t is true that _S_raddhas continue to be performed all over
India to the present day, but we know how widely the modern ceremonial
has diverged from the rules laid down in the old _S_astras, and it is
quite clear from the descriptions given to us by recent travellers
that no one can understand the purport even of these survivals of the
old ceremonial, unless he understands Sanskrit and can read the old
Sutras. We are indeed told in full detail how the cakes were made
which the Spirits wore supposed to eat, how many stalks of grass were
to be used on which they had to be offered, how long each stalk ought
to be, and in what direction it should be held. All the things which
teach us nothing are explained to us in abundance, but the few things
which the true scholar really cares for are passed over, as if they
had no interest to us at all, and have to be discovered under heaps of
rubbish.

In order to gain a little light, I think we ought to distinguish
between--

1. The daily ancestral sacrifice, the Pit_ri_ya_gn_a, as one
of the five Great Sacrifices (Mahaya_gn_as);

2. The monthly ancestral sacrifice, the
Pi_nd_a-pit_ri_-ya_gn_a, as part of the New and Full-moon
sacrifice;

3. The funeral ceremonies on the death of a householder;

4. The Agapes, or feasts of love and charity, commonly
called _S_raddhas, at which food and other charitable gifts
were bestowed on deserving persons in memory of the deceased
ancestors. The name of _S_raddha belongs properly to this
last class only, but it has been transferred to the second
and third class of sacrifices also, because _S_raddha formed
an important part in them.

The daily Pit_ri_ya_gn_a or Ancestor-worship is one of the five
sacrifices, sometimes called the Great Sacrifices,[293] which every
married man ought to perform day by day. They are mentioned in the
G_ri_hya-sutras (A_s_v. III. 1), as Devaya_gn_a, for the Devas,
Bhutaya_gn_a, for animals, etc., Pit_ri_ya_gn_a, for the Fathers,
Brahmaya_gn_a, for Brahman, _i.e._ study of the Veda, and
Manushyaya_gn_a, for men, _i.e._ hospitality, etc.

Manu (III. 70) tells us the same, namely, that a married man has five
great religious duties to perform:

1. The Brahma-sacrifice, _i.e._ the studying and teaching of
the Veda (sometimes called Ahuta).

2. The Pit_ri_-sacrifice, _i.e._ the offering of cakes and
water to the Manes (sometimes c