Shraddha (श्राद्धम्)

Shraddha (Samskrit : श्राद्धम्) is the monthly funeral offering to the forefathers also called as Anvaharya (अन्वाहार्यम्).

पितॄणां मासिकं श्राद्धं अन्वाहार्यं विदुर्बुधाः । । ३.१२३ । । pitr̥̄ṇāṁ māsikaṁ śrāddhaṁ anvāhāryaṁ vidurbudhāḥ । । 3.123 । ।

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

It is said that, the sages, the forefathers, the gods, the Bhutas, and guests ask the householders (for offerings and gifts); hence he who knows (the law), must give to them (what is due to each). (Manu 3.80)

ऋषयः पितरो देवा भूतान्यतिथयस्तथा । आशासते कुटुम्बिभ्यस्तेभ्यः कार्यं विजानता । । ३.८० । ।

r̥ṣayaḥ pitaro devā bhūtānyatithayastathā । āśāsate kuṭumbibhyastebhyaḥ kāryaṁ vijānatā । । 3.80 । ।

And the forefathers are to be worshiped by funeral offerings (Shraddha) - पितॄञ् श्राद्धैश्च | pitr̥̄ñ śrāddhaiśca | (Manu 3.81)

श्राद्धनियमाः ॥ Rules governing Shraddha

श्राद्धकर्ता ॥ Who should perform Shraddha ?

• After performing the Pitruyajna, a Brahmana who keeps a sacred fire shall offer, month by month, on the new-moon day, the funeral sacrifice (Shraddha, called) Pindanvaharyaka. (Manu 3.122)

पितृयज्ञं तु निर्वर्त्य विप्रश्चन्द्रक्षयेऽग्निमान् । पिण्डान्वाहार्यकं श्राद्धं कुर्यान्मासानुमासिकम् । । ३.१२२ । ।

pitr̥yajñaṁ tu nirvartya vipraścandrakṣaye'gnimān । piṇḍānvāhāryakaṁ śrāddhaṁ kuryānmāsānumāsikam । । 3.122 । ।

श्राद्धदेयानि ॥ The offerings of Shraddha

• One should, daily, perform a funeral sacrifice with food, or with water, or also with milk, roots, and fruits, and (thus) please the forefathers. (Manu 3.82)

कुर्यादहरहः श्राद्धं अन्नाद्येनोदकेन वा । पयोमूलफलैर्वापि पितृभ्यः प्रीतिं आवहन् । । ३.८२ । ।

kuryādaharahaḥ śrāddhaṁ annādyenodakena vā । payomūlaphalairvāpi pitr̥bhyaḥ prītiṁ āvahan । । 3.82 । ।

श्राद्धभोजनम् ॥ Shraddha Bhojana

• It is said that one must feed two (Brahmanas) at the offering to the gods, and three at the offering to the forefathers, or one only on either occasion; even a very wealthy man shall not be anxious (to entertain) a large company. (Manu 3.125) Because a large company destroys these five (advantages) - the respectful treatment (of the invited, the propriety of) place and time, purity and (the selection of) virtuous Brahmana (guests); he therefore shall not seek (to entertain) a large company. (Manu 3.126)

द्वौ दैवे पितृकार्ये त्रीनेकैकं उभयत्र वा । भोजयेत्सुसमृद्धोऽपि न प्रसज्जेत विस्तरे । । ३.१२५ । ।

सत्क्रियां देशकालौ च शौचं ब्राह्मणसंपदः । पञ्चैतान्विस्तरो हन्ति तस्मान्नेहेत विस्तरम् । । ३.१२६ । ।

dvau daive pitr̥kārye trīnekaikaṁ ubhayatra vā । bhojayetsusamr̥ddho'pi na prasajjeta vistare । । 3.125 । ।

satkriyāṁ deśakālau ca śaucaṁ brāhmaṇasaṁpadaḥ । pañcaitānvistaro hanti tasmānneheta vistaram । । 3.126 । ।

• Therefore, one should feed atleast one Brahmana in honour of the forefathers at (the Shraddha), which belongs to the five great sacrifices; but should not feed on that (occasion) any Brahmana on account of the Vaisvadeva offering. (Manu 3.83)

एकं अप्याशयेद्विप्रं पित्रर्थे पाञ्चयज्ञिके । न चैवात्राशयेत्किं चिद्वैश्वदेवं प्रति द्विजम् । । ३.८३ । ।

ekaṁ apyāśayedvipraṁ pitrarthe pāñcayajñike । na caivātrāśayetkiṁ cidvaiśvadevaṁ prati dvijam । । 3.83 । ।

श्राद्धभोजनाधिकारी ॥ Shraddha Bhojana Adhikari

• Food sacred to the forefathers or to the gods must be given to a man distinguished by sacred knowledge; for hands, smeared with blood, cannot be cleansed with blood. (Manu 3.132)

