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RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
flesh, and vegetables, as will be noticed. The institution appears to have been part of the ancient ritual, and to have fallen into comparative neglect. The Brahmans of Upper India, who maintain a perpetual fire, and are thence called Agnihotras, are said to observe the Mánsáshtaka; so do the orthodox Saivas and Saktas, and the disciples of Raghunandana in Bengal; but it is usual to substitute cakes of boiled rice flour', inixed with milk and sugar for the meat which was anciently presented, not only at the Ashtaká śráddhas, but, as Manu enjoins, at the periodical śráddhas in general. “Let the Brahman who maintains a household fire, who has performed the funeral ceremonies of his own fainily, repeat the subsequent general śráddha at the conjunction of the moon every month. The wise have called the monthly śráddhas the subsequent, or periodical sráddha, and that is to be offered diligently with excellent flesh.” (B. III, 122. 123.) The time is specified in the Mitákshara, upon the authority of an ancient lawgiver, Aswalayana*. The flesh should be that of a goat or a deer, King Ikshwáku having commanded a large deer to be brought to him for the śráddha at the Athtaká.
1 Boiled in a pot, sthálípáka, as Gobhila says, 7 at स्थालीपाकं कुर्वीत।
* [Gřihya S. II, t. cf. Páraskara's Gr. S. 11, 2.] 2 इक्ष्वाकुस्तु विकुक्षिं वै अष्टकायामथादिशत् ।
मांसमानय श्राद्धाय मृगं हत्वा महावलम् ॥ [Vishnu Pur. IV, 2.]
