Changes

* If one is unable to offer a shraddha every month, according to the rules given above, one may do it thrice a year - in winter, in summer and in the rainy season. However, the [[Panchamahayajnas (पञ्चमहायज्ञाः)|Panchamahayajnas]] have to be performed every day (Manu Smrt. 3.281).<ref name=":1" />

* If one is unable to offer a shraddha every month, according to the rules given above, one may do it thrice a year - in winter, in summer and in the rainy season. However, the [[Panchamahayajnas (पञ्चमहायज्ञाः)|Panchamahayajnas]] have to be performed every day (Manu Smrt. 3.281).<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>अनेन विधिना श्राद्धं त्रिरब्दस्येह निर्वपेत् । हेमन्तग्रीष्मवर्षासु पाञ्चयज्ञिकमन्वहम् || ३.२८१ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>anena vidhinā śrāddhaṁ trirabdasyeha nirvapet । hemantagrīṣmavarṣāsu pāñcayajñikamanvaham || 3.281 ||</blockquote>In the 14th Adhyaya of the 7th Skandha of the Bhagavata Purana, Yudhisthira asks Maharshi Narada who explains to him the course of conduct by which a householder will attain moksha without difficulty. Accordingly, the text mentions that   

<blockquote>अनेन विधिना श्राद्धं त्रिरब्दस्येह निर्वपेत् । हेमन्तग्रीष्मवर्षासु पाञ्चयज्ञिकमन्वहम् || ३.२८१ ||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>anena vidhinā śrāddhaṁ trirabdasyeha nirvapet । hemantagrīṣmavarṣāsu pāñcayajñikamanvaham || 3.281 ||</blockquote>In the 14th Adhyaya of the 7th Skandha of the Bhagavata Purana, Yudhisthira asks Maharshi Narada who explains to him the course of conduct by which a householder will attain moksha without difficulty. Accordingly, the text mentions that   

* If sufficiently rich, a dvija (brahmana, kshatriya and vaishya) should perform according to his means, the shraddha ie. Mahalaya in honour of his departed parents as well as their kinsmen and others, in the dark half of bhadrapada.<ref>Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n109/mode/2up 979-984].</ref>  

* If sufficiently rich, a dvija (brahmana, kshatriya and vaishya) should perform according to his means, the shraddha ie. Mahalaya in honour of his departed parents as well as their kinsmen and others, in the dark half of bhadrapada.<ref name=":3">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n109/mode/2up 979-984].</ref>  

<blockquote>कुर्याद् आपरपक्षीयं मासि प्रौष्ठपदे द्विजः ।  श्राद्धं पित्रोर्यथावित्तं तद्‍बन्धूनां च वित्तवान् ॥ १९ ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AA Adhyaya 14].</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>''kuryād āparapakṣīyaṁ māsi prauṣṭhapadē dvijaḥ । śrāddhaṁ pitrōryathāvittaṁ tad‍bandhūnāṁ ca vittavān ॥ 19 ॥''</blockquote>It also enumerates a few other days designated for the performance of shraddha as follows:

<blockquote>कुर्याद् आपरपक्षीयं मासि प्रौष्ठपदे द्विजः ।  श्राद्धं पित्रोर्यथावित्तं तद्‍बन्धूनां च वित्तवान् ॥ १९ ॥<ref name=":4">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AA Adhyaya 14].</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>''kuryād āparapakṣīyaṁ māsi prauṣṭhapadē dvijaḥ । śrāddhaṁ pitrōryathāvittaṁ tad‍bandhūnāṁ ca vittavān ॥ 19 ॥''</blockquote>

* the summer and winter solstices (ayanas)  

* It also enumerates a few other days designated for the performance of shraddha as follows (verses 20-23<ref name=":4" />):

* the vernal and autumnal equinoxes (vishuva),

# the summer and winter solstices (ayanas)  

* during the division of time called Vyatipata;

# the vernal and autumnal equinoxes (vishuva)  

* on the day when a tithi ie. lunar day begins and ends between two sun-rises (technically known as dinakshaya);

# during the division of time called Vyatipata (व्यतीपात:)

* during the lunar and solar eclipses;

# on the day when a tithi (lunar day) begins and ends between two sun-rises (technically known as dinakshaya)  

* on the 12th lunar day, and when the constellations known as Shravana, Dhanishtha and Shata-taraka are on the ascendance;

# during the lunar and solar eclipses  

* on the 3rd day in the bright half of Vaishakha (ie. on Akshaya tritiya);

