pachai maamalai pol mene

Showing posts with label pitrukaryams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pitrukaryams. Show all posts

Friday, June 12, 2026

Deepavali and Tarpanam

 



If there is Sradham on Deepavali day in Amavasya Thithi, Should / Can the Grihasth take Narakachaturdasi snanam?
My take on it

The acharam now seen is that the deepavali snananam etc are performed early and after giving some time the kartha and connected people take another bath empty the kitchen and observe the pitrukaryam.

See, Deepavali is just a Loukika karyam and the performance of pitru karyam takes precedence. Some shastras even would indicate that a sort of special obligation something like aashaucham but not aashaucham happens when pitrus visit and so no other observation is possible.

The process of pitru karyam starts even on the previous day of the sraddham.

Therefore, sticklers to oid methods might even avoid Deepavali celebration if Shraddham intervenes.

Shraddam is a duty.. Deepavali is only a celebration. It is not like Sandhyavandanam or aupasanam .

In our house the persons doing amavasa tarpanam if Amavasai comes on deepavali day would not do abhyanga taila snanam at all. That is observed by my grandfather my father and me too

I do not want to argue or fight with web shastrigals

Friday, September 19, 2025

thoughts on Mahalaya Amavasya



๐Œ๐š๐ก๐š๐ฅ๐š๐ฒ๐š ๐€๐ฆ๐š๐ฏ๐š๐ฌ๐ฒ๐š..
๐“๐ก๐ž ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐š๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐œ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ž๐ ๐›๐ฒ ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ.
๐“๐ก๐ž ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฒ๐š๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐œ๐š๐ง ๐š๐œ๐œ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐›๐ฌ๐ž๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐š๐ฒ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ž๐œ๐ž๐๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ญ๐จ๐จ ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐œ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ž๐ ๐›๐ฒ ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐š๐ง๐ ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ.
๐„๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐š ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐š ๐ ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฎ, ๐ข๐ง ๐ฌ๐จ๐œ๐ข๐š๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ž๐๐ข๐š.
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐š๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ง๐จ๐›๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐š๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐จ๐œ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐‡๐ข๐ง๐๐ฎ ๐ก๐š๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐š๐ฅ.
๐“๐ก๐ž ๐ญ๐š๐ซ๐ฉ๐š๐ง๐š๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ข๐๐ž๐š ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐จ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฐ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐๐ž๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐š๐ง๐๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐š ๐ฆ๐š๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž.
๐”๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐š๐ง๐ฑ๐ข๐ž๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ฒ ๐๐จ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ ๐จ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ž๐ฏ๐ž๐ง ๐š๐Ÿ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ฒ ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐๐ž๐š๐ญ๐ก.
( ๐Ž๐Ÿ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐ฐ๐ž ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ž๐ฏ๐ž๐ง ๐œ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ž๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ž๐ง ๐ฐ๐ž ๐๐จ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐š๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ข๐œ๐ข๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐š๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ž๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ฒ ๐๐จ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ซ๐ฏ๐ž ๐ž๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž ๐ฐ๐ก๐ž๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ฒ ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐š๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž- ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐œ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ž๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฒ-- ๐›๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ซ๐š๐ง๐œ๐ž ๐š๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐š๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ฌ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ž๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ)
๐ƒ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐ ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ.
๐Ž๐ฎ๐ซ ๐š๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ž๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ซ๐ž๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ซ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ซ๐š๐ง๐œ๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ž ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐ž๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ญ๐ž๐.
๐–๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ซ ๐จ๐›๐ฅ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ž๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐ญ๐ž๐š๐œ๐ก๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ, ๐Ÿ๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐š๐ง๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐ฐ๐ž ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž.
๐ˆ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐š ๐ ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐œ๐š๐ซ๐ž.
๐ˆ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐š ๐๐ž๐œ๐ฅ๐š๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐š๐Ÿ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฅ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก.
๐ˆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐ข๐Ÿ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐œ๐š๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฐ๐ž๐ซ๐ž ๐จ๐ซ ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐š๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ž, ๐ฐ๐ž ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐š๐๐๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ž๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐  ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž๐ฌ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ.
๐ˆ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐š๐ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ž๐›๐š๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ž๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ž๐š๐ซ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐Ÿ๐ญ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐š๐ง๐œ๐ก๐š๐ค๐š๐ญ๐œ๐ก๐š๐ฆ, ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ž๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ž ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฅ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐š๐ฅ, ๐ฅ๐ž๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐๐ž๐ซ ๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐›๐š๐ฌ๐ข๐œ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ฆ๐š๐ค๐ž๐ฌ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ž๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐๐ž๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐š๐ง ๐›๐ž๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ.

Monday, September 08, 2025

greatest devotion, utmost love and keenest attention or alacrity for sraaddham



เคถ्เคฐाเคฆ्เคงं เคจाเคฎ เค…เคฆเคจीเคฏเคธ्เคฏ เคคเคค् เคธ्เคฅाเคจीเคฏเคธ्เคฏ เคตा เคฆ्เคฐเคต्เคฏเคธ्เคฏ เคช्เคฐेเคค เค‰เคฆ्เคฆेเคถेเคจ เคถ्เคฐเคฆ्เคงเคฏा เคค्เคฏाเค—ः
ล›rฤddhaแน nฤma adanฤซyasya tat sthฤnฤซyasya vฤ dravyasya preta uddeล›ena ล›raddhayฤ tyฤgaแธฅ
from Mitakshari commentary of Vijnaaneshwara for Yajnavalkya smriti

While introducing the subject of Sharaaddham in his Mitakshari commentary of Yajnavalkya Smriti, the scholar Vijnaaneshwara defines Sraddham as above

Sraddham is the ritual or process of providing or offering sumptuous food to the departed elder, with most affectionate and sincere remembrance of such departed kin (and perhaps his elders too). The Conduct of Sraddham can be through offering eatables, food ready to eat, or as substitute for such eatables, one could offer money or valuables of matching value and worth. Moreover, such offer should be by way of relinquishment in favour of the one to whom we offer such food or wealth. The kartha should make the offering as irrevocable and he should make it with the greatest devotion, utmost love and keenest attention or alacrity.

Mitakshari is not merely a commentary on spirituality. It is the greatest treatise on Hindu Law even to this day.

k v ananthanarayanan

เคถ्เคฐाเคฆ्เคงं sharaaddham เค…เคฆเคจीเคฏเคธ्เคฏ eatable, cooked, ready to eat เคคเคค् ots เคธ्เคฅाเคจीเคฏเคธ्เคฏ substitute and equivalent เคตा or เคฆ्เคฐเคต्เคฏเคธ्เคฏ money, valuable item เคช्เคฐेเคค of the dead person เค‰เคฆ्เคฆेเคถेเคจ fondly and affectionately keeping in mind เคถ्เคฐเคฆ्เคงเคฏा with great care and devotion เคค्เคฏाเค—ः relinquishing, making gift irrevocably เคจाเคฎ indeed

Monday, August 18, 2025

who should perform sraaadham

 

All the sons have to perform Sraddham, individually. The sons can perform it jointly only if there is no partition and there is sharing of kitchen or hearth. It is not correct to presume that the younger brothers can join the elder brother for conducting Sraddham. Even if two brothers are living in the same house in different portions cooking separately, they have to perform Sraddham independently. There is a slender and unsubstantiated loukeeka view that if the mother is alive and the father gone, all the sons can gather at the mother’s place and do Sraddham. When a son dies, the duty of performing Sraddham abates with him, but his son of the deceased, will be invoking the paternal grandfather in Rudra roopa, the second generation, while performing Sraddham for his own father. During Sapindeekaranam, the great great grandfather will be bidden adieu with honour as Vriddha pitaamaha.

