Before proceeding with the Post let me add that the correct spelling of Sraadha is Sradha, no ‘R’.
There is a controversy about Dravidas and Aryans and it was earlier propagated that there was an Evasion of Aryans on the Dravidas.
The Aryan Invasion theory has been proved as a Myth.
Read my Post on this.
There are a couple of views on this.
1.That Dravid means South and indicates the landmass and people living South of Vindhya ranges, India.
The Tamils were one of the Tribes in this Region.
2.Tamils aligned with Sage Viswamitra and fought against Vasishta.
3.Viswamitra banished his sons to Dravida Desa.
I shall be posting on each of this controversial views.
Meanwhile there is an interesting story about Viswamitra and Vasishta.
However there seems to be reference to this in the Puranas.
I am posting this as it contains some important information about Sradha.
“Once Vasistha invited his arch enemy Vishwamitra for a feast on a Srardha day. On the day of Srardha, the departed souls are propitiated.
Brahmins and saints were fed on the day.
The guests are worshipped as the representatives of the departed souls.
Vishvamitra promised to participate on one condition.
He insisted that he must be served with 1008 curries (side dishes).
Vasishta knew what he was up to. He told him that he would inform his wife Arundhati.
Vasishta informed Arundhati the condition laid by Vishwamitra.
She did not bother. On the day of Srardha , Vishwamitra came and sat at the dining hall.
But to his disappointment he saw only 10+ curries on the plate (plantain leaf). When he angrily questioned Vasishta, he told him to put the question to Arundhati as she was in charge of the ceremony.
Before Vishwamitra questioned her, Arundhati recited a popular sloka (couplet) which made Vishwamitra speechless.
What did Arundhati tell him?
कारवल्लि शांत चैव वज्र वल्लि शतत्रयं
पनसं षट् शतंचैव श्रार्धकाले विधीयते
Kaaravalli satam chaiva vajra valli satatrayam
Panasam shat satam chaiva sraardhakaalE VidhiiyatE
“If someone serves at the time of Srardha, karela/bitter gourd that is equal to 100 items, Pirandai that is equal to 300 curry items and the Jack fruit that is equal to 600 items. That is the rule for the ceremony.”
Srardha= ceremony to pay obeisance to the departed souls.
Vajravalli/Pirandai = Cissus quadrangula
Vitis quadrangularis
She served these three vegetable dishes along with 8 more items on the plate.
So it came to 1008 items.
Vishwamitra was happy with the explanation.
Citation.
http://tamilandvedas.com/2014/06/09/arundhati-wins-vishwamitra-defeated/
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