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Tag: Death in Hinduism

  • Inauspicious Death Days Tripada Dosha Parihara

    Hinduism states that there are days which are considered as inauspicious for Death.

    If one dies on these specified days, Parihara, Atonement is recommended.

    Pitru Dosha.jpg
    Pitru Dosha.

    Commonly held belief is that if the Pariharas are not done, more deaths would follow.

    I am not too sure about this.

    What I am certain is that these deaths bring in Pitru Dosha and Pariharas are necessary.

    The Days inauspicious for Death fall under three categories.

    Relating to the Nakshatras, Stars.

    Rohini, Dhanishta, Satabhisham, Purvabhadra, Revathi, Mrugasira, Punarvasu, Uttara, Chitra, Visakha, Uttarashada, and Magha.

    Thithis, Waxing and Waning of the Moon.

    Padyami, Vidiya, Shashti, Ashtami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Trayodasi, Chaturdasi and Amavasya.

    Days.

    Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and  Saturday.

    Some Smritis offer the following Parihara.

    • If a death has only one dosha the family members should leave the house for 1 month
    • If a death has two doshas the family members should leave the house for 6 months.
    • If a death has all the three types of doshams the family members should leave the house for 1 year.

    As this is not practical now a days, there are other Pariharas as well.

    1. Pitru Tarpan Pooja (Shraddha Pooja) needs to be done at home with 5 dolls  made of Darbha (Kusha Grass) & White Cotton.

    Prana Prathistapana ritual (infuse life in the Dolls) ceremony of the 5 dolls needs to be performed.

    After Pooja, these 5 dolls should be buried in sand or mud near River or Sea shore.

    Or perform Rudrabhisheka at home & offer food to   ancestors.

    This pooja needs to be done without fail, otherwise dosha will not be removed.

    1. Nakshatra Shanti pooja & Navagraha Shanti Pooja need to be done for nullifying  the affect of Dosha.
    1. Perform Mahamrityunjaya Homa/Japa  at  home  after the above pooja’s are done.

    Or Visit Gokarna  or other Pitru Parihara Sthalas and offer Sraddha.

    Nine Temples foe Pitru Dosha Parihara

    References.

    http://www.oursubhakaryam.com/DEATH%20DOSHAM.htm

    http://someshsastroworld.blogspot.in/2013/01/nakshatra-dosha-due-to-inauspicious.html

  • Death Rites Hinduism Part 2 Day 2 To Thirteen

    Death rites as prescribed in Hinduism continues from Part I.

     

    Second Day.

     

    Second day is Sanchayana, the collection of Bones.

     

    Subhasweekaara.

     

    The bones are sprinkled with milk and the bones are picked up by hands wrapping them with Kandankathri herb,Solanum xanthocarpum.

     

    This prevents any wound that may arise accidentally while picking up the bones, as this herb has anti biotic properties.

     

    No shaving is to be done for the Kartha.

     

    Other Sraddhams as mentioned are to be continued as mentioned in the earlier article.

     

    Day 3 to 10.

    The Sraddhams mentioned are to be performed as mentioned earlier.

     

    Day Ten, Dasasthu.

     

    On this day the Gnayatis, from the paternal side,who have not performed the Tharpana fromDay one are to perform 75 Tilodhaka and 75 Vasodhaka Thaarpana.

     

    The Pinda Sarira of the departed is complete.

     

    As the body is restored  hunger and thirst increases manifold.

     

    So large quantities of food is offered by way of Prabhutabali.

     

    Please read my post on this.

     

    The stones in the  two Kundas, used for Tharpana, are disposed off.

     

    On returning Home, the Kartha has to take a shave and bathe.

     

    Shanti Homa and Ananda Homa are performed.

     

    Day Eleven.

     

    Punyahavachanam is performed for the Kartha to purify.

     

    Then Nava Sraddham and Vrushothsagam is performed.

     

    Vrushothsarga is performed with a Bull and Gosuktha is recited and the Bull is left to graze.

     

    The Bull represents Dharma and this kriya helps the departed obtain better worlds.

