Sraadham and Bali Tharpanam (Source- sulekha.com)

Sraadham and Bali Tharpanam (Source- sulekha.com)

SRAADHA & THARPANAM-PART 1

Introduction. I am R. Gopala krishan, 64, retired from BSNL as Asst
General Manager. The Information on SRAADHA & THARPANAM furnished here
in is compiled from various nternet sites. The documents referred in
the net sites are quoted as told but not gone through by me for their
authencity. Every effort has been taken not to leave essential points
but to make the reading informative and interesting. Since the subject
matter is lengthy it could not be confined in one or two postings
-it may appear lengthy.

1.1 What is Sraadha?

Sraaddha is a concept survives by repetition. You can look at doing
shraddah as a personal obligation, and also as a commitment to a
concept that has been handed down to us. We are but a link in the long
chain that has come to us over a period of thousands of years. The
word sraaddha itself means performing something with full involvement.

1.2 Sraadha Performance
As long as one has full respect for ones ancestors, the form of
performance is not important. The form of performance itself has

changed a lot in the last few years due the current conditions of our
living.
Of late due to circumstances the Sraadha has been replaced by many
with Annadanam, many supplement a short sraadha procedure with Annadanam
It is also ones responsibility to hand over the torch (as in a relay
race) to the next person. In this respect, actual performance of the

ritual is important if we want to pass on the torch to the next
generation.
Kindly note the ritual of Sraddha not only repays debts towards
deceased ancestors, but also makes it easy to repay debts towards God
and Sages.

1.3 Sraadha for repaying debts for Gods and sages?



Yes. We perform Sraadha on the pithru's thithi or Nakshathra. It
appears in Bengal area they perform Sraadha on Nakshathra. In Kerala
too among Nairs they perform pithru functions based on Nakshathra
During Sraadha we identify the pithru with Gods. To what extent this
identity goes is a matter of research. Some versions suggest they come

as deities themselves and as such continued irrespective of performed
Gaya sraadha giving the reasoning and justification so to continue

sraadha till their life time.


Pururav-Aardrav and Dhurilochan are deities of ancestors' souls. They

are referenced in the ritual of Shraddha.

1.`Shraddha is associated with the benevolent deities Vasu, Rudra and

Aditya of the ancestors' souls. The mantras chanted during the

Shraddha and the rites performed enables one to connect to these

deities.'

2. The deceased person for whom the ritual of Shraddha is being

performed, is considered as a follower of Vasu, his parents are

considered as followers of Rudra and his grand parents are considered

as followers of Aditya. Therefore during Shraddha, the names of

father, grandfather and great grandfather (or mother, grandmother and

great grandmother) are pronounced as representatives of

Vasu-Rudra-Aditya respectively.

If we are identifying simply pithru only in Sraadha in the form of

Gods then the spirit of continuing Sraadha after Gaya sraadhacannot

be elaborated. We have the Mantra Vasu Rudra Aditya "Swaroopaya" -

Swaroopaya require elaborate interpretation in my thinking.



1.3 Gaya Sraadha –a phase end?



However Gaya sraadha according to many is finishing a phase. If not

this theertha sraadha need not be given so much importance. Even to

days busy world many try their best to go to Allahabad, Kasi Gaya and

Rameswaram and perform the sraadha with thinking- It s finishing a phase



1.4 Why do sages come in Sraadha ?



Simple answer- We come from them. When we talk of our Gothram and

pravram we recall them even in Sandhya. Sages are considered to be

many a times hot tempered in comparison to God and due to this nature

they could curse one and thus entrap the embodied soul. This includes

Even Vasishta- When a question about Viswamithra come up he used to

loose control. Refer Harichandra story in this context.



1.5. Why Ancestor debt through Sraddah ?



Debts towards ancestors need to be repaid by actions, it becomes

simple and easy to repay these debts through the ritual of Sraddha

among hindus – a procedure told through our Upanishaths. Hence we

perform it.

