For Vadhyars(Bruhaspatis / Purohits) & Paricharakaas (Cooks)

Shraddham

Sri :

Sri Ramajayam

Majority of us, who belong and firmly believe in Sanathana Dharma way of life (Hindu Way of Life) ,are used to perform – see / observe our elders perform monthly twice ceremonies called Tarpanam (First Day of The Sanskrit Month and No Moon Day ) and perform yearly remembrance anniversaries called Shraddham / Tithi/ Divasam without fail.

The aim of this initiative is to ensure that everyone who believes in Sanathana Dharma understands the facts about Pitru Karmas and the importance of performing them correctly, as demanded by dharma shaastras

One is accorded the Pitru status after death – completion of death related karmas and it binds on the kartaas (performers) to ensure that the Pitrus are satisfied monthly twice (First Day of The Sanskrit Month called Sankramana Tarpanam and No Moon Day Called Amavaasya Tarpanam or Darsha Shraddha Pratinidhi) , monthly (On the Particular Tithi , for an year from the date of death) , Special Occasions within an year called Oona Sharddam (27 -30 days from the date of date,41-45 days from the date of death, 170-180 days from the date of death, after 341-355 days from the date of death ), Aabdeekam (First Year Anniversary) and Pratyaabdeeka Shraadham (Yearly Anniversaries)

Pitru Worship Mandatory Not Optional – Why?

Many of us are used to worshiping The Almighty in temples and the different styles / beliefs associated with it. Many of us pray for a particular outcome and in return we agree to offer something to a particular temple. Let us assume that we pray for success in a new venture and decide to offer 108 cocounts . If there is a delay in completing such a prayer, no qualms about it, it can be completed within a particular timeframe.

The same is not the case with Pitrus. They have to be satisfied on the days that are marked as Pitru Dinams. IT IS MANDATORY and IT IS TIME BOUND – CANNOT / SHOULD NOT BE POSTPONED AT ANY COST. Even if one is into Vruddhi / Aashowcham (Temporary Disqualification from performing Karmas other than Sandhyavandanam for 10 days due to Birth / Death in the family), they have to perform Shraddham once the temporary disqualification time gets over . That is the importance that has been attached to Satisfying Ancestors

Our parents take active part in raising us. We have to return the favour while they are alive and even more it becomes binding when they leave us and join Pitrus. Once they join the Pitrus, they start expecting Rituals that please them. Shaastras say that those who do not have Putras or anyone to perform rituals towards them find it very tough in a hell called PUTH. They keenly await the PITRU DINAMS so that their hunger and thirst is quenched.

Who get Satisfied by Sharddhams / Tithis / Divasams ?

  • Pitrus (Forefathers / Ancestors) who always bless the performers with happiness
  • A category of Devas called Vishwedevas
  • Agni Bhagawan , who acts as a carrier called HAVYA VAHANA (for Devas) KAVYA VAHANA (for pitrus)
  • A qualified Priest (Bruhaspati / Vadhyar ) , Swamis who participate in the ceremony and also the paricharakar (Cook)
  • Along with the Forefathers (Ancestors) Devas , Mahavishnu also get satisified
  • Those who were not accorded proper After Death Ceremonies
  • Those whose bodies were not cremated
  • Those who died but their bodies were never found
  • Those who do not / did not have anyone to perform any karma
  • Those who died but are unable to attain any good status (SADGATI)

Thus it is pretty evident that the amount of Punyams that one Karta (Peformer) gets by performing Pitru Karmas( correctly and as suggested )is immeasurable

Blessings of Forefathers / Ancestors / Pitrus

Blessings of Forefathers / Ancestors / Pitrus

Everyone dies . One should not shy away from performing pitru karmas for any reason . Pitru Karmas are the ideal way of connecting with the departed in the correct manner . Such connections through tarpanams / Shraddhams / Divasams / Tithis make them satisfied. In return they bless the performers. Pitrus are Sweet and they are not to be considered otherwise. They long to be satisfied on the specified Pitru Dinams . Once satisfied, they bless the performer with good health, good descendants, knowledge , confidence

Upon successful completion of the Shraddham, the karta prays for the following and duly gets them

We (Incase of more than one perfomers) / I (sole performer) do not approach any one for any materials. Our / My aim is to give lots to those who seek . We / I pray that our / my sincerity (Shraddha) should never dip. Our descendants and Vedas should live forever. Food grains should be in abundant supply. We / I should get guests daily and We / I should serve them .