ज्ञानोत्कृष्टाय देयानि कव्यानि च हवींषि च । न हि हस्तावसृग्दिग्धौ रुधिरेणैव शुध्यतः । । ३.१३२ । ।

jñānotkr̥ṣṭāya deyāni kavyāni ca havīṁṣi ca । na hi hastāvasr̥gdigdhau rudhireṇaiva śudhyataḥ । । 3.132 । ।

• It is said that, though a million of men, unacquainted with the Rikas, were to dine at a (funeral sacrifice), yet a single man, learned in the Veda, who is satisfied (with his entertainment), is worth them all as far as the (production of) spiritual merit (is concerned). (Manu 3.131)

सहस्रं हि सहस्राणां अनृचां यत्र भुञ्जते । एकस्तान्मन्त्रवित्प्रीतः सर्वानर्हति धर्मतः । । ३.१३१ । ।

sahasraṁ hi sahasrāṇāṁ anr̥cāṁ yatra bhuñjate । ekastānmantravitprītaḥ sarvānarhati dharmataḥ । । 3.131 । ।

• Therefore, one is advised to make inquiries even regarding the remote (ancestors of) a Brahmana who has studied an entire (recension of the) Veda; (if descended from a virtuous race) such a man is a worthy recipient of gifts (consisting) of food offered to the gods or to the forefathers, he is declared (to procure as great rewards as) a guest (atithi). (Manu 3.130)

दूरादेव परीक्षेत ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम् । तीर्थं तद्धव्यकव्यानां प्रदाने सोऽतिथिः स्मृतः । । ३.१३० । ।

dūrādeva parīkṣeta brāhmaṇaṁ vedapāragam । tīrthaṁ taddhavyakavyānāṁ pradāne so'tithiḥ smr̥taḥ । । 3.130 । ।

• Infact, it is said that, as many mouthfuls as an ignorant man swallows at a sacrifice to the gods or to the forefathers, so many red-hot spikes, spears, and iron balls must (the giver of the repast) swallow after death. (Manu 3.133)

यावतो ग्रसते ग्रासान्हव्यकव्येष्वमन्त्रवित् । तावतो ग्रसते प्रेतो दीप्तशूलर्ष्ट्ययोगुडान् । । ३.१३३ । ।

yāvato grasate grāsānhavyakavyeṣvamantravit । tāvato grasate preto dīptaśūlarṣṭyayoguḍān । । 3.133 । ।

• Some Brahmanas are devoted to (the pursuit of) knowledge, and others to (the performance of) austerities; some to austerities and to the recitation of the Veda, and others to (the performance of) sacred rites. (Manu 3.134)

ज्ञाननिष्ठा द्विजाः के चित्तपोनिष्ठास्तथापरे । तपःस्वाध्यायनिष्ठाश्च कर्मनिष्ठास्तथापरे । । ३.१३४ । ।

jñānaniṣṭhā dvijāḥ ke cittaponiṣṭhāstathāpare । tapaḥsvādhyāyaniṣṭhāśca karmaniṣṭhāstathāpare । । 3.134 । ।

• Oblations to the forefathers ought to be carefully presented to those devoted to knowledge, but offerings to the gods, in accordance with the reason (of the sacred law), to (men of) all the four (above-mentioned classes). (Manu 3.135)

ज्ञाननिष्ठेषु कव्यानि प्रतिष्ठाप्यानि यत्नतः । हव्यानि तु यथान्यायं सर्वेष्वेव चतुर्ष्वपि । । ३.१३५ । ।

jñānaniṣṭheṣu kavyāni pratiṣṭhāpyāni yatnataḥ । havyāni tu yathānyāyaṁ sarveṣveva caturṣvapi । । 3.135 । ।

• If there is a father ignorant of the sacred texts whose son has learned one whole recension of the Veda and the Angas, and a son ignorant of the sacred texts whose father knows an entire recension of the Veda and the Angas, (Manu 3.136)

अश्रोत्रियः पिता यस्य पुत्रः स्याद्वेदपारगः । अश्रोत्रियो वा पुत्रः स्यात्पिता स्याद्वेदपारगः । । ३.१३६ । ।

aśrotriyaḥ pitā yasya putraḥ syādvedapāragaḥ । aśrotriyo vā putraḥ syātpitā syādvedapāragaḥ । । 3.136 । ।

• Know that he whose father knows the Veda, is the more venerable one (of the two); yet the other one is worthy of honour, because respect is due to the Veda (which he has learned). (Manu 3.137)

ज्यायांसं अनयोर्विद्याद्यस्य स्याच्छ्रोत्रियः पिता । मन्त्रसंपूजनार्थं तु सत्कारं इतरोऽर्हति । । ३.१३७ । ।

jyāyāṁsaṁ anayorvidyādyasya syācchrotriyaḥ pitā । mantrasaṁpūjanārthaṁ tu satkāraṁ itaro'rhati । । 3.137 । ।

• Let him not entertain a personal friend at a funeral sacrifice; he may gain his affection by (other) valuable gifts; let him feed at a Sraddha a Brahmana whom he considers neither as a foe nor as a friend. (Manu 3.138)