By performing the ritual of Sraddha, with the help of the ancestors'

souls one can( performer himself) slowly progress towards reaching

God and Sages and by the virtue of combined support from Vasu, Rudra

and Aditya (Vasu means aspirations, Rudra means dissolution and Aditya

means radiance or action), one can provide momentum to the deceased

father, grandfather and great grandfather and in turn acquire

blessings from God. This in short means performance of Sraadha is not

only for your departed pithrus , Gods and sages but for we too to

reach God. This is another reason told to continue Sraadha even after

performing Theertha sraadha at Gaya.

The term `Sraddha' is completely linked with Maya (The Great Illusion)

and Brahman (the Creator) through the bond of debts that need to be

repaid. Therefore through the ritual of Sraddha one can get rid of the

bonding with others and get liberated in this birth itself under

observer stance of the followers of Lord Vishnu.

The spiritually potent mantras that are chanted during the ritual of

Sraddha have the subtle power of providing momentum to the subtle

bodies of deceased ancestors therefore they can progress to a higher

sub-plane of existence after the ritual is performed

The ritual of Sraddha is necessary so that their journey after their

death is full of comfort and devoid of any distress and that they

acquire momentum, which allows them to progress to a higher sub-plane.

1.6 Glory of Sraadha

If one performs Sraddha on a particular day, date (as per the Hindu

calendar) as per the position of the stars (nakshatra), then apart

from one's duty towards ancestors getting fulfilled, some specific

benefit can also be derived for themselves.

1.7. Who is entitled to perform Sraadha?



The first person to offer Sraadha to a pithru is his son. Ancestors'

soul becomes satisfied only after receiving pinda and water from their

son. In relation to this, in the holy text Brahama Purana it is told

The son protects his ancestors' souls from the Hell named 'Puta'.

Therefore Lord Brahma himself has named him as 'Putra'.

Due to the nonperformance of rituals like pinda shraddha and offering

water to deceased ancestors etc, the ancestors of such people (who do

not perform Shraddha) have to reside in the Hell region. This results

in stagnation and no progress of the descendants. () -

Shrimadbhagwatgita 1.42

Brahmavaivarta Puran says, 'Activities related to deceased ancestors

are more important than those related to God'. Therefore every sacred

ceremony begins with Nandi Shraddha.

Brahma Puran says, 'One who performs the ritual of Shraddha

diligently and in accordance with ones financial state, he satisfies

everyone right from Lord Brahma to the insignificant blade of grass.

No one in the family of the person performing Shraddha remains

unhappy.' (4)

1.8 Evil spirits

If soul of a deceased person wishes that 'someone should perform

Shraddha for me' and if it does not get fulfilled from the expected

descendant, then it becomes unhappy due to non-fulfillment of the

desire. Such soul can transform into an evil spirit (a type of

negative energy) and cause distress to its relatives for not

performing the ritual of Shraddha.

1.9 Sraadha a take and Give account

By performing ritual of Shraddha for a deceased person, the

give-and-take account that exists with that person gets fulfilled,

e.g. if we owe something to a person and he dies before we could repay

him, then by the virtue of performing Shraddha the loan can be repaid.

1.10 Can any problems come up in the family due to non performance of

Sraadha?

Yes. The following problems can be assumed to be caused by ancestors'

souls – regular clashes between the family members, unable to cope up

any family member, unemployment, unable to save any money, serious

illness, unable to get married in spite of all favorable conditions,

unable to cope up with the partner after marriage, unable to conceive,

abortion, giving birth to a physically or mentally handicapped baby

and developing addictions.

It is observed by performing Shraddha one gets relieved from the

distress caused by the deceased ancestors since the deceased ancestors

get satisfied and if they are trapped in a particular region, they get

momentum to progress to a higher sub-planes and in turn the

descendents are able to obtain their blessings.

The benefits derived after performing the ritual of Shraddha are

mentioned in Smrutichandrika and other holy texts

1.11 Do problems in a family are relieved after performing Sraadha?

Yes is the answer. First and for most is belief in the concept. When

we go to a doctor we believe in him.

If you do not believe no medicine prescribed by a doctor can cure a

person. When once you believe and perform Sraadha to your capacity

irrespective of the method of performance it give you a relief

instanteniously. Here I have got my point. If you are well enough(

well in all respects) perform Sraadha with Homam better do it in that

manner. Do not perform in a simple manner. Then you are becoming

misery and cheating yourself. You may have to spent double that money

unnecessarily.