# on the 12th lunar day, and when the constellations known as Shravana, Dhanishtha and Shata-taraka are on the ascendance  

* on the 9th lunar day in the bright half of Karttika (known as Akshaya navami);

# on the 3rd day in the bright half of Vaishakha (ie. on Akshaya tritiya)  

* on the four Ashtakas (8th lunar day in the dark halves) during the seasons called Hemanta and Shishira (ie. on the 8th day in the dark half of the months of Margashirsha, Pausha, Magha and Phalguna);

# on the 9th lunar day in the bright half of Karttika (known as Akshaya navami)  

* on the 7th day in the bright half of the month of Magha;

# on the four Ashtakas (8th lunar day in the dark halves) during the seasons called Hemanta and Shishira (ie. on the 8th day in the dark half of the months of Margashirsha, Pausha, Magha and Phalguna)  

* on the full moon day when the constellation Magha is ascendant (which is in the month of Magha)  

# on the 7th day in the bright half of the month of Magha  

* on days when the constellation associated with the names of other (lunar) months are ascendant on a full moon day, or even when the moon rises one digit less than the full on that day;

# on the full moon day when the constellation Magha is ascendant (which is in the month of Magha)  

* on any 12th lunar day when the constellations Anuradha, Shravana and the three constellations beginning with the word Uttara (viz. Uttarashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada and Uttara Phalguni) are ascendant; or when the 11th lunar day (of any month) is associated with (any of) these three constellations;

# on days when the constellation associated with the names of other (lunar) months are ascendant on a full moon day, or even when the moon rises one digit less than the full on that day  

* (and lastly) on any day when the constellation under which a person was born or the constellation called Shravana is ascendant. (20-23)

# on any 12th lunar day when the constellations Anuradha, Shravana and the three constellations beginning with the word Uttara (viz. Uttarashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada and Uttara Phalguni) are ascendant; or when the 11th lunar day (of any month) is associated with (any of) these three constellations  

It also mentions that, Shraddhas should be performed when it is the time of the purificatory rites observed in the behalf of himself, his wife or children; as well as at the time of the cremation of a dead body or on the death anniversary of a person; and at the time of any other function like marriage. (26)

# on any day when the constellation under which a person was born or the constellation called Shravana is ascendant.

 

* It also mentions that, Shraddhas should be performed when it is the time of the purificatory rites observed in the behalf of himself, his wife or children; as well as at the time of the cremation of a dead body or on the death anniversary of a person; and at the time of any other function like marriage.<ref name=":3" />

The text further mentions that by performing pious acts to the best of one's abilities on these days, the merits become most effectual and contribute to one's longevity. (24) While the performance of ablutions, muttering prayer or mantra (Japa), oblations to fire, observance of a sacred vow, worship of deities and brahmanas and gifts donated in the names of pitrs, deities, men and creatures on these specific days, bear everlasting fruit. (25)

<blockquote>संस्कारकालो जायाया अपत्यस्यात्मनस्तथा । प्रेतसंस्था मृताहश्च कर्मण्यभ्युदये नृप ॥ २६ ॥<ref name=":4" /></blockquote><blockquote>''saṁskārakālō jāyāyā apatyasyātmanastathā । prētasaṁsthā mr̥tāhaśca karmaṇyabhyudayē nr̥pa ॥ 26 ॥''</blockquote>

== श्राद्धहविः ॥ The Offerings of Shraddha ==

== श्राद्धहविः ॥ The Offerings of Shraddha ==

* It is said that one must feed two brahmanas at the offering to the deities, and three at the offering to the forefathers, or one each on either occasion; even a wealthy man must not entertain a large gathering of brahmanas. Because expanding the scale of yajna destroys five things - appropriate treatment of the invited, place, time, purity and presence of the most virtuous brahmana as guests; one should not, therefore, seek to entertain a large company (Manu 3.125 and 126).<ref name=":1" />

* It is said that one must feed two brahmanas at the offering to the deities, and three at the offering to the forefathers, or one each on either occasion; even a wealthy man must not entertain a large gathering of brahmanas. Because expanding the scale of yajna destroys five things - appropriate treatment of the invited, place, time, purity and presence of the most virtuous brahmana as guests; one should not, therefore, seek to entertain a large company (Manu 3.125 and 126).<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>द्वौ दैवे पितृकार्ये त्रीनेकैकमुभयत्र वा । भोजयेत्सुसमृद्धोऽपि न प्रसज्जेत विस्तरे ॥ ३.१२५ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>सत्क्रियां देशकालौ च शौचं ब्राह्मणसंपदः । पञ्चैतान्विस्तरो हन्ति तस्मान्नेहेत विस्तरम् ॥ ३.१२६ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>dvau daive pitr̥kārye trīnekaikamubhayatra vā । bhojayetsusamr̥ddho'pi na prasajjeta vistare ॥ 3.125 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>satkriyāṁ deśakālau ca śaucaṁ brāhmaṇasaṁpadaḥ । pañcaitānvistaro hanti tasmānneheta vistaram ॥ 3.126 ॥</blockquote>