न श्राद्धे भोजयेन्मित्रं धनैः कार्योऽस्य संग्रहः । नारिं न मित्रं यं विद्यात्तं श्राद्धे भोजयेद्द्विजम् । । ३.१३८ । ।

na śrāddhe bhojayenmitraṁ dhanaiḥ kāryo'sya saṁgrahaḥ । nāriṁ na mitraṁ yaṁ vidyāttaṁ śrāddhe bhojayeddvijam । । 3.138 । ।

• He who performs funeral sacrifices and offerings to the gods chiefly for the sake of (gaining) friends, reaps after death no reward for Sraddhas and sacrifices. (Manu 3.139)

यस्य मित्रप्रधानानि श्राद्धानि च हवींषि च । तस्य प्रेत्य फलं नास्ति श्राद्धेषु च हविःषु च । । ३.१३९ । ।

yasya mitrapradhānāni śrāddhāni ca havīṁṣi ca । tasya pretya phalaṁ nāsti śrāddheṣu ca haviḥṣu ca । । 3.139 । ।

श्राद्धफलम् ॥ The fruit of Shraddha

• Famed is this rite for the dead, called (the sacrifice sacred to the forefathers (and performed) on the new-moon day; if a man is diligent in (performing) that, (the reward of) the rite for the dead, which is performed according to Smarta rules, reaches him constantly. (Manu 3.127)

प्रथिता प्रेतकृत्यैषा पित्र्यं नाम विधुक्षये । तस्मिन्युक्तस्यैति नित्यं प्रेतकृत्यैव लौकिकी । । ३.१२७ । ।

prathitā pretakr̥tyaiṣā pitryaṁ nāma vidhukṣaye । tasminyuktasyaiti nityaṁ pretakr̥tyaiva laukikī । । 3.127 । ।

• However, oblations to the gods and forefathers must be presented by the givers to a Shrotriya alone; what is given to such a most worthy Brahmana yields great reward. (Manu 3.128)

श्रोत्रियायैव देयानि हव्यकव्यानि दातृभिः । अर्हत्तमाय विप्राय तस्मै दत्तं महाफलम् । । ३.१२८ । ।

śrotriyāyaiva deyāni havyakavyāni dātr̥bhiḥ । arhattamāya viprāya tasmai dattaṁ mahāphalam । । 3.128 । ।

• Let him feed even one learned man at (the sacrifice) to the gods, and one at (the sacrifice) to the forefathers; (thus) he will gain a rich reward, not (if he entertains) many who are unacquainted with the Veda. (Manu 3.129)

एकैकं अपि विद्वांसं दैवे पित्र्ये च भोजयेत् । पुष्कलं फलं आप्नोति नामन्त्रज्ञान्बहूनपि । । ३.१२९ । ।

ekaikaṁ api vidvāṁsaṁ daive pitrye ca bhojayet । puṣkalaṁ phalaṁ āpnoti nāmantrajñānbahūnapi । । 3.129 । ।

8a.1 Feeding the brahmanas

I will fully declare what and how many (Brahmanas) must be fed on that (occasion), who must be avoided, and on what kinds of food (they shall dine). [v.3.124.]

That meanest among twice-born men who in his folly contracts friendships through a funeral sacrifice, loses heaven, because he performed a Sraddha for the sake of friendship. [v.3.140.]

A gift (of food) by twice-born men, consumed with (friends and relatives), is said to be offered to the Pisakas; it remains in this (world) alone like a blind cow in one stable. [v.3.141.]

As a husbandman reaps no harvest when he has sown the seed in barren soil, even so the giver of sacrificial food gains no reward if he presented it to a man unacquainted with the Rikas. [v.3.142.]

But a present made in accordance with the rules to a learned man, makes the giver and the recipient partakers of rewards both in this (life) and after death. [v.3.143.]

(If no learned Brahmana be at hand), he may rather honour a (virtuous) friend than an enemy, though the latter may be qualified (by learning and so forth); for sacrificial food, eaten by a foe, bears no reward after death. [v.3.144.]

Let him (take) pains (to) feed at a Sraddha an adherent of the Rig-veda who has studied one entire (recension of that) Veda, or a follower of the Yagur-veda who has finished one Sakha, or a singer of Samans who (likewise) has completed (the study of an entire recension). [v.3.145.]

If one of these three dines, duly honoured, at a funeral sacrifice, the ancestors of him (who gives the feast), as far as the seventh person, will be satisfied for a very long time. [v.3.146.]

This is the chief rule (to be followed) in offering sacrifices to the gods and manes; know that the virtuous always observe the following subsidiary rule. [v.3.147.]

One may also entertain (on such occasions) one's maternal grandfather, a maternal uncle, a sister's son, a father-in-law, one's teacher, a daughter's son, a daughter's husband, a cognate kinsman, one's own officiating priest or a man for whom one offers sacrifices. [v.3.148.]

For a rite sacred to the gods, he who knows the law will not make (too close) inquiries regarding an (invited) Brahmana; but when one performs a ceremony in honour of the manes, one must carefully examine (the qualities and parentage of the guest). [v.3.149.]