We will continue with different types of Sraadhas in the next write

up.(Sraadha Part2)



In part1 we have seen General aspects of Sraadha. In this part II we

will see different types of Sraadhas.



2.1 How many types of Sraadhas are there?

There are more than 14 types of Sraadhas .The one which we perform

annually on the thithi day in Sothern India is Pithru sraadha. We will

now have a description of other sraadhas

2.2Bhimashtami Shraddha:

If one's wife is not able to conceive or is facing problems of

abortion, then for the well being of the fetus, Shraddha is performed

or offering of water is made to Bhishmacharya, on the eighth day of

the bright fortnight (Bhimashtami) in the Hindu calendar month of Magh.

2.3 Nandi Sraadha

This too is familiar to us. The ritual of Shraddha performed during

the start of any joyous ceremony and performance of any of the 16

samskaras religious rites, and recitation of specific mantras for

success of the ceremony is called Nandi Shraddha. Kindly note Nandi

can be performed not only before Upanayanam but also before Marriage,

Child birth, Anna prasanam etc.

2.4 Parvan Shraddha

Once the deceased ancestors get listed as Parvans, then this shraddha

is performed for them. (Detailed information on Parvan is presented

else where in this write up. Ekparvan (single Parvan), dviparvan

(double Parvan), triparvan (triple Parvan) are the three varieties of

this shraddha.

Mahalay Shraddha and Tirtha Shraddha are the types of Parvan Shraddha.

2.5. Mahalay Shraddha (fortnightly) :

It is a Parvan Shraddha performed starting from the eleventh day of

dark fortnight of Bhadrapad (Hindu calendar month) till the no moon

night. This sraadha too is familiar to most from Tamilnadu. In central

Kerala as far as my knowledge goes it was not receiving attention

2.6 Tirtha Shraddha:

This Sraadha is familiar to most. The ritual of shraddha performed at

Holy places like Prayag or at the banks of a sacred river is termed as

Tirtha Shraddha. While performing Tirtha Shraddha, all the Parvans of

Mahalay are invoked. So our Gaya and kasi Sraadhas and Sraadha at

Rameswaram too coming under this. At least for the benefit of readers

who have not performed theertha sraadha it is told while performing

Sraadha in these places thithi of our pithrus is not looked in to.

Every Brahmin takes efforts to conduct Gaya Sraadha and have a relief

of Satisfaction of an achievement for his pithru.

2.7 Goshthi Shraddha

The Shraddha performed by the group of priests (Brahmins) and scholars

at a holy place with the intention that, `Deceased ancestors' souls

should get satisfied and let happiness and prosperity preside', or

while discussing the topic of Shraddha, if one gets inspired all of a

sudden and performs Shraddha, then such Shraddha is termed as Goshthi

Shraddha.

2.8 Ghruta Shraddha (Yatra Shraddha)

Shraddha performed using ghee (clarified butter), in remembrance of

deceased ancestors, before embarking on a journey to holy places with

the objective of completing the journey without any obstacles is

called Ghruta Shraddha.

2.9 Dadhi Shraddha

Shraddha performed after returning from a journey to holy places is

termed as Dadhi Shraddha.

2.10 Ashtaka Shraddha

Shraddha performed on 8th day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu

calendar month. Ashtaka means the 8th day of bright fortnight of any

Hindu calendar month. During the era of Vedas, the Ashtaka Shraddha

used to be performed specifically on the 8th day of bright fortnight

of Margashirsha, Poush, Magh and Falgun months.

It was a practice to offer vegetables, meat, bondas, sesame seeds,

honey, rice kheer, fruits and underground vegetables to deceased

ancestors.

In this Sraadha Vishvedev, Fire (Agni), Sun, Prajapati, Ratri, Stars

(nakshatra), season (rutu) etc. were considered as deities of Shraddha.

2.11. Daivik Shraddha

Shraddha performed with the objective of obtaining the grace of God is

termed as Daivik Shraddha.

