In the sacred tradition, there are certain times throughout the year that shine with special potency for honoring the ancestors. Among these, the new moon of Phālguna, the eleventh day of Pauṣa, the tenth of Āṣāḍha, and the seventh of Māgha are especially auspicious. Likewise, the eighth day of the dark fortnight in Śrāvaṇa, the full moon of Āṣāḍha, the full moons known as Kārtikī and Phālgunī, and the fifteenth bright day of Jyeṣṭha are all marked as powerful occasions. On these days, acts of reverence beginning with the manvantaras bestow inexhaustible merit upon the giver. Even something as simple as water mixed with sesame, offered with sincere devotion to the ancestors, is considered highly effective. When performed with care, such a śrāddha brings a thousand years of benefit to the ancestors. This is a secret teaching, especially potent during the fasts of Vaiśākha and the great festival of Mahālaya. The śrāddha should be offered with understanding in places of sanctity—temples, cow-pens, islands, gardens, homes, and always in clean, secluded spots. On the day before or after the ritual, one should invite brāhmaṇas who are self-controlled, of good conduct, character, virtue, noble lineage, and pleasing appearance. For divine rites, two brāhmaṇas are sufficient; for ancestral rites, three; or one each in both cases. Even if one possesses great wealth, the offering should not be excessive. The ritual begins with the worship of the Viśvedevās, using fresh flowers and proper seating. Two vessels are filled and placed on purified darbha grass. Reciting the mantra 'Śanno devī', water is poured; or, with the mantra 'Yavosi', barley is poured. After worshipping with fragrance and flowers, these offerings are presented to the Viśvedevās. Invoking them with mantras such as 'Viśvedevāsa', barley is scattered with the words: "You are the king of grains, O barley, mixed with honey and belonging to Varuṇa." After this worship, fragrance, and oblations, the ancestral rite begins. A seat of darbha grass is prepared, and three vessels are worshipped. First, they are purified with pavitras, then water is poured with the recitation of 'Śanno devī', and sesame is placed while reciting 'Tilosi', again offering fragrance and flowers. The vessels may be made of wood or leaves, or of silver, or even of materials from the sea. For the ancestors, vessels of gold, silver, or copper are considered proper, and even hearing, seeing, or gifting silver is praised. When water is offered with faith in silver vessels or those adorned with silver, the merit becomes inexhaustible. Even today, among vessels for the ancestors, one adorned with silver is supreme and dear to them, as silver is said to have arisen from the eye of Śiva. Thus, having chosen the vessels according to one's means, without envy, darbha grass is placed in the hand while reciting 'Yā divyeti', along with the ancestor's name and lineage. Having declared, "I will invoke the ancestors," and receiving assent, the invocation is made with the Ṛgvedic mantra, 'Uśantas tvā tathā yantu'. Reciting 'Yā divyeti', arghya is offered, followed by fragrance and other offerings. After presenting a cloth with darbha grass, shelter is offered first. The offering is placed in the ancestral vessel, set down facing north, and a seat for the ancestors is established before serving the offerings. As before, the fire ritual is performed without envy, and the offerings are brought with both hands. While reciting 'uśantastv', darbha grass is especially offered with the hand, along with various excellent vegetables and foods. Rice mixed with curd, milk, cow's ghee, and sugar pleases all the ancestors for a whole month, as declared by Padmaja. With fish meat, satisfaction lasts for two months; with deer meat, three; with sheep's meat, four; with bird meat, five months. With boar meat, the highest satisfaction lasts for six months; with meat from the seven-hoofed, seven months; and with goat meat, eight months. The meat of the spotted deer brings nine months' satisfaction; boar and buffalo meat, ten months. Hare and tortoise meat satisfy for eleven months; cow's milk or milk-rice, for a whole year. Pork brings fifteen months' satisfaction, and rhinoceros meat, twelve years. Black nightshade and swordfish meat bring endless satisfaction; and whatever is mixed with honey—cow's milk, curd, or milk-rice. The ancestors, the former gods, declare that what is given in this way is inexhaustible. One should have Vedic recitations, ancestral rites, and all the Purāṇas performed. Hymns to Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the Sun, and Rudra, as well as hymns to Indra, Īśa, Soma, and the Pavamānas, should be recited according to one's ability. The Bṛhat and Rathantara Sāmans, the Jyeṣṭha Sāman, the Raurava, the Śānti chapter, and the Madhu Brāhmaṇa should also be recited, along with the Maṇḍala Brāhmaṇa and whatever else brings satisfaction. All this is for the benefit of the brāhmaṇas and oneself. The study of the Mahābhārata, most dear to the ancestors, should be undertaken. After the brāhmaṇas have eaten, food, water, and other offerings should be presented. Food suitable for all castes should be brought respectfully, and the leavings scattered on the ground in front of those who have eaten. One then prays: "May those beings in my lineage who have been burned by fire, and those who have not, be satisfied by what is given on the earth, and, being satisfied, attain the highest state." For those who have neither mother nor father, nor kin nor friend, nor food, may this food given on earth satisfy them and lead them to union with their proper state, wherever they may be. For those who died unsanctified, who renounced, who shared in the family, and those entitled to the leavings, offerings should be scattered on darbha grass as their seat. Water should be offered for the satisfaction of the ancestors, once, at the scattering, even on ground smeared with cow dung, urine, or water. Carefully, darbha grass is placed with their tips to the south, according to rule, and rice balls are prepared as prescribed in the ancestral rite, following all the procedures. Thus, the ritual is fulfilled, honoring the ancestors and ensuring their satisfaction and highest attainment.