Sunday, June 08, 2025

gothra rules, pitu karyams

 



Our gothra rules are essentially patrilineal.. And our conduct is governed by sutras.. Sroutha, Dharma, Grihya and Sulabha of various sages. For example the four sutras prescribed for the Yajurveda smarthas who form the majority of Palakkad and Tamil Iyers, are those of Apastamabha.. Another sootram very near to Apastamabha is Bodhayana.. Which also relates to Yajurveda.

In general there are two types of relatives in patrilineal order.. The father, grandfather, the great grandfather and their horizontal male siblings in general would constitute Sapindas.. And at some stage these people will be sharing pindams. This relationship is very close. Then comes the samaanodhakas or dayadhis.. ( considered in a loose way) who can extend up to seven generation.. [And even more generations according to some sages Manu says Sapindas is seven generations up and down, and samanodhaka is when, even belonging to the same gothram, the generation gap is so huge that the name of the common ancestor is not known.. ( here the common ancestor is not the pravaram)]

The sapindas, and if possible the samanodhakas too form a joint family, and when some death occurs, they are all expected to be in grief and they are supposed to gather together under one roof and kitchen nearest to where the Paashanam ( the stone) invoking the dead persons preta is invoked.. The family is supposed to observe ten days pula or theettu, and on the tenth day, in addition to the sons of the deceased, all the relatives upto seven generation are expected to offer water drenched in clothe and thilam at the pit where the pashanam is placed.. The people of lesser age than the deceased should have vapanam or haircut too.
So the rules for the paternal relatives are very clear-cut;
For relatives from the maternal side, no tarpanam is done. No vapanam.. and the maximum days of aashoucham is three days.. The period may be less for cousins.. These are also prescribed in shastras..
Most of the rules are prescribed by shastras, but many such rules have been relaxed by great souls like Vaidyanatha Deekshita.
Now we may not be able to reach scholars who have mastered the sootras of Apastamaba etc.. But we regulate our conduct according to the practices established by traditions and this may vary from family to family .. But the basic rules are the same.
the attasradham or aabdeekam is considered equivalent to sapindeekarana sradham.. and it is a part and parcel of the Shodasha Sraadhams..
That way it has to be performed by the eldest.. who did the sapindeekaranam..
But now the attasradham is only conducted as a parvana sradham.. So the argument that brothers living taking food in different kitchens should do sradhams separately is also valid.

But the reasonable conclusion appears to be that the attasradham has to be conducted by the eldest..
As a social rule the partition of properties among brothers is done on the Shubhasweekaram day after the atta shraddham..
So the siblings are supposed to meet together for the maasika, etc sixteen sraddhams and the sodhakakumbham ceremony preceding them and perform together..

Sunday, May 11, 2025

The logic behind Sraddham



The logic behind Sraddham
A preceptor or a forefather, when he dies and his sapindeekaranam is done reaches the Vasu state.. when his next generation dies he reaches the rudra state and when the next generation also dies he raches the aditya state.. Just think that these three states are just abodes or contact points for the respective pithru.. The pithru may occupy or would have reached different staes like moksha or life in another body according to the Karmas, but the belief is that the offerings from the living sons grandsons and great grandsons by way of Sraadham are reaching these transmission towers at Vasu Rudra and Aditya lokas, and from there by Divine will the offerings transformed in the manner best suited for the pitru at his or her present janma or status is carried to the respective being.. and it is not preposterous to assume that each such being may be receiving the share of offerings from their progenies of various janmaas, all consolidated this way.. So we are actually sending our offerings to some mailboxes from where they are faithfully sorted through agni, aryama, swadhaa, swaahaa etc supervised by Lord Vishnu and correctly delievered to the addressee in his present form.
This interpretation, though simplified, is held as valid by elders and texts in so many words,, and can easily explain the whole gamut of offers to the pithrus through this logic.... The pithrulokam acts only as a transponder..
You may feed poor, or laugh at the ceremonies and dismiss them as meaningless.. everyone has the choice to do whatever he likes, especially if he is a brahmin, but that is beside the religion.. Feeding a million people even cannot substitute a Sraadham invoking the three generations of Pithrus..



Vasu, Rudra and Aditya status for the same pitru may vary according to the performer. For example, if my mother is alive, the status for my paternal grandmother is Vasu.. My periyappa and periyammai both are no more,, So when my Anna.. periyappas son performs sradham the same grandmother is in the rudra status... For amavasya, we offer tarpanam to maternal grandparents and two generation on the paternal line earlier to them..So I offer tarpanam to my maternal grandpaents in the Vasu status, and my maternal uncles who are up by one generation too offer tarpanam to the same persons in Vasu status And the time in earth is pathetically tiny compared to the divine worlds even according to shastras.. So reckoning time through earth standards is not possible in these matters..

the Deekshiteeyam and other texts are applicable to all the three--- Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaishya.. Most of the texts are like that.. Perhaps, the remaining were not a defined sect and they did not have occasion to adopt those texts.. There is no specific prohibition anywhere that it should not apply to all.. And various sects have amended and adapted their own rules.. within the fold of the same religion..

The offering goes even to the reborn being which carries the original lineage.. The offerings is made even if that departed life has attained moksha.. Whether a jeeva which has attained moksha requires any more offering is beside the point. We offer coconuts and vazhappazham to God,, and God does not really require it . We still offer it.. The transformed physical being in any form receives the offering.. I have said this already..

Sanatana Dharma encourges us to ask questions...? Yes, only to a certain level.. Definitely not to the extent of defeating its own tenets..Even in the science of logic contained in Sankhya and Nyaya Vaiseshika systems, all questions and challenges can be limited only to certain basic fundamental principes.. A frog cannot wear a snake's skin..

I am not personally irritated at all.. I am as rational and trained in modern things as anyone.. This issue is always a bone of contention in any Vidvat Sadas or any forum. Some pramanams are accepted..

Often I make posts completely unrelated to religious matters.. There I never mix religion..

I have made tax assessment all through my life... I cannot rely on Apastambha sootra or manusmriti for that.. There the Indian Incometax Act alone applies..

I just stated things clearly from an impassionate mindset.. Frankly no religion ever encourages eternal probe and cross examination touching its foundation.. The belief that every religion is catholic.. etc.. even if it Sanatana Dharma, it is only a recently held assumption.. It it not entirely so..