2.12. Hiranya Shraddha

This Shraddha is performed without offering food and only by offering

money (dakshina) to the priests (Brahmins). If food is in scarcity,

then gold, equivalent to four times the cost of the food grains,

should be offered. I think in Kerala Hiranya Sraadha and Hasta

Shraadha is combined and the Brahmins are offered Dakshina and

Plantain and Raw rice. Question of offering gold and all are not

practicable to day.

2.13. Hasta Shraddha

Shraddha performed by offering food to the priests (Brahmins)

designated for Shraddha. If cooked food is not available then the

Shraddha is performed by offering money or dry food grains.

2.14 Aatma Shraddha

Readers may be interested to note such a Sraadha is there. Those

people who do not have children or whose children are atheists, they

should perform Shraddha for themselves when they are alive. The rites

for such Shraddha are explained in the science of spirituality.

2.15 Do we perform all the fourteen types of Sraadhas regularly? Do

the list of Sraadhas is over?

No is the answer. Even though various types of Shraddha are mentioned

above, based on the calendar days, the Shraddha performed for a dead

person from the first day to the eleventh day, monthly shraadha,

Sapindikaran Shraddha, Shraddha performed on one-year completion,

Shraddha performed every year from the second year and Mahalay

Shraddha are the only ones that are commonly practiced.

Reference: Shraddha (importance and scientific explanation) – Volume 1

2.16 What is Pitrutrayi (Trio in Pitars): ?

We had a casual reference to Pitrutrayi in part1. Now we will have a

brief description. Generally son of the dead person has authority to

perform Shraddha for the dead person. In his absence, other options

are explored. The terminology of Shraddha has been prepared assuming

the son as being the person who performs the shraddha. Therefore the

soul of dead person for whom the Shraddha is being performed, is

invoked as `father' (father of the son performing Shraddha). One

generation before, i.e. the father of dead person is referenced as

`Pitamaha' (grandfather of the son performing Shraddha).

The grandfather of the dead person is referred to as `Prapitamaha'

(great grandfather of the son performing Shraddha).

The earlier generations than these are not counted in trios of Pitars

(Pitrutrayi) , because it is assumed that they are liberated. This is a

point for discussion- So after the trio it is to affirm the pithru is

liberated to Vaikunta or Siva lokam or come down to earth as a new born.

2.17.Ways of wearing Upaveetham

This sub heading has brought in for a definite discussion point.

Three ways of wearing the thread (janve) are Savya, Apasavya and

Nivit: The thread should always be worn on the left shoulder. This

style of wearing the thread is known as `savya'. When it is worn on

the right shoulder it is known as `Apasavya'. When worn as a necklace,

it is known as `Nivit'. It is savya for Devas APA saya for pithrus.

Normal wearing is Nivit. How many people wear as Nivit?

About 2 year back I have been to a textile shop in T Nagar Chennai

and found the owner wearing the Upanayanam round the neck. I just

asked why he wears so. He said it is their correct practice. I felt as

Nampoothiries wear only three threads always it may be a different

practice. I wonder stuck since I read just a week later wearing the

Upaveetham around the neck is the correct practice. I understand

most of the Iyers and Iyengars wear normally on the right shoulder.

It is as if at any moment we are at the feet of God- Is not it? How

we have changed it to a practice. It was more convenient- My point is

gradual changes occur every where to suit convenience and we are

adopting. If I recollect in Upanayanam too it is worn in Left shoulder.

2.18 Do a Sasthrikal needed to perform Sraadha by us for guidance?

No is the correct answer. `Ideally, the host should perform the

ritual of Shraddha by himself. However, since we do not know how to

perform it, we get it done through the priest (Brahmin).



My answer is supported by the fact that Srirama performed Sraadha for

Dasaradha by himself in the Vanavasa period. In fact Seetha did it

since Sreerama came late after collecting items. Refer Seetha cursing

falgu river story…



But here one more point comes up. With out believing Seetha Sreerama

conducted again Sraadha for Dasaratha. Pithru Dasaratha appeared and

denied telling he is full and will take from him in next sraadha.

From this we can see how the 7th house kuja dosham in Sreerama chart

worked!!!

