Pranam Q1 Views and truth: 1 Sathguru Venkataraman gave us the revolutionary idea (in the 1980s) that women can do pitru tharpanam just as well as men. Think of this key point: If there are no sons in a family, does that mean the ancestors should be starved of tharpanam? The answer is NO. The daughters can certainly do tharpanam. For a man who had daughters but no sons, will anyone do tharpanam with more mental involvement and dedication than his own daughters? NO. So these daughters can certainly do tharpanam for this (departed) man. Note further that if others do tharpanam for this (departed) man, it will be karunya tharpanam and not pitru tharpanam. Whereas, if his daughters do it, it will be direct, full fledged pitru tharpanam.*However there is a condition viz :Women should use white sesame seeds in their tharpanam.* * 2 *Son (including the one whose threading ceremony has not been done), daughter, grandson, great grandson, wife, daughter’s son (if he is one of the heirs), real brother, nephew, cousin’s son, father, mother, daughter-in-law, son of elder and younger sisters, maternal uncle, anyone in the seven generations and from the same lineage (sapinda), anyone after the seven generations and belonging to the same family domain (samanodak), disciple, priests (upadhyay), friend, son-in-law of the deceased person can perform Shraddha in that order.*However,The woman performing shraddha should place a clean cotton cloth on her shoulder while performing ‘Savya-Apasavya’ (sanatana.org <http://sanatana.org>)* *3 *Facing south, Yagnopavit in Upsvena position (*women should keep hair lock on left shoulder*), left knee touching ground, right knee up, pavitri removed from anamika finger, one should hold tight two pieces of darbha, bent in the middle, by thumb and side of palm. (Kashmir Pundits) 4 Garuḍa Purāṇam, Preta Kalpa Chapter Eight गरुड उवाच -
*स्वामिन्कस्याधिकारोऽत्र सर्व एवौर्ध्वदेहिके* । क्रियाः कतिविधाः प्रोक्ता वदैतत्सर्वमेव मे ॥ १ ॥ garuḍa uvāca - *svāminkasyādhikāro'tra sarva evaurdhvadehike* । kriyāḥ katividhāḥ proktā vadaitatsarvameva me ॥ 1 ॥ Garuda said - *O Lord, now tell me who are authorized to perform obsequies* and what are the methods of performance prescribed in the śāstras. श्रीकृष्ण उवाच - पुत्रः पौत्रः प्रपौत्रो वा तद्भ्राता भ्रातृसन्ततिः । सपिण्डसन्ततिर्वापि क्रियार्हाः खग ज्ञातय ॥ २ ॥ śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca - putraḥ pautraḥ prapautro vā tadbhrātā bhrātṛsantatiḥ । sapiṇḍasantatirvāpi kriyārhāḥ khaga jñātaya ॥ 2 ॥ Sri Krishna (The Lord) said - Son, Grandson, Great grandson, his brother and brother's progeny, so also sapiṇḍa progeny - all these are authorized to perform the obsequies. तेषामभावे सर्वेषां समानोदकसन्ततिः । कुलद्वयेऽपि चोच्छिन्ने *स्त्रीभिः* कार्याः क्रियाः खग ॥ ३ ॥ teṣāmabhāve sarveṣāṃ samānodakasantatiḥ । kuladvaye'pi cocchinne *strībhiḥ* kāryāḥ kriyāḥ khaga ॥ 3 ॥ In their absence, samānodaka progeny can perform the rite. *If both the families are maleless the women should perform the obsequies.* इच्छयोच्छिन्नबन्धश्च कारयेदवनीपतिः । पूर्वाः क्रिया मध्यमाश्च तथा चैवोत्तराः क्रियाः ॥ ४ ॥ icchayocchinnabandhaśca kārayedavanīpatiḥ । pūrvāḥ kriyā madhyamāśca tathā caivottarāḥ kriyāḥ ॥ 4 ॥ In the absence any family or relative, the king may perform all the rites - the preliminary, the middling and the final. Also, the Garuḍa Purāṇam Sāroddhāra <https://archive.org/details/garuapurasroddh00subrgoog> (Essence of Garuḍa Purāṇam, considered equivalent to Garuḍa Purāṇam and recited widely) in its Chapter 11 (śloka 18) says *स्त्री* वाऽथ पुरुषः कश्चिदिष्टस्य कुरुते क्रियाम् । अनाथप्रेतसंस्कारात्कोटियज्ञफमं लभेत् ॥ *strī* vā'tha puruṣaḥ kaścidiṣṭasya kurute kriyām । *anāthapretasaṃskārātkoṭiyajñaphalaṃ labhet* ॥ A *woman* or man who performs the *rites for anātha preta (unknown person or friend) obtains the fruit of performing a crore (or unlimited) sacrifices (yajña)*. This (Regarding Anātha Preta rites) is also said in Garuḍa Purāṇam, Preta Kalpa Chapter Thirty Eight (śloka 40) as *अनाथप्रेतसंस्कारः कोटियज्ञफलप्रदः* *5 *The story goes that Rama, along with his brothers and Sita, came to Gaya to perform the sacred rites for his father, Dasaratha. When the brothers were bathing in the river, Sita was sitting on the banks, playing with the sand. Suddenly, Dasaratha appeared out of the sand, and asked for the Pindam, saying he was hungry. Sita asked him to wait till his sons returned, so that she could give him the traditional Pindam of rice and til. He refused to wait, asking her to give him pindams made of the sand in her hand. Having no other option, she gave him the Pindam he desired with five witnesses – the Akshaya Vatam, the Falguni River, a cow, a Tulsi plant and a Brahmin. Soon, Rama returned and started the rituals. In those days apparently, the ancestors would arrive in person to collect their share, and when Dasaratha did not appear, they wondered why. Sita then told them what had happened, but Rama could not believe that his father would accept pindams made of sand. Sita now mentioned her witnesses, and asked them to tell Rama the truth. Among the five, only the Akshaya Vatam took her side and told the truth, while the others lied, trying to take Rama’s side. In her anger, Sita cursed all of them thus: the Falguni river henceforth would have no water at Gaya; the Cow would no longer be worshipped from the front as all others are- only its backside would be worshipped; there would be no more Tulsi plants at Gaya and the Gaya Brahmins would never be satisfied, they would always be hungry and crave more and more. She then blessed the Akshaya Vatam saying that all who came to Gaya would perform the Pinda pradaanam at the Akshaya Vatam too. Sri Sita is said to have performed Sandhyavandanam including Dhyaanam and Japam (Vide page 97 of Notes on AyOdhya KhaaNDam of Srimad Vaalmiki Ramayanam by Sri C.R.Srinivasa Iyengar) KR IRS 10222 Q9 (1) J S Ms quotes: fdor women chanting Vedas: *A FEW AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN CHANTING VEDAS:-* 1. The "Brahma" in a yajna is the best trained purohit who can correct the others involved in the yajna. BRAHMAA VAA RITVIJAABHMISHAKTAMAHA – *Shatapatha brahmana 1.7.4.19.* "Thasyaadyo brahmanishtaha syaath tham brahmaanam kurveeth". "Atha kena brahmtvam kreeyathe iti trayyaa vidyayethi, trayya vidyayeti ha brooyaath" (*Aithareya 5.33).* *2. * A woman can be a brahma as mentioned in *Rigveda (8.33.-19).* “…sthree hi brahmaa vibhoovidhaha" . *3. *"AachaaryadaNatvam"…Ashtaadhyaayi 4.3.2.49. "ACHHARYASYA STREE AACHAARYAANEE PUM YOGA ITHYEVA AACHAARYA SVAYAM VYAAKHYAATREE"- *Siddhaanta koumudi.* ( *the woman who conducts the veda pravachana is called an Achaarya) .* *4. *Aachaarya lakshana :- "UPANEEYA TUM YAHA SHISHYA VEDAMADHYAAPAYED DWIJAHA, SAKALPA SARAHASYAM CHA THAMAACHAARYA PRACHAKSHATHE". ( The one who can conduct the upanayana samskaara and teaches the Vedas is called the Aachaarya). Siddhaanta Koumudi edited by Mahamahopaadhyaaya pandit Shivadatta sarma says, *5. *"ITI VACHANENAAPI STREENAM VEDAADHYANAADIKAARO DHVANITHAHA". (*THIS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WOMEN HAS VEDAADHIKAARA*) . *6. *Rigveda 10.159-2.3"THADVIDAHA�….UTAAHAMASMI SAM JAYAA…UTTAMAM". (May I get a good husband…..Because of Vedas, I will become tejasvi and a powerful spokes person… May my daughter shine well because of her good character) . *7. *Taandya brahmana (5-6-8) advises that women have to chant saamaved along with veena when a yajna is being conducted. *8. *The Mantra 5.5.29 ordains that the women have to circumambulate the yajna kunda chanting the veda mantras. . *9. *.The kumari Gandharva grahathaa story in Eithareya proves that the women had all rights for Vedas. . *10. *Laatyayana