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

the rituals can be postponed minimally in life threatening situation



A query was made as to whether we could have some relaxations in pitru karyams consequent to the impact of Kovid 19.
Yes, the rituals can be postponed minimally because it is a life threatening situation
However this cannot be taken as a licence to skip the rituals totally. We have to resume things at the earlist
My take on the issue
These are aapad dharmas.
It is not that we should not do the sraddham in time.
It is only that the karma should not be given up just because the date was over and that it should be done later
There are many prayaschitthams like fasting on the defaulted day and chanting thousands if gayatri.. which are all beyond our capacity.
The exceptions are only when the karma is impossible.
It cannot be taken as excuse for not doing the Karma in time for flimsy reasons quoting the exceptions.
Brahmins have no choice to select the easy way out.
Shastras say brahmana's body is not for enjoyment
เคฌ्เคฐाเคน्เคฎเคฃเคธ्เคฏ เคคु เคฆेเคนोเคฝเคฏं เคจोเคชเคญोเค—ाเคฏ เค•เคฒ्เคชเคคे।
เค‡เคนเค•्เคณेเคถाเคฏ เคฎเคนเคคे เคช्เคฐेเคค्เคฏाเคจเคจ्เคค เคธुเค–ाเคฏ เคš॥
brฤhmaแน‡asya tu deho'yaแน nopabhogฤya kalpate|
ihakแธปeล›ฤya mahate pretyฤnanta sukhฤya ca||
In his worldly life the body of a brahmin ( and a learned man) is only for toiling, observing all the rituals, studies, learning and teaching.. It is toil in this world to gain great virtue which are sure to take them to eternal bliss in their life in heaven..
So when brahmins are told to lead very strict and disciplined life, they should never complain.. This is their duty for the benefit of the whole universe and that alone can lead them to eternal bliss ever after..
If Brahmin is not able to practice what is expected of him, he does not deserve to be addressed by that name..

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

That is the reason why our shastras deem it as the greatest misfortune not to have a son..grandson ..and so on.



When I posted some extracts from Shastras regarding the importance of doing Shraddhams and the consequences of failure in that
A query was raised.
In case there is rightful heir to offer what can we do....i feel so sad after seeing this post...pls adv
My reply...
That is the reason why our shastras deem it as the greatest misfortune not to have a son..grandson ..and so on.
One should die only after seeing a grandson too.
Pashyati putram pashyati pautram.
But there are many alternates. In Mahalaya shraddham the offerings are made to all relatives teachers and even friiends.
In Ramayanam it is said that Rama performed the last rites for the bird Jatayu..his father's friend who attained martyrdom defending Sita from Ravana.
Gaya sraddham again can be done for the sake of others and not only for parents.
And when we do tarpanam on amavasya etc we offer tarpanam to all known and unknown pitrus.
Not only that.. we offer water as the last rite in tarpanam through poring water in the kusha or darbha of the koorcham
Saying
For those who have no father mother and no other descendent in the gotra this water is offered for their thrupti or satisfaction.
Again after offering food for the pitrus the rice that is spread around the leaf from which the food is eaten is collected as Vikirannam which is offered to children or others who were born in the clan but were not cremated through fire.
So the elders were very considerate

Friday, April 11, 2025

The vishve devaas.



The vishve devaas.
In the pirtushraddhams conducted by brahmins, for every function, when we invoke the pitrus, they are invoked in the company of Vishve Devas..
The hierarchy of piturs we invoke can vary from three generations to seven generations.. and the pitrus may include many other personages like uncles,grand uncles, cousins, etc and their wives.. in shraaddhas like mahalayam.
And some sects among brahmins have the obligation to perform the annual Sharddham for the maternal Grandparents and their elders too.. (simultaneously with paternal lineage)
Of course that is not a practice among iyers except that we do Darsha Sharddam for maternal grandfather and grandmother and their earlier two generations.. during the Amavasya, Samkranmana, and Grahana Tarpanams..
The Pitrus can come to this world only in the company of Visve Devas.. they are ten in number..
They were born to Daksha prjapati and one of his wives Vishvaa.. the are all gods.. or devas.. In pitru karyams they have to be offered puja first before offering respects to the pitrus..
When two brahmanas are invoked as bhokthas, the elder in age would be treated as visve deva and the younger as the pitru.. The visve deva will be offered akshatha and flowers, and the pitrus will be offered tulasi and til or gingely..
The names of the ten Visve devas are given in this smriti vakyam
เค•्เคฐเคคुเคฐ्เคฆเค•्เคทः เคตเคธुः เคธเคค्เคฏः เค•ाเคฎः เค•ाเคฒเคธ्เคคเคฅैเคต เคš
เคงुเคฐिเคถ्เคš เคฐोเคšเคจเคถ्เคšैเคต เคคเคฅा เคšैเคต เคชुเคฐूเคฐเคตाः
เค†เคฐ्เคฆ्เคฐเคตเคถ्เคš เคฆเคถैเคคे เคคु เคตिเคถ्เคตे เคฆेเคตाः เคช्เคฐเค•ीเคฐ्เคคिเคคाः।
เค‡เคท्เคŸिเคถ्เคฐाเคฆ्เคงे เค•्เคฐเคคुเคฐ्เคฆเค•्เคทः เคธเคค्เคฏो เคจाเคจ्เคฆीเคฎुเค–े เคตเคธुः।
เคจैเคฎिเคค्เคคिเค•े เค•ाเคฒเค•ाเคฎौ เค•ाเคฎ्เคฏे เคคु เคงुเคฐिเคฒोเคšเคจ।
เคชुเคฐूเคฐเคตा เค†เคฐ्เคฆ्เคฐเคตเคถ्เคš เคชाเคฐ्เคตเคฃे เคธเคฎुเคฆाเคนृเคคाः
kraturdakแนฃaแธฅ vasuแธฅ satyaแธฅ kฤmaแธฅ kฤlastathaiva ca
dhuriล›ca rocanaล›caiva tathฤ caiva purลซravฤแธฅ
ฤrdravaล›ca daล›aite tu viล›ve devฤแธฅ prakฤซrtitฤแธฅ|
iแนฃแนญiล›rฤddhe kraturdakแนฃaแธฅ satyo nฤndฤซmukhe vasuแธฅ|
naimittike kฤlakฤmau kฤmye tu dhurilocanaลซ|
purลซravฤ ฤrdravaล›ca pฤrvaแน‡e samudฤhแน›tฤแธฅ
The ten vishve devas are in five pairs
The first pair is Kratu and Daksha
The second pair is Vasu and Satya
The third pair is Kama and kala ( Kama is mentioned as Kamuka in some places)
The fourth pair is Dhuri and Rochana ( or Lochana)
and
The fifth pair is Puroorava and Ardrava.
The Visve Devas accompany the Pitrus when they are invoked in Ishtis. are Kratu and Daksha
Ishti.. is a yajna which a person conducts if it is pleasing to him.. Some authorities hold the view that the Sradha prior to Nishekam.. the process of causing the pregnancy.., Somayaga, Seemanthonnayanam, Pumsavanam, . these shraddhams are called Karmanga Shraddham too..
The Visve Devas accompanying the pitrus for Naandeemukha Shradha are Vasu and Satya.. The nandi shradhas are also called Vridhi Sradhas.. We do it at the time of Birth of a Son, the Upanayanam, Marriage.. and so on.. There is overlapping of Nandi and Ishti .. in definition by some rishis.. The vishve devas to be invoked then should be according to the respective Sootras..
The Visve Deavas invoked during the Naimittika Sradha are kaal a and Kama or kamuka..
Naimittikam means due to some particular happening.. Death is such a happening.. And Kala and Kamuka are the Visvedevas for Sapindeekarana Sradham.
But Naimittikam can occur due to some good happenings too.. Like new crop, new house, new well or water source and start of certain fresh yajnams too
The visve devas accompanyingh the pitrus during the Annal Sradhaas.. Parvana Sradhaas,, we are doing that every year and all of us are familiar with the details of this type of Shardham which alone we usually call Sradham at home.. are Puroorava and Ardrava
And finally if we are performing some Kamya Yajna.. Yajnas ine expectation of wealth, progency, victory and so on , then too we perform pitru shradham in the beginning This is called Kamya Sradha.. The best period for kamya karma is when the Sun enters the Kanya Rasi..
The Visve Devas accompanying the pitrus during these Kamya Sradhas.. are Dhuri and Rochana (Lochana)
( This is a very very abridged extract.. culled out from varous texts.. Of course, the systems vary north of Dandakaranya and the South.. This subject would cover dozens of texts and hundreds of pages of printed material.. This is only a laymans information.)

