblations to the gods with barley water.

16. After worshipping the manes with incense and sacred lamps according to rules, he should do so to the Pitris with apasavya (the sacred thread in the left position).

17. Then getting Anujña (the permission of the priests) offering Kušha grass divided into two with Mantras he should invoke the manes. Then he should give arghya and the like with sesamum and water with apasavya.

18. With the permission of Brahmins, one should honour also the Brahmin traveller who comes there for food at that time.

19. Yogins with a view to helping others, roam about everywhere in this earth in various forms without disclosing their identity.

20. Therefore, a discerning man should worship the guest coming on the occasion of obsequial ceremonies. O great Brahmin, a guest who is not hoñoured destroys the fruits of the Shräddha.

21. With the permission of those Brahmins, one should put rice devoid of salt and the like thrice into the fire.

22. The first invocation is —’this is to the fire who bears the oblation of food’. Next—’this is to be conveyed to Soma having the manes.’

23. The third invocation is to Vaivasvata. The remnants of offerings should be put a little in the plates of Brahmins.

24. Then he should give sumptuous food to them and request them in pleasant words to eat well and to their heart’s content.

25. He should feed them in all sincerity, and they should eat silently, pleasantly and steadfastly.

26. The Rakshoghna mantra (meant to drive away the demons) should be recited. Then spreading sesamum as seat on the earth he should say- “these Brahmins are verily the manes to whom we have offered ghee (in fire).

27. May my father, grandfather and great grandfather invoked in this home, feel fully satisfied.

28. May my father, grandfather and great grandfather invoked by these Brahmins feel fully satisfied.

29. May my father, grandfather and great grandfather feel fully satisfied with the Pindas (balls of rice) offered by me on this floor.

30. May my father, grandfather and great grandfather feel fully satisfied with the devotion shown by me.

31. May my maternal grandfather feel satisfied. May all other manes feel satisfied. May Višhvedevas (all gods) attain great satisfaction. May the demons perish.

32. Here is God Vishnu, the god of sacrifice, the leader of all sacrifices, the enjoyer, the eternal soul. By his presence, may all demons get away quickly.”

33. When these Brahmins are thus made satisfied, some rice should be scattered on the floor, and then each of them should be given in’. the hand water separately for ächamana (sipping).

34-35. With the permission of these who are thus fully fed to satisfaction, he should take all balls of rice from the floor with water and offer them with the sacred water of the manes in a sacred tirtha (pond or river) for the maternal grandfathers.

36. Then he should offer the pindas sanctified by flowers and incense, on darbha grass placed with tip facing South near the remnants. The first pinda is to be for the departed father.

37. The next one is for the grandfather and the third to the great grandfather. At the root of the darbha, the pinda should be smeared with añjana paste.

38. Likewise, for the maternal maries also, one should offer balls of rice along with incense, flower and the like, and give water for ächamana to the Brahmins who are fed.

39. He should with devotion utter Svastimantras (words of propitiation) and then give dakshinä (money).

40. After giving them this, he should make them recite Vaišhvadevika (mantras of blessings). He should say: “May Višhvedevas (all gods) be pleased”.

41. When those Brahmins say “let it be so”, he should request them for their benedictions. Then he should send off Višhvedevas first and then the manes.

42. Similarly, in the case of maternal manes also along with Višhvedevas in the matter of feeding, giving money and sending Pädya onwards.

43. In the rites for maternal manes the Brahmin having spiritual knowledge should be sent off first and then the others.

44. The performer should accompany them up to the outer door and then, with their permission, return. After the Shräddha ceremonies he should offer oblations to all deities.

45. Then he should take his food with revered men, servants and relatives.

Thus should the wise perform Šhräddha for the paternal and maternal manes. Propitiated at the Šhräddha, the manes will grant all desires.

46. These three are sacred in Shräddha, namely grandson, Kutapa (the afternoon time suitable for the performance of sacrifices to the manes) and sesamum; so also the dakshina of silver and proper reception and the like.

47. The performer of Šhräddha should avoid three things towards the Brahmin who is to be fed on the occasion—anger, going to the street, and hurry.

48. O Brahmin, all the deities, fathers, maternal grandfather, and the family are purified by the performer of Shräddha.

49. The manes depend upon the moon and the moon on yoga. Therefore, O Brahmin, Shräddha joined with yoga (concentration of mind) is considered superior.

50. A (single) yogin amidst even a thousand Brahmins, liberates all these that are fed in the Šhräddhas as well as the performer.

51. These are the rules of Šhräddha generally described in all Purãnas. One should free oneself from bondage of worldly life with the knowledge of duties like this.

52. Knowing this from Gauramukha, the sages performing penance got liberation. You also attain the same.

53. I have told you this, O great Brahmin, since you asked me this. What else should be attained by him who meditates on Vishnu after performing Šhräddha for the manes.” Nothing else is there, no doubt, more than the Šhräddha for the manes.