* Prescriptions and proscriptions about ancestral rites, eligible invitees. * Ninety Six (96) Shraddha meant for very rich persons.
Prescriptions and proscriptions about ancestral rites, eligible invitees.
Shri Narayan muni said:-
O Brahmin! A householder should, perform the obsequies (Shraddha) rituals as per his capacity, approved time, monetary affordability and set ritual procedures abiding by the rules of householder ship. 1.
That ritual is reputed to be Shraddha wherein food is offered to departed manes and whatever is dear to them is given as alms, by the performer, with faith (Shraddha). 2.
Following are the twelve kinds of obsequies (Shraddhas).1 Nitya: regular; 2 Naimittika: occasional; 3 Kamya: motivational 4 Vriddhi-shraddha: Obsequy on prosperity 5 Sapinda: incorporating rice-ball-oblation; 6 Gosthi-shraddha: community- obsequy; 7 Parvana: performed on lunar or astronomical con- junctions; 8 Shuddhi-shraddha: purificatory obsequy; 9 Karmanga: ritual auxiliary; 10 Daivika: God-related; 11 Paustika: nourishing: these are of four kinds. 12 Yatrika: pertaining to pilgrimage. 3- 4
Some other sages say that there are 4 types of Shraddha as follows: 1Ekoddishta: uni-directed; 2 Parvana: performed on lunar conjunction etc.; 3 Vriddhi- Shraddha: prosperity-based and 4 Sapinda: incorporating rice-ball-oblation: 5.
An obsequy should be performed at the south-facing places, places of sacred ford (Tirtha) or even at one’s home equipped with soil-sacrament etc along with special efforts. 6.
O Twice-born! Shraddha should be performed at a place where the shadow of a Tulasi bush covers the ground for the satiation of the manes. 7.
While performing Shraddha-ritual at the ford called ‘Gayasiras’, the performer should offer rice-ball-oblation, the Pinda being made of the size of a Shami leaf. That would uplift hundred and one clans of manes of seven genetic lineages (Gotras). 8.
A learned man must not perform Shraddha-rite in a region of Mlechhas, and also where no Brahmins exist. He should not perform it at night or in the evening and never in the open. 9.
The seers have in all enumerated ninety six Shraddha-types, for satiating ancestors if there are favourable venues and times for performing the Shraddha-rite. 10.
Ninety Six (96) Shraddha meant for very rich persons. There are various differences in Shraddha. Four no moon days (Amavasya), fourteen Manvadi tithis, four Yugabda tithis; four days of the entering of the sun in Aries zodiac; thirteen Vaidhrta yogas; thirteen Vyatipata yogas; sixteen Tithis called Mahalya in the month of Bhadrapada, Adyanta tithis Samyukta Saptami, Navami Tithi with four Ashtamis in Hemant season, including four, in dark fortnight are the recommended days for Shraddha ritual. 11.
A Shraddha performed on, the thirteen black day tithi of Bhadrapada, when the moon is in Magha constellation and the sun is in Hasta constellation, is called ‘Gajachhaya yoga’, results in giving great auspicious fruits. 12.
In all the great rivers including Ganga and in all the holy Tirthas and in Gaya, a man, whose father is alive, can also perform Shraddha ritual, if he is knower of Parvana ritual (Dharmavit). 13.
Following Shraddhas: Darsa-Shraddha, Gaya-Shraddha, Mahalaya-Shraddha and Shraddha with sesame should not be performed by a man whose father is alive. 14.
On the occasion of pilgrimage, one who happens to go to Gaya, a knower of Dharma-principles and whose father is alive, can perform Tirtha-shraddha. But he should not do ‘Pindadana’ in Shraddha. 15.
A man, whose father is alive, can perform Shraddha, on occasions like marriage, birth of a son, Putreshti, Somayaga, pilgrimage, and on religious Shrotriya teacher’s arrival. 16.
In the tithis of black fortnight of Bhadrapada – Mahalya; Gaya- shraddha, Vriddhi-shraddha and Anvastaka Astami and Navami day, Shraddha are called Dvadasa-devata-shraddha: and the Shraddha of six Purushas is called Shat-purusha-shraddha. 17.