Tuesday, April 08, 2025

We cannot make rules for ourselves..



while on pithru karyams, an interesting episode described in Harivamshamahaapuranam comes to mind..
Bheshama Pitamaha was conducting the Sradham of his father Shantanu.. The pindam or the or the morsel of cooked rice has to be offered according to scriptures by placing it on the ground..
เคญूเคฎौ เคฆเคค्เคคेเคจ เคชिเคฃ्เคกेเคจ bhoomau dattena pindena ...
Shantanu was impressed by the sacrifice of Bhishma while he was alive and also by the meticulousness with which his son was conducting the Shraadham..
So while Bheeshma was about to place the pindam on the ground as per vedic rules, a right hand with golden bangles was seen protruding, and asking that the pindam should be personally handed over..
From the shape of the hand and the golden bangle Bheeshmapitamaha could see that King Shantanu was just showing his hand to receive the pindam offered..
With due respect for his father, Bheeshma declined to place the pindam on the outstretched hand and placed the same on the ground..
His idea was that love for the father should not stand in the way of directions by the Vedas and scriptures..
The pithrus with Visvedevas and Lord Vishnu the protector of the Sradham are present and it was a yajna witness by Swdhaa..
The pindam has to be placed on earth paying respects to Swadhaa, the devi of Aryama and and it was she who had to convey it to the deities in the Pithruloka..
The eternal laws should never be flouted..
Shantanu realized that what his son Bhishma did was right and was immensely pleased..
And it was for his adherence to this Sraddha dharma that Shantnu blessed Bheeshma with the boon that Bheeshma would live as long as he wished and that he could select the time of his death..
The rigorous rules of Sraaddha are given in detail in Garuda Puranam, Harivamsam, Agni puranam, and even in Mahabharatham..
We cannot make rules for ourselves..
================
The great Scholar Kshemendra, in his Charucharya.. a compilation of one hundred slokas by way of instructions in the dharmic way of life says
เคถ्เคฐाเคฆ्เคงเคฎ् เคถ्เคฐเคฆ्เคงाเคจ्เคตिเคคं เค•ुเคฐ्เคฏाเคš्เค›ाเคธ्เคค्เคฐोเค•्เคคेเคจैเคต เคตเคฐ्เคค्เคฎเคจा।
เคญुเคตि เคชिเคฃ्เคกं เคฆเคฆौ เคตिเคฆ्เคตाเคจ् เคญीเคท्เคฎः เคชाเคฃौ เคจ เคถเคจ्เคคเคจोः॥เฅซ
เค•्เคทेเคฎेเคจ्เคฆ्เคฐเค•เคตिเคช्เคฐเคฃीเคคे เคšाเคฐुเคšเคฐ्เคฏाเคฏाเคฎ्॥
ล›rฤddham ล›raddhฤnvitaแน kuryฤcchฤstroktenaiva vartmanฤ|
bhuvi piแน‡แธaแน dadau vidvฤn bhฤซแนฃmaแธฅ pฤแน‡au na ล›antanoแธฅ||5
kแนฃemendrakavipraแน‡ฤซte cฤrucaryฤayฤm||
The Shraadham should be performed with all attention, devotion and meticulous care. And the procedure to be followed should be exactly as per the dictats of the Shastras.. No deviation is permitted.
The great scholar and seer Bheeshma pitamaha offered the Pindam on the surface of earth and did not give it to Shantanu in his hands even when Shantanu extended his palms to receive the pindam from Bheeshma.
=====================
Can we offer Vengaya(onion) Saambar and Potato hot curry as naivedyam to God? I do not think so..
We never venture to do so..

Sunday, November 19, 2023

no gesture would be adequate



เคฏเคฆाเคถเค•्เคคि เคช्เคฐเคฆाเคจेเคจ เคธ्เคจाเคชเคจाเคš्เค›ाเคฆเคจेเคจ เคš।
เคจ เคธुเคช्เคฐเคคिเค•เคฐं เคคเคค्เคคु เคฎाเคค्เคฐा เคชिเคค्เคฐा เคš เคฏเคค्เค•ृเคคเคฎ्॥
เคฆीเค•्เคทिเคคीเคฏे
yadฤล›akti pradฤnena snฤpanฤcchฤdanena ca|
na supratikaraแน tattu mฤtrฤ pitrฤ ca yatkแน›tam||
dฤซkแนฃitฤซye
While highlighting and praising the importance of offerings to the departed parents by way of Shraddham or periodic memorial offerings, almost all great authorities advise that such elders should be remembered with utmost gratitude by providing bath, water to drink and meals and clothes to persons who is being invited as guest representing the pitrus. It is aslo advised that one should apply bis best energies and all possible resources in honouring the elders by remembering them periodically.
But even that authoritative instruction from Vaidyanatha Deekshita is qualified by this introspection.
"Will it be adequate expression of gratitude and will it be sufficient repayment for all that the father and mother have done to us in the process of making us what we are, just by providing water,bath and clothes on the memorial day ?"
It is not the idea that the memory should not be worshipped in the best way possible. But we need not take any sort of pride in performing such acts. Remembering the elders with gratitude and paying respect to them on some particular day is a very insignificant gesture when we think of what all things our father and mother have done to us during their lifetime.
Of course, we remember their value only after it is too late.
And it is another tragic fact that most of us care very little to give even a semblance of happiness to our parents when they are alive.
After all, a man or woman is born in this world without any capacity to do anything, without even the capacity to just keep alive. The kids of goat or calves just stand on their legs and run around moments after they are delivered. A human baby cannot even open its eyes or breathe properly when it is born. If the father and mother and other loving ones did not care, will the child survive at all ?

Saturday, August 12, 2023

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜„๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฃ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐˜€



๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜„๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฝ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฃ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐˜€

We have to understand (I mean in our HIndu traditions) that when a person dies and his Sapindeekaranam is effected he attains a slot in the pitruloka as Vasu..

Immediately his father gets promoted to Rudra staus and his father in turn gets Aditya staus.

