DIVINE INFORMATION PART 2-7 Varaha Purana part 7
Posted by: "DILIP KUMARRAVINDRAN" [email protected] prdiliFri Oct 22, 2010 6:19 am (PDT) PITRAS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 'SHRADDH Once,sage Markandeya arrived at Naimisharanya to see sage Gaurmukh. Sage Gaurmukhwas delighted to find such an enlightened soul at his hermitage. After theformalities were over, Gaurmukh requested him to shed light on the venerability of ancestors and the significanceof shraddh rituals. SageMarkandeya replied-"Lord Brahma, after having created the sapta rishisinstructed them to worship him(Lord Brahma) but they became so arrogant thatthey started to worship themselves. Lord Brahma felt insulted and so he cursedthem of becoming bereft of all the knowledge. In course of time, the sapta rishis had numerous sons. After the death of the saptarishis, all the sons performed shraddh so that their souls could rest in peace.The sapta rishis were also famously known as 'Vaimanik' because they hadmanifested from the mind of Brahma." SageGaurmukh was listening to Markandeya's utterances with rapt attention. Heasked about the most appropriate time for performing shraddh and also about thenumber of 'ganas' each of the pitras were supposed to have. Sage Markandeya replied-"Pitras livingin the heaven are known as 'somap pitras'are believed to be the most privileged ones among all the pitras. They enjoythe most delicious beverage-somaras. Their life-span extends for the fullperiod of kalpa and they worship 'marutas'. Sage Marich belongs to this category of pitras." Pitras belonging to the category of'vairaj' are reveredeven by the marutganas. Sanak comes under this categoty of pitras. Each ofthese pitras have seven ganas. Similarly, pitras known as 'bhaswar' have theirabode in the world called 'santanak'. These pitras are revered even by thedeities as all of them are 'brahma vadis'(one who has realized Brahma). Theyre manifest themselves after every hundred yugas. People belonging to any castecan worship the revered 'pitras' with appropriately modified rituals andobviously with the permission of the Brahmin. Some of the prominent pitras are 'Vasu', 'Kashyap','Marichi' 'Sanak' etc. THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR PERFORMINGSHRADDH Describingthe auspicious time for performing the rituals of shraddh, Markandeya toldGurumukh-"A person desirous of performing the rituals of 'kamya shraddh' cando so on any of the following days-a).at the commencement of uttarayan ordakshinayan. B) at the time when vyatipat yoga takes place. c) at the time whenvishu yoga occurs. D) during both solar and lunar eclipses. e) if troubled by the evil influencesof a constellation or a planet. f) if troubled by nightmares. g)at the time when the Sun changes itsposition from one zodiac to another. Thevarious nakshatras like Anuradha,Vishakha and Shwati are considered to be veryauspicious for performing shraddh- especially, if the day happens to beamavasya. Shraddhperformed on such a day pacifies the ancestor's soul for eight years. Similarlythe combination of amavasya with either 'pushya nakshatra' or 'punarvasunakshatra' is believed to pacify the ancestors soul for twelve years. Someother days which are considered to be very auspicious for performing shraddhare-the third day of the bright half of the Hindu month Vaishakh, the ninth dayof the bright half of the Hindu month Kartik, the thirteenth day of the darkhalf of the Hindu month Bhadrapad and amavasya falling in the Hindu month ofMagh .A man desirous of performing shraddh can do so on any of the abovementioned days. He should take bath in a holy river and offer'tarpan'(libation) to his ancestors. SHRADDH KALPA Varaha Purana part 8 Posted by: "DILIP KUMARRAVINDRAN" [email protected] prdili Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:55 am (PDT) Describingthe types of Brahmin, considered to be eligible to preside over the rituals ofshraddh, Markandeya told sage Gaurmukh- "Thefollowing types of Brahmin are eligible to perform shraddh-'trinachike t''trimadhu' 'trisuparna' and the Brahmins who are well versed in all the Vedas. The shraddh rituals can be performed byany of the followingrelatives of the deceased, apart from his son-maternal nephew, grandson (daughter's son),father- in-law, son-in-law, maternal uncle, etc. Similarly, the following types ofBrahmin should never beinvited at the shraddh at the shraddh ceremony-a deceitful or a wicked Brahmin,a Brahmin who is ahabitual backbiter or who is accused of theft, a Brahmin who hasmarried a shudra woman and a Brahmin who earns his livelihood by working as a priest. HOW TO INVITE BRAHMINS TO SHRADDHCEREMONY Invitationshould be given to the all the Brahmins one day in advance. If uninvited Brahmins arrive to attend the shraddh ceremony theyshould be treated with due respect. TheBrahmin who is supposed to perform the rituals should wash the feet of otherBrahmins to show his respect towards them. He should then help them perform'achaman' (rinsing of mouth). Finally, the invited Brahmins should be fed afterthe rituals have been completed. NUMBER OF BRAHMINS Asfar as the number of invited Brahmins to the shraddh ceremony of the ancestorsis concerned, the scriptures have strictly put it to odd numbers-one, three, five, etc. Similarly,the number of invited Brahmins for the shraddh of the deities is concerned the numberhas been put to even number-two, four, etc. But ,if the person finds itdifficult to invite the above number of Brahmins then he can invite only oneBrahmin for both the types of shraddh. Whileperforming the shraddh of maternal grandfather it is mandatory to perform theshraddh of Vaishyadeva simultaneously. In the shraddh ceremony related with the deities theBrahmins should always have their food facing east. On the contrary, in the shraddh ceremony ofthe ancestors the brahmins should have their food facing north. My note-We have changed a lot from what is told above. There are missing links I will continue in next posting. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/754470816.49037.1635907869747%40mail.yahoo.com.