The time of transition (Samkramana) of the sun in Aries and Libra signs, Uttarayana (Makara Samkranti), Daksinayana (Karka Samkranti), in Anvadiyuga of fourteen tithis, a Shraddha with Pinda should be performed by a religious man. 18.
During Anvastaka – in the later – black fortnight, on the Navami Tithi, in Hemanta and Shishir seasons, in Vriddhi and Gaya- Shraddha, mother’s Shraddha should be performed independently; and at other places, wife or father must be present. 19.
Now about the proper eligible Brahmin for accepting meals in the Shraddha ritual: a Brahmin, who is loyal to his own religion is eligible but a Brahmin of Vedic knowledge, yet characterless, is not eligible. 20.
A Brahmin, who is well versed in the Veda, penance-loving, righteous and saintly is to be invited for Shraddha on priority. 21.
Even if he does not know the Vedas perfectly or he does not know Shashtras well, as long as he is purely religious and an expert in Gayatri, he is the best for Shraddha ritual. If a Brahmin is well versed in four Vedas, but is sinful and is non-vegetarian, he should never be invited. 22 - 23.
If an eligible Brahmin is not available, one’s own maternal grandfather, if he is of good character also can be invited. In the Tirtha-shraddha, a Brahmin must not be tested in detail and one, who is in want of food, is eligible. 24.
Mother’s father, father, daughter’s son, sister’s son, aunt’s son, aunt’s grandson, son-in-law, wife’s father, a Yajna performing Brahmin, Upadhyaya; all these, if they are righteous and loyal to religion are eligible for consuming food during Shraddha; otherwise they are not eligible and hence they should be avoided. 25-27.
If at all, in Kaliyuga, a man having knowledge and good moral character is generally not available, a person having good knowledge of present times, who is righteous and keeps away from misdeeds is also an eligible Brahmin for Shraddha. 28.
If a devotee of Hari or a Yati-sannyasi takes meals in Shraddha, even if there is dearth of offerings, it is considered perfect. 29.
A town where one gives meals to others and avoids giving meals to Yatis in Shraddha does not offer those meals to forefathers but to demons – Rakshasas. 30.
During Daiva karma – Vaisvadeva – one should sit in Northern part, facing east and during Pitru Karma, the Brahmin should sit in the eastern part facing the north. 31.
In Daiva Karma, two Brahmins and in Pitru Karma, three Brahmins should be offered meals. Alternatively, one Brahmin each, in both the Karmas could be offered meals. Even if one can afford feeding more people, it is not essential. 32.
Because of the attitude in giving more or extending will as per the difference in region and time, a sacred Brahmin will lose his virtues and prosperity. 33.
While the Brahmins are taking their meals in Shraddha, if other Brahmin or Brahmachari comes for meals, he should also be offered sumptuous meals. 34.
The man who performs the Shraddha ritual should abandon seven things: tooth cleaning, eating betel leaf, taking bath with oil, intercourse with wife, taking medicine, fasting and taking food from others. 35.
Taking meals for the second time, crossing the road with a purpose of leaving town, lifting burdens, reciting/learning the Vedas, giving or accepting alms, intercourse with wife and home fire sacrifice, these eight should be abandoned. 36.
Meals in the forthcoming Shraddha and taking meals on the previous day and permitted intercourse with wife, should be avoided. 37.
If one takes meals (during Shraddha) or has an intercourse with his wife, his pitaras (manes) will sleep in his semen in that month. 38.
All the forefathers are fully pleased and satisfied when food, ghee, milk, honey, and such things are offered. 39.
During the Shraddha ritual, the use of meat, although previously prescribed, is prohibited in Kaliyuga, so such things should never be used. 40.
The sage, whose scripture is said to be prime in the Kali Yuga, is Parashar. The aforesaid prohibition of meat was instructed to Suvrat and other eminent sages who followed him. So only vegetables, ghee, honey, milk, and similar such things should only be used in Shraddha rituals to gratify the manes and not non- vegetarian food. 41 - 42.