And the Vriddha Prapitamaha is released from the Pinda staus and he and his earlier two generations are now in the Lepa status.

The womanfolk join their mother in laws in the same pattern, according to our beliefs and traditions

In Pinda status the pitrus get the balls of rice or grain whichare offered as pindam and the Lepa pitrus are getting only the remnants of pindam which stick to the hand of the one who does the pitrukaryam.

Again the Vasu Rudra and Aditya positions are just slots assigned to the pitrus and not the spirits themselves.

The pitrus may assume other lives but the offerings sent to the slots or posts through Swadhaa Swaahaa and Mahavishnu reach these slots get recycled into materials suitable for the Pitrus in their present lives and status and get safely delivered to them.

Such offerings from various lives all get delivered in the present address as if redirected.

The three generations rule is just a convention. There are some Pitrupoojas where even ten or twentyone generations are invoked

And Shraddham is a vedic ritual and that can offer temporary relief to the pitrus.

You can call such relief as moksham if you want.

But real moksham can be gained only by the individual himself that too through jnana, karma or bhakti yoga.

That suject is too wide

Monday, June 28, 2021

Bhuta Yajnam Feeding crow, animals etc.. Musing



It is human arrogance to presume that crows or for that matter any creature exists for the convenience of man or that they act as proxies of men or divinity..

Crows, or birds, are a species of living things..
They just share this earth with all other living things.. and in fact they have their right to exist on this globe just the same way as we humans..
Do we really know, or is it right to presume that the clan of birds called crows have adopted or assumed the name kaka.. just becuase the humans identify them with that name in one language.. and phonetically similar names in some other languages?
I wonder..
Of course human beings understood and appreciated the necessity of the scavenger species in cleaning the earth and environs for their use, in spite of the continued dirtying by the humans..
The idea of Bhuta Yajnam.. especially in Vaishvadevam, arose from such considerations..
The scavengers should live and survive..
So we offer food for such beings under some pretext or other..
The Vaishvadevam provides for scattering food materials all around in the open dumpyards, so that crows, birds, vagrants, reptiles etc could eat..
It is ultimately the instinct of sustaining eco balance that led men to adopt such rituals.
I read somewhere the explanation given by a respected saint about the allegorical significance of feeding crows.. in pitru yajnams..
The explanation is just symbolic.
.
I am not trying to contradict what the revered saint has said.. No one should challenge him.
But I think he said so because the so called devotees around him would do that pious act of feeding crows if religious dimensions are point out..
We as a clan do not care much about saving the environment .. we would rather take pride in making the earth as polluted as we can manage..
It is better we consider at least once in a while the social and scientific background for the rituals.. But ..

Friday, May 30, 2014

Rules of Domestic Observances During Sraadhdhams



Rules of Domestic Observances During Sraadhdhams

(compiled by Ananthanarayanan Vaidyanathan)
9446508855
1.  Please keep self control and celibacy for at least three days per week in the fortnight in which the Sraadha Tithi falls.


2.  Kartha is the one who is to perform the Sraadham

3.  Bhoktha is the one on whom the Vishnu or Vishwedevas or Pitrus are invoked during the ceremony and  and are those who partake in the food offerings  receive Pratigraham.

4.  Most of the rules of discipline  are common for Kartha and Bhoktha

5. Either of the two should not stir out  wander on the streets on the day of Sraadham

6. Either of the two should not eat anything..the Bhoktha after the feast and the Kartha after taking thePitrusesham (partaking on what is left behind after feeding of the Bhokthas) on the day of the Sraaddham.

7. To expiate oneself of the sins already committed and make himself purified before the ceremony , a person may do Kooshmanda Homam before Sraadham.

8. Kooshmandam does not mean Ilavan or Pooshanikkai here, it is a Manthram

9. Kooshmanda homam can mitigate grave sins including the killing of a foetus by MTP

10. The Kartha should start performing Aupaasanam at least four days prior to Sraadham.

11. The Sraadha homam is performed in the Aupaasanaagni

12 If the Kartha is a Brahmachari, then it is Samidaadaanagni  that is to be used for oblations ....I used Samidaadanaagni as  I was a Brahmachari when my father passed away.

13 The Sraaddham comes in the fortnight Paksham and Thithi on the Paksham on which the parents of equivalent died.

14 If the Thithi falls on two consecutive days, Sraadha is to be performed  on the day when the Thithi is more spread in 

Aparaahnam..the Aparaahnam period during  the day is  after 18 Nazhika from Suryodhayam

15   If the Thithi covers two Aparahnams of consecutive days, the day where the Thithi is having more Naazhika should be the Sraadham day.

16. If the Thithi is spread equally on consecutive days, the Sradham should be performed on the first day.

17  If two Thithis come in one Souramaasam, the later Thithi is suitable for Sraadham

18  If Samkramanam falls on the second Thithi during the day, the Sradham should be performed in the earler thithi in the month.

19 The Aparahnam is the slice of time after 18 Nazhika (18*24 minutes) from sunrise.

20 The Aparahnam will be at about 1-30 in the afternoon.

‎21  The time period after 15 Naazhika (6 hours from sunrise) is Kutupakaalam (from about  12-30 after Noon )

22. If there is dosham like Sankramasparsam for both the Thithis coming in the same month  Sraadham should be performed  in the next month.

23  If there is only a single Thithi in a month we need not consider the  Sankramanadosham

24  If by chance  the Thithi does not occur at all in the Souramaasam (Medam, Edavam etc, ) apply the Chaandramaanamaasam (Saka maasam) to find a Shudhdha thithi

25  If even that Thithi is not Shuddham perform the Sraadham next month

26 if you are not able to do sraadham on the tithi, you should do upavasam(starving) on that day and perform the sraadham next day

27 If you forget the Thithi perform the  Sraadham on Krishna Ashtami, Krishna  Ekadasi or on Amaavasya

28 If there is an Aasaucham or Pulai, or Seethakam perform  the Sraadham on the day of release of Aasaucham etc.

29 If we divide the day from sunrise to sunset into five equal parts..(about 84 minutes apiece) we would get the forllowing Kaalams in this order  

1. Praatah Kaalam   
2. Sankavakaalam   
3.  Maadhyaahnika kaalam         
4. Aparaahnam   
5 Saayaahnnam

‎30  If we divide the Maadhyaahnika kaalam into three slices of 28 minitutes apiece, we get                              
1. Gandharva kaalam 
2. Kuthapam 
3. Rouhinakaalam.


31  The presence of Douhitra.. the daughters son, Kuthapa kaalam and black ellu (gingely) are to be preferred.


31 Douhitra is the grandson born through daughter


32 It is beneficial to use black gingely in good quantity in Sraadham

33 The Darbha and black gingely have originated from Varahamoorthy  and hence  they will prevent Raakshasaas from causing damage to Sraadham

34 You should not invite  as Bhoktaas two uterine brothers for the same Sraadham

35  People who have no knowledge of Vedas,  or who are sick, should not be invited to be bokthaas
 
37 A person whose wife is in menstrual  periods should not be a Bhoktha

38   A person without wife or son should not be a Bhoktha..this includes Brahmachaari

39  If a person has a son, he may be invited as Bhoktha even if he has lost his wife.

40 A person who has been a Bhoktaa in another Sraadham just within three days prior to this Sraadham should not be invited.

