Post by Kanchi Periva on Aug 23, 2012 8:04:30 GMT 5.5
We are posting below the information sent to us by our respected moderator, Sri Sarma Sastrigal. Many thanks to him for his continued support and contribution to this Forum.
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This Nandana year, the Mahalaya Paksha starts from Sept 30, 2012.
On the other day some one, a member of our forum, called my personal number and wanted to know if one doesn't do (or not care to perform) the pratyaabdhika sraaddha (the annual ceremony) for his parents, but whether still can he observe and perform Mahalaya paksha in some format or other, ie., hiranya rupa or tarpana vidhi.
Yes, he can. However let me also add this much. Nothing can compensate or substitute the Pratyabdhika Sraaddha. Also, one may not get the desired results if he abandons the annual sraaddha but performs the Mahalaya Paksha in lieu, or even go to Gaya and performs the related Sraaddha karyams there as a compensation or substitute. Though these karyams done with good intention, let me stress, he or his family can not escape from the pitru shapa.
There is no 'at least ' business as far as the annual sraaddha is concerned. Of course it is altogether different if one's health fails or his sarira dharmam prevents him from doing the sraaddha. Sastras allow a person in that case to observe the Sraaddha (to perform it) in a simplified manner.
Let me elaborate further.
A WORD ABOUT MAHALAYAM:
Mahalaya paksha, which is also known as 'pitru paksha' is very great and one should not think of skipping it on any count. It is said in Sastras that this paskha has immense values and gives satisfaction to the pitrus. During the paksha the souls of the pitrus will descend to earth in the form of spirits and will be present around their current biological descendants to see their conditions. Hence nitya tarpana is highly recommended if possible. I may also add that during the Mahalaya paksha one can perform the sraaddha on any convenient day, not necessarily on the day of his father's thidhi.
But, of course, Mahaalaya paksha has some leniences and alternatives. No dosham will occur if one opts for some permitted alternatives here. No one need to worry on this count. Paarvana Vidhanam, ie with Homam, is not mandatory here; and it is also observed in parts of our Tamilnadu like North Arcot some people perform only tarpanam, not even hiranya, in this Paksha; it is their desacharam. Whatever may be the format one chooses, he can observe the niyamas/deeksha prescribed throughout the Paksha.
On a personal note, I may suggest that for whomever it is convenient and affordable they can have Brahmana Bhojanam arranged as part of hiranya sraaddha. This can be carried out on any convenient day during this pitru paksha.
However let us not forget that the pratyabdhika sraaddha is entirely different from this.
PRATYABDHIKA SRAADDHA:
Our ancestors are known to have performed Pratyabdhika Sraaddha with tremendous devotion and with even more care and diligence than the attention given to special pujas and sankalpas. In the case of puja or some venduthal (specific commitment), my father Brahmasri Srinivasa Sastrigal used to say, if one has difficulty in fulfilling it one can postpone it by tying a rupee coin in a yellow cloth and keep it till one gets the time and the means to do it.
But in the case of Pratyabdhika Sraaddha there is no room for such lenience or deviation. Neither it can be postponed or advanced at our will. Sraaddha cannot be done differently from the laid down process.
FOR WHOSE SATISFACTION?
This Pratyabdhika Sraaddha is performed on the same day, known as thithi of the month (as per the Hindu calendar) every year from the second year onwards. The word Sraaddha comes from Sraddha (ச்ரத்தை) meaning concentration and care.Through the performance of a Pratyabdhika Sraaddha, we reach satisfaction and happiness, through several rites which are part and parcel of the sraaddha, to a host of Godly persons.
This Pratyabdhika sraaddha, annual ceremony, is great and very powerful. We should develop the faith that pitrus are with us, they can be contacted and we can communicate with them. They are an anga (section) of Devas and can bless us like Devas. Pitrus are gentle persons who can only do good, and who in fact want to do as much good as they can for people of their Gotra. Satisfaction of the pitrus is said to confer many benefits on the Karta – healthy family, procreation, wealth, wisdom and eminence in life and after-life.
Pitrus’ shaapa (curse)
We must always be conscious of our Dharmika karma, our religious duty. Increasingly we see instances of Sastrigal being denigrated, skipping Sraaddha on some lame excuse etc. Such behaviour amounts to ingratitude and is unpardonable. Cantankerous arguments on the irrelevance of karmas like Sraaddha in this day and age are to be avoided, and in any case people putting forth such ideas are not interested in the explanations.
Such persons may want to remember that their behaviour can invoke pitru shaapa or the curse of pitrus. The Sastras say that pitrus may not even utter a curse – they only have to heave a sigh of petulance or unhappiness, and that can have the impact of a curse.
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This Nandana year, the Mahalaya Paksha starts from Sept 30, 2012.