<blockquote>द्वौ दैवे पितृकार्ये त्रीनेकैकमुभयत्र वा । भोजयेत्सुसमृद्धोऽपि न प्रसज्जेत विस्तरे ॥ ३.१२५ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>सत्क्रियां देशकालौ च शौचं ब्राह्मणसंपदः । पञ्चैतान्विस्तरो हन्ति तस्मान्नेहेत विस्तरम् ॥ ३.१२६ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>dvau daive pitr̥kārye trīnekaikamubhayatra vā । bhojayetsusamr̥ddho'pi na prasajjeta vistare ॥ 3.125 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>satkriyāṁ deśakālau ca śaucaṁ brāhmaṇasaṁpadaḥ । pañcaitānvistaro hanti tasmānneheta vistaram ॥ 3.126 ॥</blockquote>

* The Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 15) also makes it clear that one should not make very elaborate arrangements to perform the Shraddha to one's forefathers. Distributing Bhagavata-prasada to all of one's forefathers and relatives is considered the best process for the Shraddha ceremony.  

* The Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 15) also makes it clear that one should not make very elaborate arrangements to perform the Shraddha to one's forefathers. Distributing Bhagavata-prasada to all of one's forefathers and relatives is considered the best process for the Shraddha ceremony.<ref>A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam (Seventh Canto), [http://prabhupadabooks.com/pdf/SB7.3.pdf Part 3-Chapters 10-15], 1976: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.</ref>

* Therefore, one must feed atleast one brahmana in honour of the forefathers at the shraddha, which is a part of the five great yajnas (Manu Smrt. 3.83).<ref name=":1" />  

* Therefore, one must feed atleast one brahmana in honour of the forefathers at the shraddha, which is a part of the five great yajnas (Manu Smrt. 3.83).<ref name=":1" />  

== श्राद्धफलम् ॥ The fruit of Shraddha ==

== श्राद्धफलम् ॥ The fruit of Shraddha ==

* The one who performs rite for the dead, called Pitru karma (the rite sacred to the forefathers) on the new-moon day, always obtains fruits of this world (Manu Smrt 3.127).<ref name=":1" />

* The one who performs rite for the dead, called Pitru karma (the rite sacred to the forefathers) on the new-moon day, always obtains fruits of this world (Manu Smrt 3.127).<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>प्रथिता प्रेतकृत्यैषा पित्र्यं नाम विधुक्षये । तस्मिन्युक्तस्यैति नित्यं प्रेतकृत्यैव लौकिकी ॥ ३.१२७ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>prathitā pretakr̥tyaiṣā pitryaṁ nāma vidhukṣaye । tasminyuktasyaiti nityaṁ pretakr̥tyaiva laukikī ॥ 3.127 ॥</blockquote>

<blockquote>प्रथिता प्रेतकृत्यैषा पित्र्यं नाम विधुक्षये । तस्मिन्युक्तस्यैति नित्यं प्रेतकृत्यैव लौकिकी ॥ ३.१२७ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>prathitā pretakr̥tyaiṣā pitryaṁ nāma vidhukṣaye । tasminyuktasyaiti nityaṁ pretakr̥tyaiva laukikī ॥ 3.127 ॥</blockquote>

<blockquote>श्रोत्रियायैव देयानि हव्यकव्यानि दातृभिः । अर्हत्तमाय विप्राय तस्मै दत्तं महाफलम् ॥ ३.१२८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>एकैकमपि विद्वांसं दैवे पित्र्ये च भोजयेत् । पुष्कलं फलमप्नोति नामन्त्रज्ञान्बहूनपि ॥ ३.१२९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>यथेरिणे बीजमुप्त्वा न वप्ता लभते फलम् । तथानृचे हविर्दत्त्वा न दाता लभते फलम् ॥ ३.१४२ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>दातॄन्प्रतिग्रहीतॄंश्च कुरुते फलभागिनः । विदुषे दक्षिणां दत्त्वा विधिवत्प्रेत्य चेह च ॥ ३.१४३ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>śrotriyāyaiva deyāni havyakavyāni dātr̥bhiḥ । arhattamāya viprāya tasmai dattaṁ mahāphalam ॥ 3.128 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>ekaikamapi vidvāṁsaṁ daive pitrye ca bhojayet । puṣkalaṁ phalamapnoti nāmantrajñānbahūnapi ॥ 3.129 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>yatheriṇe bījamuptvā na vaptā labhate phalam । tathānr̥ce havirdattvā na dātā labhate phalam ॥ 3.142 ॥व्</blockquote><blockquote>dātr̥̄npratigrahītr̥̄ṁśca kurute phalabhāginaḥ । viduṣe dakṣiṇāṁ dattvā vidhivatpretya ceha ca ॥ 3.143 ॥</blockquote>