41  The avaricious brahmin who canvasses himself to be recruited as a Bhokta should never be called.

42 A Yogi, Jnaani, a follower of Samaveda or the son of a daughter are the best and most preferred invitees.

43 If a person offers to be a Bhoktha in exchange to the promise that you will go as a Bhokta to his house for another Sraadham it is unwelcome.

44. A brahmin's wife is pregnant for more than three months then he is ineligible as a bhokta.

45 If a person has lost either of the parents and the Atta Sraadham of that parent is not over, that brhamin is not to be called as Bhokta.

46 A brahmin who had a haircut or shave in the morning of the Sradham is unwelcome as a Bhoktha.

47 A Brahmin with leprosy, deformed fingernails, decayed and discoloured teeth etc should not be called as a bhoktha.

48 The youngest among the Bhoktas should be invoked as Pithru.

49 The elder one should be invoked as Viswedeva.

50 The eldest one as Vishnu if there is a family practice of invoking Pratyaksha Vishnu also.

51 Those who are affluent should present the Bhoktha with white silk

52 one should present at least two or three sets of soman uthareeyam according to the family practice.

53 The Soman Uthareeyam or Veshti should be atleast of the same quality as we usually wear ourselves


 54 If one is very poor at least a Yajnopaveetham should be presented in the place of Veshti

55 The Kartha should start the Sraaddham with a new Poonool

56 The Manthras should be pronounced with the right Swarams

57 There should be no hurry while performing Sraadhdham

58 Generous Dakshnina should be given according to one’s own capacity

59  The most praiseworthy Dakshina is gold.

60 The brahmin in whom Vishnu, Viswedeva or Pithru is invoked should be treated at par with god.

61 One should never get angry during the sraadhdham

62 For one month prior to Sraadhdham one should not eat cooked food from hotels or from other houses

63  If this is not possible Paraannam food from other houses etc should not be taken for at least on Paksham (15 days) or in the least at least for three days prior to Sraadham

64  The kartha should not apply oil to hair while bath at least for one week prior to Sradhaam

65  The kartha should not have sexual activity, nor he should sleep in comfortable bed for the preceding period as above(item 64).

66. For Paraannam or food from the house of others, the house of Guru, maternal uncle, sister and father in law are not included (the brother is not mentioned here because brother is never an annyan..sister would include athai and daughter also)

67 The washing of the Brahmin’s feet should not be done wearing  Pavitram

68  When we have to remove Pavitram, it has to be kept on the side of the right ear (Pavitram is the round contraption made of Darbha grass and  worn on the ring finger on the right hand during important functions..the right ear of a brahmin is supposed to contain Ganga)

69 for Visvedeva a square Kolam by water should be made on the Paadaprakshaalana Paatram as well as the twin plantain leaves arranged for offer of food.

70  Similar water Kolam for Pithrus is triangular (this is the reason why elders say don’t draw kolam with water at home usually..this is reserved for death and Sradhdha ceremonies)

71 The Paadajalam of Visvedeva and Pithrus should not be mixed. Only Paadajalam of Visvedeva should be used for Prokshanam.

72 The entire sraaddha place should be cleaned with the dung of cow.

73  Only the ankle (kanungaal ) of the brahmins should be washed

74  The upper feet should not be washed

75  The ghee left after Homam should not be used for worshipping the feet of brahmin, to rinse the leaf for meals or added to the cooked rice offered as Havyam and Kavyam.

76 The cooking medium should be ghee of cow..oil should be avoided.

77 As we are using black gingely some say gingely oil is permissible for cooking

78  Those who use coconut prefer to use coconut oil also.

79  Some do not use coconut as per the practice in their family

80  Some do not use sesame for frying...again a family tradition.

81  In the matter of cooking for Sraaddham, the practice followed in the individual family should be strictly followed...sisters, please get notes from elder ladies in the family on the traditions followed in the Individual family. Some are of the view that the menu should be same as the one followed for the Sodhakakumbha Sraddham, immediately after Sapindikaranam.

82 The fresh clothes washed in the morning and dried alone should be worn while cooking.

83  Every material used for Sraddham  should be thoroughly washed, every utensil thoroughly cleaned before use for cooking for Pithrus

84 even salt and jaggery used should be formally sprinkled with water

85 the persons cooking should have the eligibility to chant panchaakshari (namassivaaya) and /or astaakshari ( om namo narayanaaya )

86 the persons cooking should be a relative and definitely not a servant

86  Ladies who are expecting the start of menstrual periods should not venture to cook for sraadham

87 Cooking should not be performed with wet clothes

88  If the wet clothes are spread and shaken in air seven times they are considered dry

89  If the persons engaged in cooking has to visit the toilet in between she can enter the kitchen only after a bath.

91  A pregnant or sick lady should not do the cooking for Sraadham

92 Lady should wear madisaar pudavai while cooking..

93 This is controversial..but I record.(just to be faithful to the traditions.. my personal views are of no consequence). a widow retaining her hair should not cook for sraadham

93  The ladies should not go on talking while preparing food for sraadham(the most difficult thing, is it not?)

94  The ladies should not cook after taking coffee etc., in exceptional cases they may take milk of the cow,


95 It is ideal to perform sraadham in one's own house.

96  If it is performed in the house of another person, rent for the space should be paid beforehand


97 Cook food  in new vessels or in vessels which are cleaned with extra care

98 No vessels containing even a little iron should ever be used

99 One should not ring a bell or sport Tilaks at the time of Sraadham

100 Some ladies and Karthas wear Vibhoothi Kumkumam etc. it can be allowed if it is the tradition in the family.

101 While cooking the ladies should not be either laughing or crying (maamiyaars..do not let your daughter in laws cry..and vice versa)

102   Cooking should not be done with spread out hair

103   Cooked rice should be prepared after vadikkal and this should be the last preparation

104  When the rice is served in the plantain leaves it should emit steam (the rice and not the plantain leaf)

105 The materials suitable for Sraadham.. I give the tamil/malyalam names because english/botanical names are not relevant..any bilingual dictionary will give the names in english.... ulundu, karuppu ellu, gothambu, payaru, paavakkai(paarikkai), chakkai, mankai, mathalam pazham, kariveppilai, cherunaarangai, vazhappazham, vazhakkai..monthan kai is preferred, ilandhippazham, nellikkai, munthiringai, milaku, podalangai, katthirikkai or vazhuthinangai..naadan, then(honey), ney, vellam(chakkarai) , kadaluppu(sea salt), cows milk, karunai kizhangu, chembu or cheppankizhangu, jeerakam, elakkai, avaraikkai, pirandaikkai, pasumthayiru, some use vazhaithandu

106 Apart from these some use Thengai (coconut), Kadugu, Chakravallikizhangu, Katalai, Ilavan or Pooshanikkai, Vilaampazham, Milakai(capsicum) also according to family traditions.

