Rites on the Eleventh Day, after a Mendicant's Death

Subrahmanya said

When the eleventh day comes, certain rites are prescribed for mendicants. Tiger among sages, out of affection I will tell you of them. The one performing the rite speaks words of blessing, cleans and smears the platform, and sprinkles water five times, moving from west to east. He sits facing north and draws a mandala. The central square is no longer than one pradesha, and inside it he draws in order a dot, a triangle, a hexagon and a circle. A conch is set in front and worshipped by the rules. After pranayama he takes his sankalpa and worships Sureshvari, then the five divinities already described as messengers. He throws darbha grass to the north and does not touch it again. Starting from the west, the mandalas are worshipped along the path of shadutthapana, and flowers are heaped inside them like seats with the words, "Aum. Hrim. I invoke the messenger goddess in the form of Agni. I bow." Each mantra ends with "namah," and the gestures of installation are shown lovingly for each. Anga-nyasa is done with "Hram," "Hrim" and so on.

They are imagined holding a noose and a goad, with hands in the gestures of fearlessness and boon-giving, shining like moonstone. The shadows of their red rings tinge every direction. They wear red garments and their hands and feet are like lotuses. Each has three eyes and a lovely face like the full moon. Their crowns are set with rubies and marked with the crescent moon, their earrings brush their cheeks, and their breasts are full. With necklaces, armlets, bangles and girdles they are enchanting, slender in the waist and heavy in the hips. Ruby anklets chime at their lotus feet, and their toe rings and girdles are beautiful. For a person who is like Shiva, what favour could these images fail to give? For one who is like Mahesha they accomplish everything. These five images are accepted as able to bestow every favour. They are divine and carry out all tasks for the good of others. So he meditates on them as the ones who carry out the favours of Shiva and Shivaa.

With drops from the conch he offers water for their feet, places water for rinsing in their hands and arghya on their heads, and imagines bathing them with conch water. He offers red divine garments and upper cloths, gifts of diadems and other things, and ornaments. He offers sandalwood, unbroken rice and very fragrant, pleasing flowers. With great joy he gives incense and lamps with ghee-soaked wicks. Reciting Pranava and "Hrim" first he says, "I offer everything," ending with "namah," and presents sweet milk rice mixed with honey, ghee, sugar, cakes, plantains and molasses, each article on its own plantain leaf, sprinkled with water to "Bhuh Bhuvah Svah." The food is offered with "Aum. Hrim. Svaha," and with "namah" drinking water is given with much affection.

Then, best of sages, the divinities are released with great love. The place is purified from the east, and a handful of water for rinsing and arghya is given, with betel leaf, incense and lamps. He circles them, prostrates, joins his palms above his head and prays: "May the illustrious mothers be pleased. The mendicant longs to reach Shiva's feet. Protect him so that he reaches the lotus feet of Paramesha." With this prayer they are sent back to wherever they came from. The remains of the offering are collected and given to maidens, or to cows, or thrown into water, and never distributed in any other way.

For a mendicant the parvana rite is performed, never the ekoddishta. Now I will describe the parvana shraddha, which is beneficial. The one performing it bathes, does pranayama, wears the sacred thread and holds himself in check. He puts a ring of darbha grass on his finger and says, "This is an auspicious tithi, I will perform the parvana shraddha," and takes his sankalpa. Darbha is thrown to the north and used as a seat. He touches water, sits reverently and cleans his limbs. He invites four brahmanas devoted to Shiva and firm in their vows, saying, "You stand for the Vishvadevas; I seek your favour in performing these rites," and "You are the atman, the antaratman, the paramatman." Full of devotion and love he touches their feet, washes them, and seats them facing east. They are adorned with perfumes and fed in Shiva's presence.

The ground is smeared with cow dung and darbha spread with the tips to the east. He does pranayama and resolves, "I will offer pinda." He thinks of three mandalas as atman, antaratman and paramatman and worships them. Then, using the fourth case, he offers the pindas with "I am offering the pindas," and gives water with kusha grass according to accepted norms. He rises, circles and prostrates, and gives the brahmanas their fee. At the same spot and on the same day, offerings are made to Narayana, for it is said that Vishnu must be worshipped everywhere for protection. A great worship of Vishnu is done and sweet milk rice offered. Twelve brahmanas learned in the Vedas are invited, worshipped as Keshava and the others with perfumes, flowers and unbroken rice, and given footwear, umbrellas and garments. They are pleased with many kind and auspicious words. Reciting "Bhuh Svaha, Bhuvah Svaha, Svah Svaha, Aum," he spreads darbha with the tips to the east and offers the sweet milk rice as an oblation. Lord among sages, so I have told you the excellent rites of the eleventh day. Brahmana, now listen lovingly to the twelfth.