From the northern peak, a divine presence was born—a goddess who, by the permission of Brahma, took her place upon the earth in the form of a mountain. Brahma, the Creator, then addressed Vyasa, saying, “I shall explain to you the sacred rite of Śrāddha, a ceremony that grants both worldly enjoyment and ultimate liberation to humankind.” Brahma began his instructions: “First, one must invite Brahmins to the rite, giving special honor to those who are celibate. With the sacred thread draped over the right shoulder, the gods are to be invited; with the thread over the left, the ancestors are called. The feet of the Brahmins are to be washed while reciting mantras and words of welcome. With reverence, say ‘Om, Welcome to you,’ and when they reply, ‘We are well received,’ offer water mixed with sacred grass to their feet, declaring, ‘For all the gods, this foot-water is arghya, svaha.’ “Turning southward, and with the thread to the left, the ancestors—our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers—are to be invoked by their names and lineages. Offer water, sacred grass, and flowers at the Brahmins’ feet, saying, ‘This foot-water is arghya, svadhā,’ as an offering to the ancestors. In the same way, for maternal ancestors and others, say, ‘This is for sipping, svāhā, svadhā,’ placing arghya and flowers in the Brahmins’ hands. “Prepare their seats, uttering, ‘Om, This seat is prepared, here it is prepared,’ and recite the seven sacred utterances: Om Bhuh, Om Bhuvah, Om Svah, Om Mahah, Om Janah, Om Tapah, Om Satyam. Seat the Brahmins representing the gods facing east and those for the ancestors facing north. Then, three times, recite: ‘Om, Salutations to the deities, ancestors, and great yogis, to Svadha and Svaha—may they always be present.’ “Next, declare your intent: ‘Om, Today, in this place, in this month, under this constellation, for these lineages—our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, by their names and surnames—I will perform the Śrāddha, beginning with the universal gods.’ Recite, ‘Om, To all the gods, svāhā,’ and invoke them: ‘O universal gods, come, listen to this offering. Sit upon this sacred grass. You who dwell in the atmosphere and above, you who are worthy of sacrifice, rejoice here.’ Offerings of barley are made thrice, while reciting prayers to drive away demons and evil spirits from the altar. “Announce, ‘I will prepare the vessel,’ and, once permitted, purify it. Offer water, praying that it be auspicious for drinking, and barley, asking it to remove hostility and enmity. Offer fragrance to Shri, the goddess of abundance, and recite blessings upon the sacred waters. Pour arghya into the Brahmin’s hands, purify the vessel, and arrange the sacred grass. “Present offerings of fragrance, flowers, incense, lamps, and garments, seeking that these acts be flawless. With the Brahmin’s permission, declare: ‘I will perform the Śrāddha for my fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, maternal grandfathers, maternal great-grandfathers, and their elders, together with their wives.’ When the Brahmins consent, recite thrice: ‘Om, for the deities and the ancestors.’ “Offer a seat to the ancestors, saying: ‘Om, for those of such-and-such lineage, for my fathers and grandfathers, named thus, together with their wives, this seat is offered to you with svadhā.’ Invoke the ancestors: ‘Om, we invoke you, O radiant ones; O kindled ones, bring a hundred ancestors for the offering. Let our gentle ancestors, the Agniṣvāttas, come by divine paths, rejoicing in this sacrifice with svadhā, and grant us blessings.’ To keep the altar pure, scatter sesame seeds and pour water on vessels to the east. Offer sesame, invoking its sacred connection to Soma and the ancient waters, and pray that the worlds of the ancestors be pleased. “After offering fragrance and flowers with both hands, raise the ancestor’s vessel, address the ancestor by name, and say: ‘O ancestor of such-and-such lineage, O so-and-so Devaśarman, together with your wife, this is your arghya with svadhā.’ Place the impure vessel on the left, the pure on the right upon sacred grass, and declare, ‘Om, you are the place for the ancestors,’ turning the vessel face-down. “Pray for the purification of the worlds and abodes of the ancestors, and offer more fragrance, flowers, incense, lamps, garments, and sacred threads to them with svadhā, wishing for inexhaustible offerings and fulfillment of resolve. Seek permission to honor maternal ancestors and others in the same way. Sweep the ground, and, taking food mixed with ghee, with the sacred thread over the right shoulder, announce, ‘Om, I will perform the ritual in the fire.’ With the Brahmins’ approval, make two offerings to Agni, the carrier of offerings, and set aside food for the piṇḍa and for the ancestor vessels. “Seal the vessel, add sacred grass, and, with both hands downward, recite: ‘Om, earth is your vessel, heaven is its cover; I offer nectar into the Brahmin’s mouth, svāhā.’ This consecrates the vessel. Recall Vishnu’s three steps that measured the worlds, and pray for his protection, pressing the Brahmin’s thumb into the food. “Scatter barley, reciting ‘Apahata,’ and declare the destruction of all impurities and evil beings, scattering siddhārtha seeds to ward off harmful spirits. For the deities called Dhūrilocana, offer food with ghee, water, and condiments, praying for inexhaustible offerings and fulfillment of resolve. “Now, with the sacred thread reversed, place the food with condiments and ghee in the ancestor-Brahmin’s vessel, topping it with kuśa grass touching the ground. Recite, ‘Om, earth is your vessel,’ and, with both hands upright, take the vessel and say, ‘Om, this is Vishnu,’ placing the Brahmin’s thumb on the food. Scatter sesame, kneel with the left knee, and offer food to the ancestors by name, together with their wives, praying for their satisfaction. Pour water facing south, invoking the carrier of nourishment and requesting that svadhā satisfy the ancestors. “Recite prayers for flawless Śrāddha and fulfillment, then meditate on the radiant Savitṛ, and pray for sweetness in all aspects of life—winds, rivers, herbs, nights and dawns, earth and heaven, trees, the sun, and cows—repeating ‘madhu, madhu, madhu.’ “Invite the Brahmins to enjoy the meal with restraint of speech. After eating, recite the pitṛstotra for healing the seven ailments—deer in Daśārṇa, black antelope in the mountains, chakravāka birds on the autumn island, and swans in the Mānasa lake—who were reborn as learned Brahmins in Kurukṣetra, and ask why they now falter on their journey. “Facing south, with the sacred thread over the left shoulder, release the offering, praying that all ancestors, whether burned, living, or unburned, be satisfied by what is given on earth and attain the highest state. Scatter food mixed with ghee and water over kuśa grass. “Following the Brahmin’s guidance, offer water for rinsing the mouth, recite the Sāvitrī and the three verses of ‘Madhuvāta,’ and offer the remaining food, eating with the desired ones. To the ancestor-Brahmin, say, ‘You are satisfied,’ and when they reply, ‘We are satisfied,’ sprinkle water on the ground, mark a circle and square, and scatter sesame. “In the middle of the line, offer the piṇḍa seat to the father by name, with svadhā. For the grandfather, do likewise, reciting the Sāvitrī and ‘Madhuvāta’ three times, making a piṇḍa of food with ghee and placing it on kuśa grass. Offer water, praying that those who follow may also receive svadhā. Place the piṇḍa vessel face down, join your hands, and pray for the ancestors’ joy and prosperity. Touch water with the left hand, turn away, face north, hold your breath thrice, and salute the six seasons. “Offer flowers with the left hand, praying for unbroken rice and arishta for merit, peace, and nourishment. Facing south, pray for the ancestors’ joy, loosen your garment, and salute them: ‘Ancestors, accept the food given by us.’ View the house, inviting the ancestors to dwell there, and offer garments, pouring water over the piṇḍa with prayers for nourishment. “Pour the remaining water from the vessels over each piṇḍa, invoke the piṇḍa, offer fragrance and other items, and place kuśa grass atop. Pray that those who eat the rice be pleased, addressing Indra as the leader. “Offer water for sipping to the maternal ancestor Brahmins, sprinkle water on the ground, and recite prayers for auspicious waters. Offer flowers, invoking Lakṣmī’s blessings, and present barley and rice, praying for merit, peace, nourishment, and firmness. “Place the gift of sesame-water in the hands of the Brahmin representing the ancestors, praying for inexhaustible offerings for both paternal and maternal lines. Offer blessings for the ancestors’ benevolence, the flourishing of the lineage, the prosperity of benefactors, the continuance of the Vedas, steadfast faith, abundant giving, plentiful food, and the absence of want or begging in the family. “Let harmony prevail. Then, purify the offering place for the arghya. Touch the ancestor-Brahmin with sacred grass, recite the svadhā invocation, and pour water mixed with ghee over the offering, invoking nourishment and immortality. “Place barley-water in the hand of the Brahmin representing the gods, praying for the gods’ pleasure. Give the gift of silver to the Brahmin representing the gods, saying, ‘For the establishment of the śrāddha, I give this silver as a gift to you.’ “Ask if the offerings for the ancestor-Brahmin are complete. Once confirmed, pour milk over the offering and move it. For the guest-Brahmin, turn the vessel upright and recite prayers for wealth, immortality, satisfaction, and the departure of the offerings by divine paths. Pray for the birth of the sacrifice’s offspring, the arrival of all worlds, and the ancestors’ attainment of immortality. Dismiss the gods and ancestor-Brahmins, and distribute remaining offerings to cows and others. “This, Vyasa, is the rite of śrāddha, spoken and recited. It destroys sin, and wherever it is performed, the śrāddha is accomplished. For the ancestors, it brings inexhaustible merit and assured attainment of heaven. When performed on the new moon day, it grants the ancestors the world of Brahma. Brahma continued, “Now, I shall explain the daily śrāddha, as before, with its distinctions. For those of such-and-such lineage, for our fathers and grandfathers, together with their wives, perform the śrāddha with prepared food, arranging the seating and other details as before, but excluding the all-gods. “I will also explain the vṛddhi śrāddha. Upon the birth of a son or seeing his face for the first time, this rite should be performed facing east, with the sacred thread on the right shoulder, using barley, jujube, and sacred grass, worshipping at the place of the gods, and making offerings to the right. “Using the right knee, perform the śrāddha for the increase of such-and-such, for the great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers, named so-and-so, and for the goddesses of the lineage, invoking the Vasus called Satyasaṃjña and all the gods, with prepared food. Do the same for the Brahmin representing the gods and for others. “For the nāndīmukha ancestors—great-grandmothers and maternal ancestors—perform the invocation and offerings similarly, seeking their increase and blessings. “Always seek permission from the god, ancestor, and all-deity Brahmins before performing the śrāddha. Invite all gods to sit on sacred grass and rejoice, whether they dwell in the atmosphere, on earth, or in the fire’s tongue. Offer fragrance and other items, and recite prayers for the assurance of unbrokenness in the rite.