107 Prohibited items.. karaamani, kollu, perunkaayam, muringakkai, inglish kathirikkai, thuvarapparippu, chorakkai.

108 Most important and preferred... then(honey), Chakkappazham, Ulundu, Naadan vazhuthina (the violet one)

109 For serving you can use silver thattu.. if your use Vazhai ilai in pair, both the top and tip should be there, no clipping, the narambu behind should not be torn away..

110 The leaf should be placed with its nuni(tip) on the left.

‎111. The planatain leaf with its entire contents after the brahmins have eaten should be placed in a pit on the ground and covered with mud and stones securely so that stray dogs do not eat the remnanants.

112   In some villages they reserve a deserted well for this purpose.

113   In town areas where there is no space to dig the leaves and remnants of meals are given to cows. But this is not proper. The Ucchishtam should never be given to cow. However if this is the only way left what else can be done?

114 The leaves should be removed before Swastivaachanam.(the conversation betwee the karta and the boktha as to whether the meals were good, whether everything was adequate and whether the Bhoktha is satisfied.)

115 After Pindapradhaanam the eating space should be cleaned.

116 Very difficult..the Kartha should not clean his teeth with brushes etc on the day of Sraadham as well as on the Orikkal day.

117 The Bhokthas or Sraaddha brahmanas should not touch one another.

118 They should not converse with another...they should eat in silence..mounena bhokthavyam

119. They should indicate whatever they require more through indications by fingers or gestures.

120  Ghee and Payasam which are served should be eaten in full.

121  The bhoktas should leave behind at least a little of all other things they eat.

122 They should eat without haste ensuring that they will not get hungry again in the night.

123  The eight Vasus, 11 Rudras, 12 Aadhityas and 12 Visvededevas are supposed to be present protecting the sraaddhas. For each Sraadham one should invoke two Visvedevas..they differ for various sradhas. for annual sraddha..Puroorava aardhrava, for Mahalaya, Dhuru, Ruchi. for Naandi, Satya Vasu, for Yagas Kratu, Daksha for Sapindeekaranam Kaala Kaamuka, for Sannyaasaanga sraadham Saadhu, Kuru


124  The vessel containing material for Arghyam should not be kept open.

125 The Arghya paatram should not be moved from its place.

126 If the Arghya material has been fully used, the material should be prepared again to the accompaniment of manthras.

127 If a little of the Arghyam material goes waste it can be condoned.

128 The deities of Sraadhdha are the Vasu,  the Rudra and the Aaditya.

129 Our forefathers have to remain in their company during their existence as pithrus, hence Vasu Rudra and Aditya also should be kept pleased.

130 The deceased father is in the realm of Vasu the grandfather in the realm of Rudra and the greatgrandfather in the realm of Aditya.. the lady counterparts also have the same status. The status may vary according to the fathers, or the lady's in law in the hierarchy pre-deceasing the juniors..
131  While doing invocation of pithru we have to keep the Yajnopaveetham in Idam position

132 For invoking devas it should be Valam

133 Darba should be offered to Devas straight.

134 Darba should be offerd to Pitrurs after folding together the tips.

135 Paruppu and ghee for meals should be kept in separate donnai and kept without touching the main leaf over another piece of leaf.

136 Abhisravanam should be chanted while the brahmins are eating so that the Rakshasaas are kept at bay..

137 The abishravana manthras are the part of Kathopanishad where Naachiketaopaakhyanam is described, Ramayanam where the origin of Ganga is described and other manthras from Vedas and Upanishats.

138 Some brahmins should be invited to perform this Abhisravanam

139 They should be offered Dakshina after the Sraadham

‎140 Ekodishtam the eleventh day death ceremony, Sapindikaranam the 12 th day ceremony, Maasikam, Anumaasikam, Naandi, Gayasraadham...for these Abhisravanam is not there.

141 If the remnants of the food from one Bhokta falls inadvertantly on the leaf of other the two should not touch the other leaves or continue the meal...they should not raise from the seat.

142 The leaves should be removed, the place cleaned with the dung of cow and new leaves should be placed and served.

143 The meals can continue after another Parishechanam

144 While brahmanas are eating the fire in the fireplace should not be put out.

145 If the agni is put out inadvertantly, the Kartha should fast for the day and do Sraadham again next day.


146 The Vaayasapindam..the morsel of rice for the crow should be protected at any cost till a crow comes and puts its beak on it.

147 If the people of the fourth caste see this Pindam or if some dogs or other animals eat it Sraadham should be done once again.( It is mentioned to record the tradition.. personal views may be different)

148 The repeated Sraddham  should be done the next day after fasting on the day 

149  All honours and respects should be offered to Visvedevas first.

150  Washing of hands, Aachamanam, raising after Sraddha meals etc should be done by the brahmin representing the Pithru first.

151 After Pindapradhaanam one can just put in mouth as prasdam a little rice left over.

152 That rice is Pithrusesham,,, nothing wrong in eating it,

153 Some people just pick the rice and smell it.

154 The pindams can be left either in Agni or water, especially in a river or pond

155 If the sraadham is on a Theerthakkarai, the pindams should be left in the Theertham itself.

156 For Sankalpa Sraadham, Homam, Aavaahanam, Arghyam Vikiraanna Pinadam etc are not there.

157 Till the Sraadham is concluded the house should not be decorated with Kolam (Rangoli)

158 Naamam(Thilakam..tiruchoornam, thirumannu), Rudhraksham etc should not be worn during Sraadham normally. Some family traditions permit wearing Viboothi Pundram Rudhraaksham etc.

159 The eater of the feast(Bhokta) can chew Vettilai Paakku.

160 Bhoktha should not do any other karma on that day.

161 The Bhoktaa will be eligible for the next Sandhyavandanam only if he chants at least eleven Gayatris and drinks holy water.

162 If the bhokta is having Aupasanam he should ask someone else to do it that evening.

163 On that night the Bhokta should not have stree sangamam, he should not give or take any other presents on that day.

164 He should not do Veda Adhyayanam on that day.

165 Kartha is prohibited from oil bath Streesangamam, haircut receiving Daskhina or Dhanam etc for the day of Sraaddham and next day also.(on the earlier day.. orikkal too)

166 On the Sraadha day non dwijas should not be given alms or food.

167 If the crow takes pindam facing east, you will have prosperity.

168 If the pindam is taken by crow facing south, diseases are predicted.

169 If taken facing west, travel is predicted.

170  If taken facing north, the prognosis is danger to life.

171. The indication of directon of biting the Pindam by the crow can be like a warning.

172  If the Bhokta vomits during sraadham , the ceremony is desecrated.

173 If the Pindam gets broken then also the Sraadham is lost.

174 The kartha can partake in Pithrusesham( the remaining food after feeding the brahmins in sraadham) even if it is Ekadasi.

175 Doing Sraaddham itself is equivalent to performing the Vrata on Ekadasi day.

176 The Jnaatis who are empowered to partake in Pithrusesham, should only smell the food on the Ekadasi day.. they need not eat Pithrusesham.

177 If the Jnaatis do it they will have the blessings of the pithrus and also the benefits of Ekadasi Vratam.

178 When people die they join the Divinity. So an eligible relative can partake in the Pitruseham of even youngsters who have predeceased him.

179  The ladies go to another gothram after marriage, but they are eligible to partake in the Pithrusesham of their father, mother and brother and such blood relations.

