arted.

This word _S_raddha, which meets us here for the first time, is full
of interesting lessons, if only properly understood. First of all it
should be noted that it is absent, not only from the hymns, but, so
far as we know at present, even from the ancient Brahma_n_as. It seems
therefore a word of a more modern origin. There is a passage in
Apastamba's Dharma-sutras which betrays, on the part of the author, a
consciousness of the more modern origin of the _S_raddhas:[306]

"Formerly men and gods lived together in this world. Then the
gods in reward of their sacrifices went to heaven, but men
were left behind. Those men who perform sacrifices in the
same manner as the gods did, dwelt (after death) with the
gods and Brahman in heaven. Now (seeing men left behind) Manu
revealed this ceremony which is designated by the word
_S_raddha."

_S_raddha has assumed many[307] meanings, and Manu,[308] for instance,
uses it almost synonymously with pit_ri_ya_gn_a. But its original
meaning seems to have been "that which is given with _s_raddha or
faith," _i.e._ charity bestowed on deserving persons, and, more
particularly, on Brahma_n_as. The gift was called _s_raddha, but the
act itself also was called by the same name. The word is best
explained by Naraya_n_a in his commentary on the G_ri_hya-sutras of
A_s_valayana (IV. 7), "_S_raddha is that which is given in faith to
Brahmans for the sake of the Fathers."[309]

Such charitable gifts flowed most naturally and abundantly at the time
of a man's death, or whenever his memory was revived by happy or
unhappy events in a family, and hence _S_raddha has become the general
name for ever so many sacred acts commemorative of the departed. We
hear of _S_raddhas not only at funerals, but at joyous events also,
when presents were bestowed in the name of the family, and therefore
in the name of the ancestors also, on all who had a right to that
distinction.

It is a mistake therefore to look upon _S_raddhas simply as offerings
of water or cakes to the Fathers. An offering to the Fathers was, no
doubt, a symbolic part of each _S_raddha, but its more important
character was charity bestowed in memory of the Fathers.

This, in time, gave rise to much abuse, like the alms bestowed on the
Church during the Middle Ages. But in the beginning the motive was
excellent. It was simply a wish to benefit others, arising from the
conviction, felt more strongly in the