2.19 Intersting facts about Pithru sraadha

2.19.1 In case of a joint family, the eldest and earning male person

should perform Shraddha. In case of the unit family, everyone should

perform shraddha independently.

However in Nampoothiri families all brothers join together

irrespective of their family settlement. Refer Parachi petta

Panthirukulam- Pakkanar story….

2.19.2 We follow the concept- Sesame seeds are the favorites of

deceased ancestors' souls. By usage of sesame seeds, the demons do not

obstruct the ritual of Shraddha.

2.19.3 If a particular dead person does not have any relative or a

close person, then it is the duty of the king to perform Shraddha for

that person'.

2.19.4. Normally every year Shraddha should be performed on the date

of death of the person (as per the Hindu calendar and not as per the

English calendar.) If the date is not known and only the month is

known, then in that case the shraddha can be performed on the no moon

night of that month.

If both, the date as well as the month is unknown then the shraddha

can be performed on the no moon night of the Hindu calendar month of

Magh or Margashirsha.

Nairs in Kerala perform Karkitaka vavu bali following this as their

principle. Here as going to tell in the next para women too perform

Bali. It may be interesting among Kerala Nampoothiries married women

too perform bali. They women too observe the Pulai for 10 days un like

iyers and Iyengars after marriage.

It is mentioned that the daughter, wife, mother and daughter-in- law of

the deceased person have the authority to perform Shraddha.

2.20. Time of performing sraadha?

It is a very interesting point. If the day is divided into 5 parts,

then the fourth part is called the `Aparanha' period. This period is

most appropriate for performing shraddha. In simple words after 13-00

we should begin Sraadha. At least after 12-00.

We criticize a vadhayar if he come late even at 11-00. AM. We are

anxious to see the Vadhyar and Brahmin ready by say 10-00 AM. Then we

have the first sign of relief that Sraadha will finish successfully.

If vadhayar or brahmins do not come we make phone calls, send bike or

scooter or even car to pick up. Am I correct Sir? We will have break

of this session here.



In part III we continue to Mahalaya sraadha and a little bit of Tirtha

sraadha and references in Mahabharata etc on Sraadha



3.1 Sraadha on Akshathritheeya day

The holy texts of Puranas say that, on the day of Akshayya Trutiya one

should donate uncooked food (aamanna), a water pot, a fan made of mint

grass, an umbrella, footwear etc with the intension of offering them

to the deceased ancestors' souls the messengers of Lord Yama do not

cause distress to the ancestors' souls.( It infers soul as pitru in

Yama loka)

When clothes and ornaments are donated, the dark, brown eyed, cruel

messengers of Lord Yama having sharp and long teeth do not cause

distress to the deceased ancestors' souls.

3.2Mahalaya Sraddaha and its importance

. If Mahalay Shraddha is performed for the deceased ancestors' souls

during this fortnight, they remain satisfied for the entire year.-

Mahabharat

A sloka in this respect in Mahabharat means that the householder who

does not perform shraddha during the period when the Sun is in the

Virgo sign, how will he earn money and be gifted with a baby boy as he

would have enraged the deceased ancestors' souls?

The abode for deceased ancestors' souls remains vacant till the Sun

moves from Virgo and Libra sign to the Scorpio sign.

The abode for deceased ancestors' souls remaining vacant during this

period implies that the deceased ancestors' souls come closer to their

descendants for blessing them and if Shraddha is not performed, they

give curse to their descendants and return. Due to this it is

important to perform Shraddha during this period.

3.3 Theertha Sraadha- Gaya sraadha

The soul could be freed from the agonies of Hell and sent to Heaven by

performing Gaya-Shraddha within this area. Gaya has been named after

the demon Gaya sura.

Most Hindus visit Gaya to offer pitru sraddha or pindas and pray for

the salvation of their ancestors' souls. on the banks of the Phalgu

around which the ancient town of Gaya was built, is the Vishnupada

temple. It is said to have been built over a footprint of Vishnu on

solid rock.

In the Indian civilization, on the anniversary of the death of one's

father, for example, one is expected to perform a ritual called

sraddha in memory of one's ancestors. Hindus often travel, for the

performance of this ritual, to the ancient city of Gaya. If one can

perform sraddha at Gaya, it is believed that one's forefathers will be

liberated from their spirit-bodies.