Curse of Forefathers / Ancestors / Pitrus

Shying away from one’s duties is a crime.

One who does not perform Pitru Karmas is an Ungrateful person. They may temporarily get away with non performance but they will land in lots of troubles due to the curse of the forefathers. Loss of wealth , Unsteady mind , Poor health , No children ,Loss of Close relatives are mainly due to the curse of Ancestors

We all know adherence and compliance are very important in any walk of life. The same applies to Pitru Karmas as well. Ancestors do not get satisfied by incomplete, improper chanting of mantras which are equal to Non Performance. Pitrus are accorded the status of VASU, RUDRA, AADITYA which gives them immense powers to bless and curse as well. Shaastras say that SHAAPAM (CURSING) is the sole weapon of Pitrus (They are called SHAAPA AAYUDHAAS) . So, one needs to be very careful and MUST perform these duties WITHOUT FAIL

Mantras

The mantras are chanted in vedas . So all the factors like Pronunciation , Swaram (Notes) , Padachedam (Splitting and Pausing at the correct places) are to be taken into account. If any of these are compromised even a little bit, the karma won’t yield the desired results. Compromise on these would change the meaning of the mantras and one may end up getting cursed instead of getting blessed (as we do not have any right to change Vedas). Those who have no clue about veda mantras that are chanted in pitru karmas are authorized by Shaastram to get them chanted by a qualified vedic scholar and try to repeat them. Even if one has difficulty in repeating them, they should listen carefully and follow the instructions to bear the fruits

Some Restrictions in Pitru Karmas

  • Should not drink or consume anything the karma gets over
  • Both Mind and body Should be clean
  • Should think of Ancestors during performance
  • Should not shave and take Oil bath (ideally 15 days before the ceremony – or at least 2 days before the ceremony)
  • Shaving on the day of Ceremony – Strict No
  • Should wear clean clothes
  • Should never get angry on anyone including the priest, swamis , cook family members.
  • Showing anger towards the priest , swamis will lead to vidwat curse . Pitrus won’t accept such fault filled ceremonies
  • Dedicate separate vessels exclusively for Pitru Karmas or Qualify vessels in use for Pitru Karmas
  • Should not give any reason for non performance
  • Should listen to the mantras .
  • Should not consume anything on the night of the anniversary after eating Pitru Sesham
  • All these are binding on the wives / wife of the performers / performer

Role Of Ladies

  • Should unconditionally support the performance of pitru karmas
  • Should not sing songs (even divine songs) on the shraddha / tithi day
  • Should ensure that all preparations are in order
  • Should not eat anything till the karma is completed
  • Should sport formal wear without any artificial make up
  • Even if the husband is unwilling, ladies should have a proactive look – consider the welfare of the children and stress him to perform without fail
  • Ensure your children eat the prasadam after completion of shraddham
  • Once the karma gets completed , the benefits are passed on to the performer’s wife also
  • Without the co operation of ladies, any activity, including Pitru Karma is literally tough to perform
  • Should drive the family through your good thoughts and direct the next generation by stressing the importance of pitru karmas .
  • Should have unshakeable faith in karmas which lead to good thoughts

Some Additional Information

Why Till (Ellu) and Holy Grass (Darbham) is used in Sharddhams / Tarpanams / Tithis?

We all know that Varaha Avataaram is one of the earliest avataarams of Lord Mahavishnu ,who is the presiding deity for Shraddhams (Shraddha Samrakshaka). When Sri Varaha Moorthi saved Bhoomidevi (Goddess Earth) from Hiranyaksha, The Lord Shook His body. Hair from The Lord’s body became Till (Ellu), His Sweat drops became The Pushkarini (Holy Tank) at Srimooshnam, The Places where The Lord touched the earth became Holy Grass (Darbham).

Till thus derived the ability to ward off distractions and make one focussed on the task at hand (Tarpanam / Shraddham).

Holy Grass has the ability to make one and his karma qualified. Sporting Holy Grass makes one Sin free. The grass , which has direct contact with Mahavishnu is hailed as Pavitram (Holy) . So, we use only Holy Grass to invoke Ancetors during Pitru Karmas like Shraddhams and Tarpanams.