shrouthasootra, Shaankaayana shroutha sootra etc., also confirms the rights of women for Vedas. There are several other authorities advising women to chant veda mantras. . *11. *Yajurveda23-23, 25-27, 29; *12. *Shatapatha brahmana 1-9-2-2-1, 1.9.2.22.23; *13. *Taittareeya samhitha 1.1.10, *14. *Aaswalaayana grihya sootra 1.1.9, *15. *Kaataka grihyasootra 3.1.30, 27-3, *16. *Paaraskara grihyasootra 1.5.1,2. , *17. *Yajurveda 36-24 "tacchakshurdeva sahitam…" is to chanted only by a woman. *18. *Rigveda 10-85.48 has to be chanted by husband and wife together. *19. *Some Names of women who chanted Vedas:- Ghoshaa, godaa, vishvavaraa, apaalaa, adithi, jahu, indraani, vedavathi, Oorvashi, shachee, shrithaavathi, Siddhaa, Shreemathi, Shivaa, Sulabhaa, Svadhaa, Vapunaa, Dhaarini, Romashaa, Lopaamudraa, Yamee, Shaashvathee, Idaa, Gaargi, Maithreyi....... *20. *Some more Authorities for women chanting veda mantras:- Examples of women mantradrashtaaras: Ghoshaa, godhaa, vishvavaraa, Apaalaa, Upanishad, Jahu, Indraani, saramaa, Romashaa, Oorvashi, Lopaamudraa, Yamee, Shaashvathee, Sooryaasavithree,....etc., *21. *Rigveda 10-134, 10-39, 10-40, 8-91, 10-95, 10-109, 10-154, 10-159, 10-189, 5-28, 8-91 ..etc., are from women. *22. *Taittareeya brahmana 2-3-10..".. *23. *Tam trayee vedaa anya srijantha....vedan pradadow" (Three vedas were given to the woman Seetaa-savitri through Soma). *24. *Manu's daughter Idaa is described in Taittareeya Brahmana( 1-1-4) as Yajnaprakaashinee meaning Yajna tatva prakaashana samarthaa. (This can be continued...) *25. *To cite examples of mention in Mahaakavyas:- Mahabharata:- Udyogaparva 190-18: "Atra siddhaa shivaa naama braahmNee veda paaragaahaa.." (A brahmin lady by name Shivaa was a scholar of vedas and she got Moksha). *26. *A non brahmin lady Droupadi was a scholar of vedas. Achaarya *27. *Madhva in his Mahabharata tatparya nirnaya says, "Vedaaschapyuttama streebhihi krishnaattaabhirihaakhilaaha. ( Good women should learn Vedas like Droupadi). *28. *Valmiki Ramayana:- Sundarakaanda53-26: Vaidehi shokasantaptaa hutaashanmupaagatam. ( The sad Seeta did homa to Agni) *29. *VR 5-15-48:- "Sandhyaakaale .....Sandhyaartham varavarninee". (Seetha would certainly come to the river to perform sandhya with pure water). *30. *Valmikiramayana 4-16-12, 2-20-15 indicate that Kousalya and Kaikeyi also were doing agnihotra etc., *31. *Vaali's wife tara chanted swastimantras. *32. *Puranas :- Vishnupurana (1-10) and (18-19); Markandeyapurana (52); Brahma vaivarta purana (14-6) 6 B G says do not tell this to asraddha fellow only; if Viswamitra can chant as a kshatriyan, if Vyasa can compile, which is not feasible without reading, leave alone chanting the chanting of veda is brahminic is self centered arguement. Veda if universal as stated then even a milecha can provided he is interested genuinely; sraddha; to say shortly, Veda means Knowledge and knowledge when handed over, Brahmins were not born, if so how Brahmin alone can stake a claim?. Also the hiding Zakir Hussain awaiting arrest, appears to know better our scriptures than teh Brahmins of today. KR IRS 10222 On Thu, 10 Feb 2022 at 03:34, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < [email protected]> wrote: > QUES ANSW DIVINE 2-2022-09 > > Dear friends, > > These are information posted by members compiled as QA by me in > 1998’s-2004’s and stored in my computer. At this date I have no information > of the members posted. > > *BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS.* > > Sincerely, > > *R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, dated 10-02-2022* > > Q1 Can a lady perform Sraddaha? > > A1 When a lady is the kartha, the rituals are done by a male after > obtaining her permission (adikarathvam) and is done on her behalf. > > However the amavasai tharpanam is done only by sons after the death of > the father only. > > Q2 What is the essence of performing Tharpanam and Sraddaham? > > A2 The essense of performing the annual shraaddham and the monthly > tharpanam to our immediate-past three generations of direct ancestors lies > in our conviction that we are in constant communication with the Divinity > at all times. Through performing these rites, we elevate these ancestors > through the celestial orders of precedence: vasu, rudra, and aadithya. > > Q3 What is elaborateand mini Sraddaha? > > A3 The very elaborate ritual is *by inviting 11 Brahmanas, housing them > overnight, performing the detailed homam, giving each 10 dhaanaams, > preparing the strict-menu luncheon etc. * > > The "hiranya-roopam" version of the rite is much shorter, mini sraddaha > and meets the minimum requirements, and achieves the same purpose as the > more lengthy ceremonies. > > Q4 What is the legend behind the three lines in the body of Squirrels of > India? > > A4 The squirrel dipped itself in the water and rolling on the sand and > dipping again in the water brought some sand for building the Sethu. Sreerama > overwhelmed with joy put his three fingers over the squirrels which give > the mark. > > My note- I read elsewhere long back that the squrrils in USA are not > having the marks > > Q5 Do any instance of pithru himself accepting Havana in Ramayana? > > A5 According to the legend, when Rama was performing the shrarda of his > father 'Dasaratha', the hand of Dasaratha came out of the Havana kunda and > received the offering > > Q6 What is Thila homam and for whom it is done? > > A6 *people who die in **accidents > <http://www.chennaionline.com/columns/DownMemoryLane/diary168.asp>**, > have an unnatural death,* or commit suicide, might become Pishachas > (ghosts) and for them 'Pitru Shap Nivarthi' should be performed which is > also called 'Thil Homam'. > > Q7Do the food offered to the ancestors is only half cooked and no salt is > added to it earlier? > > A7 Yes.I personally feel it is done in such a way, so that no earthling > will eat it out of greed or hunger and it will go only to the dear departed > soul. > > Q8 What is the name of chettiar lady in the Thayumanavan story? > > A8 Ratnavalli.There once lived a young girl by name Ratnavalli who > belonged to Chetty community. When she was pregnant she was advised to > climb up the steps of the Rockfort (in Tiruchirappalli, South India) and as > an offering, light a lamp of ghee for Lord Siva. Religiously she did it > until her tenth month of pregnancy. And, what happened? The Lord > (Thãyumãnavan) came down to attend to her 'delivery'! > > Moved to tears when the young girl asked the Lord, "Oh, You are > Kailasapati! *Why did you come all the way down from Kailasa to help me?" > * > > The Lord replied, "Did you not climb all the way to offer the lamp for > me? This is the reason that I have come down all the way from Kailasa to be > with you at the time of your delivery." > > Q9 Can any body chant Vedas and Gayathri? > > A9 No.It is only the Brahmin who has the right to chant the Vedas. No > one else has the right to chant the Vedas. Gayatri is a Maha Mantra > (supreme Mantra). Only the Brahmin has the right to do japa of the Gayatri > Maha Mantra. > > One can do wonders with the regular chanting of the Gayatri Mantra. Sage > Agastya drank the whole ocean due to the power sobtained through the > chanting of the Gayatri Mantra. > > It was through the power of Gayatri that Sage Viswamitra created the > heaven for Trisang. > > And, it was through the same power (of Gayatri Mahamantra) that Sage > Vasishta destroyed the huge army of Viswamitra single handedly. > > Q10 What is Grukripa and its importance? > > A10 Go to Brindavan. Today's Mathura is only Madhuvan. This is the place > where Bhagavãn was going to be born later. It is called 'suchi'. What is > 'suchi'? > > The