One remembers that Khudiram, the father of Sri Ramakrishna, was at

Gaya performing the rituals associated with the veneration of his

ancestors when he experienced the dream indicating the birth in his

family of a divine child.

3.4 Do sanyasi perform Sraadha?

No I s the answer after becoming a sanyasi.. When one takes the vow

of sannyasa one cuts oneself off forever from one's physical

descendance; but before one does so, one respectfully offers a long

and complex sraddha observance of respect to those who have given one

one's birth and body. This is a form of service to those to whom one

owes much.



3.5 What are the details of the initial sraddah performed after a

persons death?



The Sraadha is a ceremony to offer prayers of loving homage to the

departed. This is performed on the tenth, fifteenth, twentieth or

thirtieth day after death.



The days chosen will depend on the custom of the community. This

ceremony may be performed at home. Relatives and friends are invited

and then later, served a meal. The Sraadha is also performed annually

by the son or heir of the deceased.



3.6 What is the Period of Pitirpaksha?



The fifteen days of the dark half, the second half of the Hindu month

of Bhadarvo is known as Pitri Paksh (shraadh period). Hindus pay

obeisance to their ancestors through a religious ceremony.



Many families organises religious functions like Shreemad Bhagwat

Saptah during this period.



The second half of the month of Bhadarvo, by the Hindu calendar was

observed as Pitrupaksh (literally a fortnight devoted to the ancestors).



People could perform the Shraadh rites on any day during this period.

3.7 Do the pitrupaksh is in auspicious for marriage etc?

No is the answer. This period is sometimes also known inauspicious

month.

Since during this fortnight, you were paying obeisance to your

ancestors - basically remembering the departed souls - it was

considered inauspicious to start something new, or buy something new

during this period. It should,



3.8 What is kriya?

According to the theory of transmigration, the individual is to take

another birth after his/her death. Shraddh (Kriya) is the name of the

ceremonies performed by relatives to help the departed soul. I have

heard nampoothiries of Kerala using the word Kriya frequently.



The performance of kriya adds to that soul's happiness in the new

birth. So it is the imperative duty of everybody to perform Shraadh

ceremony for the departed soul.



According to our puranic shastra, the soul in its disembodied form

hovers about its original and familiar places for ten days.



The soul is fully embodied on the eleventh day. It starts on its

journey to the judgement seat of Lord Yama, the God of death.



The son performs the Kriya ceremony on the twelfth or the thirteenth

day offerings.



The soul is sustained on its onward march to the judgement seat by

the libations (an act of pouring water) offered to it by the son. In

the Ramayan, Bharat did it on the twelfth day of Dashrath's cremation

ceremony



3.9 Reference to poor feeding in Maha bharat- Actually told as

addition to Sradha



The soul which passes out of the body after death is termed `Preta',

one that is bound on its onward march to the Beyond.



The difficulties can be removed and the journey is rendered easy and

comfortable by the oblations (tarpan) One should offer oblations of

water unto one's Pitris, naming them all of the deceased relatives and

offerings given by the son of the deceased (in the absence of son, a

male who may act as a son) during the soul's journey and by feeding

the pure, the poor, learned sant/swamis and feeding the sacred cows.

("The Ritual of Shraadh" From the Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva,

Section LXXXIV)



When the Jiva (soul) undergoes transmigration and takes another birth

after leaving this physical body, it is necessary that we should

perform Shraadh ceremony. These rites (performance of Shraadh, Tarpana

and other religious rites) should not be neglected



3.10 When do the departed soul become pithru and what happen to pithru?



The soul leaves off its Preta on this 11th day. Soul is raised to the

status of a Pitru or Ancestor. Pitrus are forefathers (Ancestor) who

dwell in the Pitruloka. There are three stages in the ancestral life

viz., father, grandfather and great grandfather, and mother,

grandmother and great grandmother. Some times a priest who is

performing the Shraadh ceremony may go back up to seven generations.



What happen to the pithru? He who has done good actions for a worthy

cause on this earth-life becomes united with his ancestors in the

Pitri-loka and lives with them.