On the other day some one, a member of our forum, called my personal number and wanted to know if one doesn't do (or not care to perform) the pratyaabdhika sraaddha (the annual ceremony) for his parents, but whether still can he observe and perform Mahalaya paksha in some format or other, ie., hiranya rupa or tarpana vidhi.
Yes, he can. However let me also add this much. Nothing can compensate or substitute the Pratyabdhika Sraaddha. Also, one may not get the desired results if he abandons the annual sraaddha but performs the Mahalaya Paksha in lieu, or even go to Gaya and performs the related Sraaddha karyams there as a compensation or substitute. Though these karyams done with good intention, let me stress, he or his family can not escape from the pitru shapa.
There is no 'at least ' business as far as the annual sraaddha is concerned. Of course it is altogether different if one's health fails or his sarira dharmam prevents him from doing the sraaddha. Sastras allow a person in that case to observe the Sraaddha (to perform it) in a simplified manner.
Let me elaborate further.
A WORD ABOUT MAHALAYAM:
Mahalaya paksha, which is also known as 'pitru paksha' is very great and one should not think of skipping it on any count. It is said in Sastras that this paskha has immense values and gives satisfaction to the pitrus. During the paksha the souls of the pitrus will descend to earth in the form of spirits and will be present around their current biological descendants to see their conditions. Hence nitya tarpana is highly recommended if possible. I may also add that during the Mahalaya paksha one can perform the sraaddha on any convenient day, not necessarily on the day of his father's thidhi.
But, of course, Mahaalaya paksha has some leniences and alternatives. No dosham will occur if one opts for some permitted alternatives here. No one need to worry on this count. Paarvana Vidhanam, ie with Homam, is not mandatory here; and it is also observed in parts of our Tamilnadu like North Arcot some people perform only tarpanam, not even hiranya, in this Paksha; it is their desacharam. Whatever may be the format one chooses, he can observe the niyamas/deeksha prescribed throughout the Paksha.
On a personal note, I may suggest that for whomever it is convenient and affordable they can have Brahmana Bhojanam arranged as part of hiranya sraaddha. This can be carried out on any convenient day during this pitru paksha.
However let us not forget that the pratyabdhika sraaddha is entirely different from this.
PRATYABDHIKA SRAADDHA:
Our ancestors are known to have performed Pratyabdhika Sraaddha with tremendous devotion and with even more care and diligence than the attention given to special pujas and sankalpas. In the case of puja or some venduthal (specific commitment), my father Brahmasri Srinivasa Sastrigal used to say, if one has difficulty in fulfilling it one can postpone it by tying a rupee coin in a yellow cloth and keep it till one gets the time and the means to do it.
But in the case of Pratyabdhika Sraaddha there is no room for such lenience or deviation. Neither it can be postponed or advanced at our will. Sraaddha cannot be done differently from the laid down process.
FOR WHOSE SATISFACTION?
This Pratyabdhika Sraaddha is performed on the same day, known as thithi of the month (as per the Hindu calendar) every year from the second year onwards. The word Sraaddha comes from Sraddha (ச்ரத்தை) meaning concentration and care.Through the performance of a Pratyabdhika Sraaddha, we reach satisfaction and happiness, through several rites which are part and parcel of the sraaddha, to a host of Godly persons.
- The pitrus who always bless us
- Viswedevas, a section of devas who accompany pitrus
- Agni Deva, who participates in the Homa
- Devas, who are immensely satisfied wherever bhojana (food) is offered to Brahmins
- People who are consigned to hell, and cannot have opportunity for satisfaction other than through pinda pradana and vikiranna, which are offered during a Sraaddha
- Persons aspiring for pitruloka and unable to attain it
- Other pitrus who are unknown to the Karta
This Pratyabdhika sraaddha, annual ceremony, is great and very powerful. We should develop the faith that pitrus are with us, they can be contacted and we can communicate with them. They are an anga (section) of Devas and can bless us like Devas. Pitrus are gentle persons who can only do good, and who in fact want to do as much good as they can for people of their Gotra. Satisfaction of the pitrus is said to confer many benefits on the Karta – healthy family, procreation, wealth, wisdom and eminence in life and after-life.
Pitrus’ shaapa (curse)
We must always be conscious of our Dharmika karma, our religious duty. Increasingly we see instances of Sastrigal being denigrated, skipping Sraaddha on some lame excuse etc. Such behaviour amounts to ingratitude and is unpardonable. Cantankerous arguments on the irrelevance of karmas like Sraaddha in this day and age are to be avoided, and in any case people putting forth such ideas are not interested in the explanations.
Such persons may want to remember that their behaviour can invoke pitru shaapa or the curse of pitrus. The Sastras say that pitrus may not even utter a curse – they only have to heave a sigh of petulance or unhappiness, and that can have the impact of a curse.