One who disregards and casts aside the advice of sages and uses non-vegetarian material such as meat etc. and, in the process, kills animals to use their meat in Shraddha is considered to be an ignorant person akin to the one who smears fire coal to his body instead of applying sandalwood paste. Like a child which jumps into a well to draw out something and falls into it, a person using meat in Shraddha falls into disaster. 43 - 44.
Keeping these words of sages in mind, meat, flesh and non- vegetarian items should be strictly avoided in a Shraddha ritual. One must abide by the rules and directives or norms as stated by the religion. 45.
One must offer pure, unadulterated milk and the grain that the sages grew to satisfy the forefathers. 46.
In particular, only cow’s milk, curd and clarified butter should be used in Shraddha and not buffalo’s milk. Only clarified butter made of buffalo milk is permitted, not their milk or curd. 47.
The time recommended to be the best for Shraddha is the Kutapa Kala, an auspicious time of a day. Offering Nepala kambala (Nepali blanket), silver utensils, Darbha grass and sesame as materials and inviting one’s daughter’s son are considered to be auspicious in Shraddha. 48.
(During the performance of the rite) gotra and name should be uttered together and then after taking a pause for a moment, one must utter his Gotra with ‘sakara’. 49.
If at all one doesn’t know his Gotra, he should utter the name ‘Kashyapa’, as is said by Shruti, that all the people are born of Kashyapa. 50.
If the man who performs Shraddha rituals doesn’t know names of his forefathers, he should say ‘Prithvishat’ for father, ‘Antariksashat’ for grandfather and ‘Divishat’ for great grandfather (Pardada/parampita). 51.
In ‘Asana’ and other cases, the exact case (Vibhakti) should be uttered as per rules of grammar. Only such an utterance will lead to fruitful results and a mistake will prove futile. 52.
The rules Aksayya or Asana, the sixth grammatical case, is as follows: Shasthi should be used for invocation, second case: Dvitiya and for food–donation, fourth case: Chaturthi should be selected. For all other rituals, vocative case is to be employed. 53.
Visarjan; Chalaka; Vikira; Pankti-varana; Hasta-shuddhi are the six items, in which father takes meals first. 54.
Svagata (welcome); Svasti-vachana (announcement of auspicious event); Gotrasesa (announcement of family lineage); Pradaksina (circum-ambulation); Arghya (offering of reverential water); Daksina-dana (giving alms) are the six items when Savya should be done (taking the sacred thread from the left shoulder to the rightside of waist) and Apa-savya (reverse position) for others. 55.
Flowers: Agastya; Bhringaraja; Tulasi; Shatpatrika; Champaka and Tilapuspa (sesame flower) are the favourites of Pitaras: forefathers. 56.
One should consciously avoid the following flowers: Ketaki, Karaveer, Bakula, kundaka, Patala and Jati, in Shraddha. 57.
A twice-born, who is poor, affected by calamities and who does not maintain perpetual fire, should perform the Shraddha without cooked food (Amashraddha). A Shudra should always perform Amashraddha. 58.
Mrutaha (annual death anniversary), Sapinda and Gayashraddha should never be performed with uncooked food by a Brahmin. 59.
One who performs ‘Amashraddha’ should, while addressing Avahana, Svadhakara and Visarjana say the Mantra with ‘Uha’ and for other karmas, without ‘Uha’. 60.
Even if it is not possible to perform ‘Amashraddha’, a learned man should perform the Shraddha with gold that four times more in quantity than corn. 61.
A wise person should perform ancestral rites at the time of son’s birth with gold alone and not with either cooked food or uncooked food if he aspires for the latter’s welfare. 62.
One who is unable to perform elaborate Samagra and Parvana Shraddha should perform Shraddha only with a modest resolve (Samkalpa). 63.
While performing ‘Samkalpa-Shraddha’, he should abandon the words along with the Mantra: Avahana, Svadha, Arghya, Agna-ukarana (libation in fire equal to Homa), Vikir and Pindadana. 64.
In the absence of money or non-availability of a Brahmin, only ‘Pinda’ should be offered on the Shraddha day and a day’s fast should be observed. 65.