     

    The Ekothishta Sraddham is performed.

     

    Sixteen such Sraddhams are to be performed in a Year.

     

    The first one is called the Adya Masikam.

     

    Then follows Pinda Pradhanam, followed by bath and Punyahavachana.

     

    Balance 15 Sraddhas are to be performed as detailed below.

     

    Una Masika an any three days from the 27 Day.

     

    Traipakshtham on any five-day period day from the 40th Day.

     

    Unashanmasikam on 10 day period from the 170th day.

     

    Unabhdikamon any 15 day period from the 340th day.

     

    Eleven Anumasikam on the Thithi of death every month for Eleven months.

     

    These are very important and are not to be missed.

     

    Twelfth Day, Sapindikarana.

     

    On the eleventh and Twelfth-day the Preta eats the food offered heartily.

     

    On the eleventh and twelfth day all the Pitrus are present.

     

    Vasu,Father; Rudram, Grand father nd great grand father,Adhitya.(Paternal)

     

    The earliest Pitru leaves the Pitru Loka and leaves for the Swarga and the presently decesed joins the Pitrus as the Vasu.

     

    That is the reason why the Argya (Ekothishta)of the presently deceased and the Agya of the Parvana Sradddha of the forefather’s are mixed.

     

    The pinda of the presently decesed is divided into three parts and mixed with the three pindas of the forefathers.

     

    This is Sapindikaramam.

     

    The three Pindas thus obtained represent the latest Vasu, Rudra and Adhitya.

     

    Danams.

     

    The Yamadhtas drag the body on the thirteenth day .

     

    Tha Size of the Jiva is that of a Thumb.

     

    It is dragged to Samyamini, the city of Yama, Lord of Death.

     

    The distance is 86,00 Yojanas, a Yojana is about 13 Kilometers.

     

    Those who were virtuous cross this easily.

     

    Others suffer.

     

    Traveling is done continuously throughout day and night.

     

    Averagedistance traveled is 270 Yojanas a day.

     

    There are sixteen cities to be crossed along besides rivers , including Vaidharani.

     

    Post follows on Dhanas and descriptions of the cities.

     

    Sodakumbham is performed after Sapindikaranam.

     

    Sastras decalre that this has to be performed every day in the first year.

     

    If it is not possible, it has to be performed at least every month.

     

    Apart from Water , tender Coconut Water is also given on this day.

     

     

    Day Thirteen. Gruha Yagya, Subha Sweekaara.

     

    On this day Auspiciousness is invited by performing Punyahavachana,Udagasanthi and Navagraha Homa  are performed.

     

    After the function is over the kartha is to visit a temple with family members.

     

    The Gruha Yagya is to be performed after the conclusion of the First Abhdika as well.

     

    More On Sraddhas refer to my other posts on Sraddha, Sraddha Samayal.

     

    http://ramanisblog.in/2014/10/13/death-rites-explanation-part-1-hinduism/

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Death Rites Explanation Part 1 Hinduism

    Hinduism postulates that there are five sheaths for a Human Being.

     

    They are ,

     

    Annamaya Kosa,made of the essence of Food,

    Death Rituals Hinduism

     

    Pranamaya Kosa, of Breath,

     

    Manomaya Kosa, of Thoughts,

     

    Vignanamaya Kosa , of Knowledge and

     

    Anandamaya Kosa, of Bliss.

     

    Each of these are nurtured by their respective attributes/source of their Being and together they constitute the Living Human being.

     

    When one dies what is visible to us the lifeless body, which had been nurtured by Food at the Annamaya Kosa Level,by the essence of Food.

     

    After one’s death, it lingers till the twelfth day around the place of Death.

     

    Till the twelfth day Tharpana,called Kuzhi Tharpan,called so because it is performed n a small pit made preferably at the house where the death took place.

     

    Ceremonies for death are conducted till the 12 Day, the thirteenth being Purification,not only for the satisfaction of the Annamaya Kosa, but for the other Kosas,,Prana, Vignana,Manas and Ananda, the last one reminding the Eternal Nature of the Self.

