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OF THE HINDUS.
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the festivals will receive briefer notices in proportion as they are more or less of a purely local description, and of inferior interest.
MÁNSÁSHTAKA.-Eighth lunar day of the dark half of the lunar month Mágha, about the 20th of January'.--The denomination of this day defines its occurrence, ashtaka meaning eighth it also indicates its purport, mánsa signifying flesh. Accordingly, on this day, the Śráddha, or obsequial offerings of flesh, should be made to the pitris or manes. According to the Pauráńik authorities', there are three days of this nature, in the months severally of Ágraháyana, Mágha, and Phalguna; which is also the specification of Gobhila, as quoted by Raghunandana. But according to the Mitákshará, there are four such ashtakás in the course of the year; there being one on the eighth of the moon's wane of each of the two months of the two seasons of Hemanta and sisira, or the four winter months, when śráddhas are positively enjoined (nitya3). The former authorities direct that different offerings shall be made on the three days, or severally, cakes,
The specification of the date is to be understood as applicable to Bengal, and even there it is subject to occasional variation.
2 The Vishnu Puráňa [III, 14] specifies three altogetherAghan, Mágha, and Phalguna. Raghunandana quotes the Brahma P. for the same. [In the Śráddhaviveka (12, r, 1. 2) Pausha takes the place of Aghan.]
3
अष्टकाश्चतस्रः हेमन्तशिशिर योश्च तुर्णामपर पक्षाणामष्टमी ष्वष्टका CreaT: Mitákshará, 33, r, 1. 16 [ad Yajnav. I, 217].
