By M H Gopalakrishnan

12 Questions and answers On Shradha (पि�त्र्कर्म� pitrkarma)

(1) When the ancestors who are dead are born in other bodies, how can the offerings now made be of any use to them?

There are two aspects to PITRI POOJANAM A – The departed ancestors are benefited and are helped to raise to

auspicious worlds, where they live like demy Gods for long (Of course thereafter they will have to get back to this earth where the benefit accumulated by their own effort or by their sons etc. get exhausted or get terminated.

B – The son also get immense benefit by PITRI POOJANM

The ancestors get born in other bodies ONLY when the inflow of benefits stops – when the offerings now made – stop.

If a man before dyeing, does a good deed gets the benefit.

The need for doing PITRI POOJANAM by the son is needed so long as the son lives.

Also the statement often repeated that after Gaya Sradham, annual “sradham need not be performed” is not a fact but is only an exaggerated praise of Gaya Srdham. Hence continue to do Sradham.

(2) When brothers perform Shraddham in different places, how do the invoked Pitris attend the ceremonies in different places simultaneously?

Departed ancestors - are capable of ( ghosts also) transcending geographical space and time.

(3) If the mantras repeated during Sraddham will take the offerings to the departed souls in various places, can we adopt the same course in sending materials to our relations living in distant places in this world.

This question of Atheists who do not believe in scriptures can not understand this.

Sastras deal with subjects and things and not with knowledge by five senses of human. The Sastras are only authority

Note: This question was asked by Jabali to Rama in Ramayana so this is not any new question

(4) How can the act of one be of use to another when each has to enjoy the result of his own karma only?

The assumption in the question – that the benefit go to the doer and not to another – is correct ( Ref. Valmiki’ s story – He was a decoit – before becoming a sage) But there are exceptions. Well known are –

Samskaras like Jaathakarma, Naamakarma - Cowlam etc – upto VRITHA SAMAAPTI ( Just before marriage –done by boy’s father their benefit go to the son. From Marriage, the son is on his own.

Similarly, the sradham done by the son – their benefit go to the departed ancestors.

So also the benefit of Karmas performed by the priests go to the YAJAMAANA - Once the priests receive the Dakshina.(Hence the importance of giving Dakshina).

(5) Is there any difference between the omission of funeral ceremonies by one who has inherited the wealth of the departed person and another who did not get any of his assets? The funeral related duties are mandatory to the sons and

JNATIS (blood relations) and are prescribed in detail “what “ for each. There is no option. This has no relation, also to how the parent and sons behaved before the death of the father. Also, the father on his part, while having discretion on the distribution of self earned wealth, according to current law, has no discretion on the distribution of ancestral property. This is the Law.

Son’s duty cannot change just because there was an injustice in the distribution of wealth, by the father in the will. Also all quarrels end with death.

“MARANA THANI VAIRANI “ Hence Rama asks Vibhishana (only survivor of the family) to perform Apara Karma to RAVANA.

(6) What is the basis for finding out persons on whom we may invoke the Pitris?

The Boktha are to be a. Well learned in Vedas b. They should be of the same Gotra c. They should be having Shikai

Now a day it is impossible to find or fulfill these conditions)

Fully Qualified priests do not agree to be Boktas.

(7) When we offer the same kind of cooked rice in fire for all depart ed souls, how do they benefit thereby when they may be in different constitutions?

What we offer gets transmuted into what is good for the PITRIS where ever they are.

(8) What becomes of our offerings if the departed souls have attained moksha?

In Bhagavatham, Lord Narasimha specifically answers this – to Prahlada – your father having been killed by me, I took him on my lap – I put my hands inside his body – has gone to supreme abode. But you as his son, do perform all prescribed Aparakarma.

 

(9) We are asked to feed Brahmanas, well-versed in Vedas after in voking the Pitris to appear in their constitutions? Supposing such are not available why not we have others?

(10) If Sraddhas are necessary for the nutrition of our deceased ancestors, how is it we are asked to perform Sraddha only annually?

Our one year is one day for PITRIS. So they get fed daily if annually sradham is done.

(11) How do we benefit by the Sraddhas performed by our descen dants of our previous lives?

Sradham is related to this body. So, when those who are in PITRILOKAM or auspicious world, the fruits of Sradham performed by authorized relations / descendents, related to the body before death, only reaches the pitris and ancestors. Once they are reborn in the earth, the relation with the descendents of the previous birth gets snapped. But those authorized persons do get the benefit of having performed Sradham.

(12) What are the various kinds of Sraddhas and their relative importance?

It was explained that sradha means the deed done / to be done with faith and devotion in relation to departed ancestors. Hence there are many SradhasOfferings in the fire –

Offerings of water – Tharpanam Offering of Bhojanam to Brahmins – invoked as ancestors after

washing their feet and offering them a decent cloth. Other types – Sradham to those of our ancestors

( not parents, their parents or grandparents) who remain as ghosts and are roaming about without water and food –

Offering is done by squeezing the water of the VASTRAM of KARTHA By Vyasa pindam ( Crow) after feeding Boktas By squeezing the tuft of wet hair

Contd:

NOTE: Immediately after the death, the body is purified and decorated. The body then becomes Havis for the Yagna to be performed by the son.(Hence no eye donation if vedic Aparakarma is performed).After putting the fire – Aupasana fire – on the body the following are given in charity.

a lamp – to remove darkness. vastram – to remove nakedness. Bronze vessel and spoon and rice for quenching hunger A tumbler / a chombu of water for drinking water

Function on 13th day – Griha Sudhi Homam is NOT part of Aparakarma. 13th day function is purification of the place, where death took place.