180 If a lady is a widow, she should not partake in pitrusesham as mentioned in 179.

181 Even there the pithrusesham of father-in-law, and maternal uncle are permitted to be taken.

182 After Sraadham many material become Sesham.. but paal, thayiru, ney, then(honey) do not become Sesham.

183 Vegetables also do not become sesham.

184 Even Jnaatis (after three generation) should not partake in the Sesham of the Edkodishta Sraadham ( 11th day death ceremony)

185 Jnaatis with only three days of Aasaucham should not usually partake in Pithrusesham (this will not include Maternal uncle, Athai, Athaan, Ammanji and their spouses, and Father-in-law and Mother-in-Law for males)

186 Pare Ahani tarpanam should be performed on the next day of the Sraadham.

187 There is no such Tarpanam when the Sraadham is for the mother while father is alive.

188 For Sapindeekaranam, Anumaasikam, Naandi, and Aattashraadhdham there is no Pare Ahani Tarpanam.

189   The Pare Ahani Tarpanam should be performed during the Braahma Muhurtam of the next day using the Darbhas and ellu( gingely) leftover after the Sraadham.

190 One should have a bath after performing pare ahani tarpanam..
191 Some are of the opinion that the Kartha should be awake all the night and in madi conditons so that he can perform the Tarpanam even before the bath as a continuation of the earlier day's rituals.

192. Some think that the Tarpanam at brahma muhurtam can be done after a bath.

193  If we have to perform a Tarpanam at Udayam or Saayamkaalam, the Sandhyavandanam should be performed first and then the Tarpanam.

194 If brothers have partitioned, then the sraaddhams should be done separately by each. If brothers are not partitioned and still are residing separately with different cooking, then again multiple Sraadhams should be performed.

195 Even if there are no assets to be partitioned if brothers are living together under the same roof partaking food in common then the sraaddham should be performed together.

196 It is not proper just to stay together on Sraadham day alone and let the Sraadham be performed by the elder alone.

197 The claim that the younger brothers can simply keep company when the eldest one performs sraadham would apply only when all the brothers are living together.

198.Some feel that if they cannot join with the elder brother, the sraadham performed by them will be ineffective... this is a debatable issue.

199 If father is gone and mother is surviving all the brothers can join together under the mother's roof and perform Sraadham together.

200 There will not be any displeasure for the Pithrus if the individual sons perform the sraadham separately.

‎201 The question raised by some that if a number of sons perform sraadham separately, where the Pithrus would go is not relevant. The Pithrus have attained Divinity and therefore they can be present in many places at the same time.

202 Even in sraadhams performed on the Thithi of ladies, the Homam and Aahuti is not given to the ladies.

203 The mothers(mother, grandmother, great-grandmother) can be invoked and can be offered Pindams.

204 The Homam if any is performed in the names of fathers(father, grandfather and great-grandfather).

205 For Amavasyai Tarpanam there is no invocation(varanam) only gingely and water are offered. Some perform Darsasraadham also.

206 The ellu should not be taken using the thumb and index finger. It is considered Raakshasam.

207..
Sraadham during Mahaalaya paksham is considred great. The pithrus who deserve our affection but not our parents(Karunya pithrus) are offered Tarpanam in Mahalaya Paksham.

208 Such Karunya Pithrus are periyappa, chithappa, elder brother, younger brother, athai, maternal uncle, periyammai, chithammai, akka thangaikal, their children, deceased wife, father in law, mother in law, athimbyaar, maattuppon, brother in law, teacher, master and friend. See how great our traditions are sometimes..we are given opportunity even to offer tarpanam to our departed friends and loved relatives.

209 The sraadham is not only to propitiate our pithrus. Many other deities are also pleased.

210 Homam gives pleasure to Devas.

211 Feast to brahmns give pleasure to other inhabitants of Swargaloka.

212 Offering of pindam pleases the inhabitants of Yamalokam.

213 The annadaanam on that day gives pleasure to the inhabitants of the earth.

214 The leftovers give satisfaction to Pisaachas

215 The vikiraannam gives satisfaction to the inhabitants of Hell.

216 The Pindam offered to the crow pleases our Ajnaatha Pithrus or unknown relatives who have died.

217 Sraadham is a great sacrifice.

218 The Prasadam of Pithrudevas will give us wealth, further progenies in the clan, health, knowledge, knowledge of the earlier janmaas, liberation or mukthi etc.

219 If we do not perform sraadham the Pithrus may curse us.

220 The curse of the Pithrus is very dangerous

221 One has to be very careful not to incur the curse of the Pithrus as also parents and elders who are alive.

222 Panchagavyam is a mixture for self purification if there is any apprehension about the purity of the environs.

223 Panchagavyam is also an important ingredient in the Abhishekam for shiva with Sri Rudram..


224 The sacred nature of panhagavyam is given in this sloka..
yattwagasti gatham paapam dehe thishtathi maamake praasanam panchagavyasya dahtwagnirivendhanam....
เคฏเคค् เคค्เคตเค—เคธ्เคฅिเค—เคคเคฎ् เคชाเคชं เคฆेเคนे เคคिเคท्เคŸเคคि เคฎाเคฎเค•े 
เคช्เคฐाเคถเคจं เคชเคž्เคšเค—เคต्เคฏเคธ्เคฏ เคฆเคน्เคค्เคตเค—्เคจिเคฐिเคตेเคจ्เคงเคจं--
whate​ver sins committed by me are holding fast even to my skin and bones, may be removed from me on drinking panchagavyam, as though the lighted fire is burning to ashes all the fuels.

225 The five primary ingredients of panchagavyam are 

the milk of the cow,
the curd from cow's milk, 
ghee from cow’s milk,
 the dung of the cow 
and the urine of the cow..to this, for dilution water routed through darbha can be added.
226. The mixture is called panchagavyam because it contains five ingredients derived from the cow.

214 Varuna resides in the urine of the cow.

227 Agni resides in the cowdung.

228 Vaayu resides in the curd

229 The moon resides in the milk

230 The Sun resides in the ghee.

Panchagavyam has to be taken on the day before Sraaddham.

231 Ladies who has the impurity after delivery should take Panchagavyam to become free of it.

232 Panchagavyam is a potent medicine.

233 If it is taken for 41 days continuously even a patient of epilepsy will be relieved of that ailment.

234 There are mantrams for adding each ingredient.

235 The proportion of the mixture is 

1.cow's urine 100 gms(one palam)
2. cowdung of the size of a medium thumb
3. 300gms of curd 
4. 700 gms of cow's milk 
5. 100gms of ghee 
and 100 gms of darbha jalam.

236 The milk will remove poverty, curd will provide us with children, cows urine will remove sins, cowdung will give us health, and ghee will give us moksham.

237 All the fourteen worlds are residing in the body of the cow.


238  Mother Laksmi is residing in the cow's  hind portion

239 It is a great fortune to have the darshan of a cow in the morning.

240 Gift of a cow is considered to bring the ultimate fortune to the donor.

Shubhamastu.. sree Krishno rakshathu. may Krishna bless us.

(based on Smrithi mukthaphalam of vaidyanatha deekshita  and local traditions recorded and oral)