<blockquote>श्रोत्रियायैव देयानि हव्यकव्यानि दातृभिः । अर्हत्तमाय विप्राय तस्मै दत्तं महाफलम् ॥ ३.१२८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>एकैकमपि विद्वांसं दैवे पित्र्ये च भोजयेत् । पुष्कलं फलमप्नोति नामन्त्रज्ञान्बहूनपि ॥ ३.१२९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>यथेरिणे बीजमुप्त्वा न वप्ता लभते फलम् । तथानृचे हविर्दत्त्वा न दाता लभते फलम् ॥ ३.१४२ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>दातॄन्प्रतिग्रहीतॄंश्च कुरुते फलभागिनः । विदुषे दक्षिणां दत्त्वा विधिवत्प्रेत्य चेह च ॥ ३.१४३ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>śrotriyāyaiva deyāni havyakavyāni dātr̥bhiḥ । arhattamāya viprāya tasmai dattaṁ mahāphalam ॥ 3.128 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>ekaikamapi vidvāṁsaṁ daive pitrye ca bhojayet । puṣkalaṁ phalamapnoti nāmantrajñānbahūnapi ॥ 3.129 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>yatheriṇe bījamuptvā na vaptā labhate phalam । tathānr̥ce havirdattvā na dātā labhate phalam ॥ 3.142 ॥व्</blockquote><blockquote>dātr̥̄npratigrahītr̥̄ṁśca kurute phalabhāginaḥ । viduṣe dakṣiṇāṁ dattvā vidhivatpretya ceha ca ॥ 3.143 ॥</blockquote>

* However, if no learned Brahmana is available, one may rather honour a friend than a learned enemy, for that bears no reward. (Manu Smrt. 3.144).<ref name=":1" />

* However, if no learned Brahmana is available, one may rather honour a friend than a learned enemy, for that bears no reward. (Manu Smrt. 3.144).<ref name=":1" />

<blockquote>कामं श्राद्धेऽर्चयेन्मित्रं नाभिरूपमपि त्वरिम् । द्विषता हि हविर्भुक्तं भवति प्रेत्य निष्फलम् ॥ ३.१४४ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>kāmaṁ śrāddhe'rcayenmitraṁ nābhirūpamapi tvarim । dviṣatā hi havirbhuktaṁ bhavati pretya niṣphalam ॥ 3.144 ॥</blockquote>

<blockquote>कामं श्राद्धेऽर्चयेन्मित्रं नाभिरूपमपि त्वरिम् । द्विषता हि हविर्भुक्तं भवति प्रेत्य निष्फलम् ॥ ३.१४४ ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>kāmaṁ śrāddhe'rcayenmitraṁ nābhirūpamapi tvarim । dviṣatā hi havirbhuktaṁ bhavati pretya niṣphalam ॥ 3.144 ॥</blockquote>Further, the Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 14) enlists days designated for the performance of shraddha and mentions that,

<blockquote>त एते श्रेयसः काला नॄणां श्रेयोविवर्धनाः ।  कुर्यात् सर्वात्मनैतेषु श्रेयोऽमोघं तदायुषः ॥ २४ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>एषु स्नानं जपो होमो व्रतं देवद्विजार्चनम् । पितृदेवनृभूतेभ्यो यद् दत्तं तद्ध्यनश्वरम् ॥ २५ ॥<ref name=":4" /></blockquote><blockquote>''ta ētē śrēyasaḥ kālā nr̥̄ṇāṁ śrēyōvivardhanāḥ । kuryāt sarvātmanaitēṣu śrēyō'mōghaṁ tadāyuṣaḥ ॥ 24 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''ēṣu snānaṁ japō hōmō vrataṁ dēvadvijārcanam । pitr̥dēvanr̥bhūtēbhyō yad dattaṁ taddhyanaśvaram ॥ 25 ॥''</blockquote>

== References ==

== References ==