Devas pleaded with Bhagavãn, "Please stop Dhruva's tapas." > > Bhagavan said to them, "You devas have always been successful in > disturbing others tapas. You would send down Ramba, Urvasi and pull them > out of it." > > The Devas replied, "We tried it with Dhruva, too. All our schemes have > failed in the case of Dhruva. > > Why? Viswamitra performed tapas on his own. But Dhruva has begun his > tapas with the Guru's Grace > > Q11 What are the details of madhwacharya? > > A11 In a tiny village called PAJAKA in Udupi district in Karnataka state, > in the year 1238 AD, a boy was born on Vijaya Dashami day of the Lunar > month Ashwin to a devout couple by names Madhyageha Bhatta and Vedavati. > > They named the child as VASUDEVA which is a synonym of Maha Vishnu , > since he was born by the blessing of Lord Vishnu whom the couple prayed in > varied ways for over 12 years. > > The story is that on hearing the prayers of the couple, Sriman Narayana > asked VAYU to be born to the couple. In fact, Madhwas believe that he is > the incarnation of VAYU like, BHEEMA and HANUAN. > > It is said that Madhwacharya once noticed a ship which lost its direction > in the sea at Malpe, a small coastal village near Udupi. Madhwacharya > immediately took his saffron anga vasthram ( over-cloth) and waved it like > a flag looking towards the ship. The captain of the ship noticed this and > took the ship to shore. > > He was very much pleased with the Acharya's action and in gratitude he > asked Madhwacharya to take any thing which he liked from the ship. > > Madhwacharya who was a sanyasin had no much desires and desired to have a > mould of sandalwood powderin the ship. > > On breaking open this mound he found a small and beautiful idol of Lord > Krishna. This he installed in the Temple at Udupi which is now one of the > famous temples of Lord Krishna. > > Q12 What are the speial attributes of Udupi temple? > > A12 The peculiarity of this Temple is that Lord *Krishna's idol in this > temple is facing the west.* Although no one can tell exactly, why this > idol is facing west, according to some, there was a devotee called KANAKA > DASA who was from a low caste and who could not enter the temple because > of his being born in a low caste *Lord Krishna was well pleased with him > and in order to give Darshan He turned towards the west. * > > Q13 What is the speciality with chettikulam temple? > > A13 One of the specialities of the Chettikulam Ékambaresvara temple is > that it is home to a very rare moolika herb called *kulsapandhuruni*. > > This herb can be seen only during the *sisira **ruthu* > <http://www.agasthiar.org/AUMzine/0001-timing1.htm#ruthu> (mid February > to mid April). This moolika packs *prithvi bootha* energy which, among > other things, is essential for the creation of life and the generation of > physical forms. > > So exalted is the spiritual state of the kulsapandhuruni moolika herb that > unless you are a master of vaasi yoga and have the Sathguru's grace > totally, you can not even see it. > > One of the specialities of the kulsapandhuruni moolika herb is that it > strengthens, fortifies and enhances the *jeeva sakthi* or life force in > humans. > > It improves the sperm count in males (Both wheat based dishes and orange > colored clothing please Sri Soorya.) *This is because a good sperm count > is not just necessary for conceiving children but is also essential for > good health and longevity. * > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" 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/iyer123/1251361589.9483.1644444057860%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1251361589.9483.1644444057860%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- 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/CAL5XZopC836qc3j9TXSL_myBrMbdbURPTNN-FE5RCuH_CaqOJQ%40mail.gmail.com.