Those who have given up the performance of Shraadh, Tarpana and other

religious rites on account of wrong influence, ignorance and egoism

have done great harm to their ancestors and themselves.

The Gita and the Upanishads clearly bear testimony to the fact that

the performance of Shraadh is very important

In the ninth chapter of the Gita, Lord Krishna has made it very clear

that those Good persons who perform sacrifices to reach out to heaven

will attain the world of enjoyments.



3.11 Is it a delusion to think that the Pitrus will get more peace by

spending money and conducting elaborate sraadha?



Yes. It is a delusion to think that the Pitrus will get more peace by

spending money. Money does not count for the ease of the Pitrus, but

the intensity of faith (Bhava) with which the Shraadh is performed counts



3.12 Do the immersing of ashes in river/ sea has any sanctity?

Since the river moves constantly towards the sea where all the waters

of its various tributaries mingle, it is believed that it will also

carry the ashes of the dead to their final resting place,

reintegrating them once again with the creator, the ocean from which

all life began

In Hinduism, the river Ganga is personified as a goddess. People

travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of their kin in the

waters of the Ganga; this immersion also is believed to be deemed

worthy. This tradition is dating back thousands of years.



Apart from River Ganges, ashes are also scattered on the waters of

many India's sacred rivers, like Yamuna and Godavari, Brahmputra, etc.

at places like Nasik, Vridavan, Somnath, etc.



According to the principal of Hinduism, followed by the Krishna

movement, the immersion or scattering of ashes on the sacred river is

a symbol of the soul's journey towards uninterrupted journey to salvation.

As the Ganges brought to life the ashes of Bhagiratha's ancestors, so

all Hindus believe that if the ashes of their dead are deposited in

the river, they will be ensured a smooth transition to the next life,

or freed from the cycle of death and rebirth

3.13 Do the sraddah and tharpan serve as food to the pitru?

Yes. As we have different forms of diets(foods) , souls are survived

and revived by the diets. Their form of diet is with chanting by the

successors who still exist in the materialistic existence. They are

called as Sraadhaa Karmas or Pithru Karyas. With stipulated intervals

and anniversaries the performances of Sraadhaas will give a boost to

the souls of eternal world. They roam, think, and feel bad & happy.

They bless. But all the feelings they posses are based on the Sraadhaa

karmas (Pithru Karyas) their successor performing and good humanly

nature they follow and stipulated ritual they perform

3.14 What are in the Vedas about pithru?

A common human may not be in a position to understand the set up of soul-creative explained in Vedas but scholars understand and get convinced with every logic of system.

In Vedas it is clearly mentioned that gratitude is in the form of Sraadhaa Karmas and rituals. Not only eternal souls are benefited with Sraadhaa Karmas and rituals performed by their successors but also all the successors along with kith or kin and their successors will also be prospered.

An eternal soul's one day is equivalent to our one-year time. That is  why anniversary (in our terms) is taken as day for Pithru karyas i.e.

Sraadhaas enabling the soul to have food (as discussed). I do

recollect one of the esteemed members have contradicted this point telling it as once in 30 days a day for pithru. Sirs, these all concepts. I either disagree with him nor fully agree with this version. This appears to me as more logical.

3.15 What do we get by performing sraadha?

The answer furnished in a website is reproduced below:-

By performing Pithru karyas, one get Punyam, not only for themselves and also for one's Pithru Devata's (eternal souls). So performing Pithru karyas by the successors has become very very important.

He is a true son who respects the words of his parents,One who offers sumptous food to as many persons as possible on the annual cermony day, And the one who offers Pinda in Vishnu Paada at Gaya.

3.16 Which direction is for the pithrus? Do the sraadha can be dispensed after performing at Badiri or Gaya?

"APA - HATAASURA RAKSHAAH". Chanting this sloka, Tila (gingelly) is sprinkled at the start of the cermony. This should be done facing the south because Pithrus come from that direction. Even after performing Pithru Karya at Badri, the performance of Annual Cermony of parents every year as usual is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. Here this session is given a break. In the next session 1V we will start with the first performer of Sraadha ceremony. Do the subject and presentation interesting?
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