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Shloka 4

Śrāddha-bheda-nirūpaṇa: Nitya, Vṛddhi, Nāndīmukha, and Ekoḍḍiṣṭa Procedures

Devanagari script

ततः अमुकवृद्धौ अमुकगोत्राया मत्प्रपितामह्या अमुकदेव्या नान्दीमुख्याः श्राद्धं सिद्धान्नेन युष्मासु मया कर्तव्यमिति प्रपितामहीब्राह्मणामन्त्रणम् / करिष्यामीति तेनोक्ते इत्थमेव प्रमातामह्यादिब्राह्माणमन्त्रणम्

Transliteration

tataḥ amukavṛddhau amukagotrāyā matprapitāmahyā amukadevyā nāndīmukhyāḥ śrāddhaṃ siddhānnena yuṣmāsu mayā kartavyamiti prapitāmahībrāhmaṇāmantraṇam / kariṣyāmīti tenokte itthameva pramātāmahyādibrāhmāṇamantraṇam

Translation

ثمّ، في تلك المناسبة المباركة، لأجل جدّتي الكبرى—السيدة المسماة كذا من غوترا كذا—يجب عليّ أن أقيم نانديموخيا-شرادها (Nāndīmukha-Śrāddha) بطعامٍ مُهَيَّأ (siddhānna) بحضوركم (بوصفكم البراهِمَنة القائمين بالطقس). وهكذا يُدعى البراهِمَنة الممثّلون للجدّة الكبرى. فإذا قالوا: «سنفعل»، فبالطريقة نفسها يُدعى براهِمَنة الجدّة وسائر الجدّات من الأسلاف أيضًا.

Word by Word

ततःthen; thereafter

अमुकवृद्धौon such-and-such vṛddhi occasion

अमुकगोत्रायाःof such-and-such gotra

मत्my

प्रपितामह्याःof (my) great-grandmother

अमुकदेव्याःof such-and-such lady (Devī)

नान्दीमुख्याः(as) nāndīmukhī (a specific śrāddha type)

श्राद्धम्śrāddha

सिद्धान्नेनwith prepared food

युष्मासुfor you / among you

मयाby me

कर्तव्यम्is to be done

इतिthus

प्रपितामहीब्राह्मणामन्त्रणम्invitation of brāhmaṇas for the great-grandmother

करिष्यामिI will do

इतिthus

तेनby him

उक्तेwhen (it was) said

इत्थम्thus

एवindeed; just

प्रमातामही(for) great-grandmother (maternal line)

आदिand others

ब्राह्मणामन्त्रणम्invitation of brāhmaṇas

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, describing śrāddha procedure)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Mata

Timing: On vṛddhi/nāndī auspicious occasion (as specified: ‘amuka-vṛddhau’)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: On an auspicious vṛddhi occasion, perform Nāndīmukha-śrāddha for the great-grandmother (named, gotra specified) with prepared food; invite brāhmaṇas representing her; repeat similarly for grandmother and other female ancestors.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as gratitude and relational wholeness; honoring both paternal and maternal lines supports harmony (saṃskāra-śuddhi) in worldly life.

Application: When performing nāndīmukha/vṛddhi śrāddha, explicitly include female ancestors by name/gotra where known; invite appropriate brāhmaṇas and proceed in correct sequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space with brāhmaṇa representatives for female ancestors

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nāndīmukha/vṛddhi śrāddha subsections detailing maternal-line offerings; Procedural parallels to prior invitation formulas for different ancestor categories

Characters & Entities

Pitṛs (ancestors)

Brāhmaṇas (invited officiants)

FAQs

What is the importance of Nāndīmukha Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Nāndīmukha Śrāddha as an auspicious, rule-bound ancestral rite performed with siddhānna and proper brāhmaṇa invitation, ensuring the ceremony is formally established for the specified ancestor-line.

How does this verse explain the correct method of inviting brāhmaṇas for śrāddha?

It provides a template: name the occasion, specify the ancestor (here, great-grandmother with gotra and name), state the intention to perform Nāndīmukha Śrāddha with prepared food, and invite the brāhmaṇas; upon their assent, repeat the same method for grandmother and other female ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha, keep the sankalpa/invitation clear and specific (ancestor identification, rite type, offering), and follow a consistent, respectful procedure—especially when including maternal-line and female ancestors.