A pitcher with fruits and water should be given to a Brahmin or grass should be given to a cow. The Shraddha day should not be spent without giving anything. 66.
A Brahma-yajna should not be performed and the tarpana should not be done before Shraddha. The learned Rig-Vedic Brahmin should do thatonly after the Shraddha is over. 67.
Mahalaya and such other Shraddha should not be performed, if wife’s monthly course or menstruation is in existence. It should be performed after the fifth day bath or on an Amavasya day. 68.
Annual and monthly Shraddha can be performed even if one’s wife’s monthly course is going on. 69.
If Shraddha ritual comes on the Vrata or Upavasa (fasting day), it should be performed as per routine. The scent of the food offered to the manes should only be inhaled and Upavasa (fasting) should be observed for whole day. 70.
Vaishnavas should perform Shraddha on twelfth day and not on Ekadashi day since his Pitaras (forefathers) are deemed to be Vaishnavas. 71.
A son should annually perform a Sannyasi Shraddha as per rituals but the Mahalaya Shraddha should be performed only on Dvadashi (twelfth day) and not on any other day. It will be done on Parvana otherwise. 72.
Amashraddha should be performed in the first-half of the day i.e. before mid-day; Ekoddishta Shraddha should be performed at mid-day and Parvana shraddha in the afternoon; and if it is Vriddhi- shraddha, it should be performed in the morning. 73.
When the person does not know the exact month or Tithi of the death of father and Pitaras, annual Shraddha should be performed on the Magha or Margaseersa Amavasya day. 74.
The time for Vriddhi-shraddha, Yajna, marriage, Devapratishta (installing God), thread ceremony, return from education (Samavartana), Garbhadhana etc., are the days on which Vriddhi- shraddha is to be performed. 75.
If a father is very old, has gone on a pilgrimage, has taken renunciation (Sanyasa) or is a social outcast (Patite), his son should take his place and perform the Vriddhi Shraddha. 76.
In Tirtha-shraddha, he should avoid Arghya while doing Avahana (inviting). While dipping a Brahmin’s thumb in food, (Dvija-Angustha Niveshana), he should ask the question ‘are you satisfied?’. He should do the same during dispersal (Vikira) (leaving food on ground). 77.
O Brahmin! Atithis, uninvited guests, who come on Shraddha day are all worth to be served with meals and giving them meals, completes the Shraddha Ritual. 78.
A Brahmchari should perform all the cremational rituals of his father, mother and also the monthly Shraddha and annual Shraddha according to the rituals. 79.
An ascetic (Sannyasi) should never observe the deathpollution and shead tears for his father and mother and should not do the rite of offering rice-ball and libations. 80.
One who does not adore ancestors and Gods at proper time (Shraddha-day) according to his eligibility and affordability would certainly fall in hell. 81.
The man, who performs Shraddha rituals becomes healthy, free from diseases, lives long, begets sons and grandsons, and becomes rich and enjoys wealth. 82.
When one who questions, ‘Where are my forefathers?’ in his mind and does not perform Shraddha-obsequy, his forefathers get angry and drink his blood. 83.
As a calf lost among cows finds his own mother-cow, the Mantra chanted during Shraddha carries the obsequial food specifically offered to manes, to respective ancestors. 84.
If a departed father becomes God by virtue of his righteous deeds, his food becomes Nectar and reaches him. In the event of his getting a mortal (human) birth, it assumes the form of his meals and in the event of him begetting an animal birth, it becomes grass for him. Food offered to him in Shraddha follows him in the form of wind should he be born a snake. 85 - 86.
Thus, the food offered in obsequial rite is received by creatures in all embodiments. Therefore, obsequial rite should be performed with all efforts. 87.
‘O wise Brahmin! I have narrated all this ritual procedures of Shraddha in totality to you, as it exists. Hereafter, I shall describe the conduct to be avoided in Kali-yuga among the duties laid down by hosts of seers. 88.
Thus ends the twentieth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of Shraddha ritual,’ in the fifth Prakaran of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra (the rules of the code of conduct). 20