     

    Mantras recited during these twelve days ensure this.

     

    After these ceremonies the Subtle body, Sukshama, enters the Pithru loka, sans the Physical body.

     

    The remnants of the actions performed remain with the Subtle body even after it takes rebirth.

     

    Significance of the Thirteen Day Rituals.

     

    Day One.

     

    The dying man suffers as Death knocks.

     

    One is expected to avoid mundane thoughts and remember God’s name.

     

    So as Death nears, those near are expected to recite Vishnu Sahsranama , Bhagavad Gita near the person’s head.

     

    The son, keeping his parent’s head on his left lap ,recites the Karna Mantra, in the Left ear.

     

    Or the Panchakshara, Om Nama Sivaya

     

    Karna Mantra.

     

    Sarva Dharman Parithyajyasya Klanir Bhavathi Bharata,

     

    Ahamthva Sarva Paapepyo Mokshayisyaami Ma sucha. Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18.

     

    Ganga water is given .

     

    The dying is made to lie down head facing South.

     

    The body without Life is called Sava while the state of Jiva(Soul) is Preta.

     

    The Yamadutas, the servants of the Lord of Death, Yama drags the life out.

     

    As soon as the life is out, a small oil lamp lit with Gingelly oil is left near the body’s head.

     

    The body is to be laid on the Dharpa grass.

     

    The body is bathed, daughters, perform this and draped with a new Cloth after removing everything else from the body.

     

    The body is garlanded and Rice is dropped in the mouth by the relatives.

     

    The ceremonies are performed as dictated int the relevant Veda Sutra of the deceased.

     

    The son takes bath and performs the Homa and takes the body with Fire in a pot   to the cremation Ground.

     

    The son is expected to shave, in some custom hair of the head is also removed.

     

    At the cremation ground, the son performs Nagna Prachchadana Sraddham,after removing the clothes from the body.

     

    The dead feel ashamed and hence free offering of clothes for the next ten days are advised.

     

    It also feels thirsty and hungry.

     

    Food is also offered as Dhana during these ten days.

     

    Now after the Homa is over, establishing Kunda, on  the river bank another at  Home is done where Tharpana is done daily.

     

    Two Tharpanas, one Tilotaka, water with Til and another Vasodhaka, water wrung from Cloth is to be performed daily for the Two kundas daily till the tenth day.

     

    Tilodaka is offered thrice on day one and it increases one every day and on the tenth day it is twelve.

     

    This is to quench the thirst of the departed.

     

    To satiate hunger Pinda ,rice balls are offered.

     

    The dead assumes the Vayavya Sarira.

     

    It is formless.

     

    The offering of Pinda helps in forming the solid body.

     

    First day offering helps in the formation of the head, second the formation of the neck and shoulders,the third the Heart, the fourth the Back, the fifth the navel, sixth the waist, seventh generative organs, the eighth the Thighs and the ninth day the Legs.

     

    The tendency to offer the Tharpana on the tenth day ,instead of every day is proscribed as it makes the dead thirsty, hungry, and prevents the formation of sarira, body.

     

    Ekottavruddhi sradhham is to be performed daily till the tenth day.

     

    Cooked rice with vegetables are to be offered to three people on the first day , to be increased by one every day till the tenth day,corresponding to the Tila Sraddha and on the twelfth day 12 are to be fed or are to be gifted the materials.

     

    Nava sraddham is performed on day one, three, five, seven , nine  and eleven by  offering rice.

     

    Related articles

    http://ramanisblog.in/2013/08/18/mourning-death-theetu-rituals-hinduism-details/

     

    http://ramanisblog.in/2014/10/14/death-rites-hinduism-part-2-day-2-to-thirteen/

     

  • Death Rites Sons Duties Hinduism Pretha Karma

    Son is considered to prevent parents from entering a horrible type of Hell, ‘Puth’: hence son is called as ‘Puthra’ in Sanskrit.

    What do the Puranas say about the duties of the son?

    For every child, devotion to parents is the primary Duty.

    So much so ,the Upanishad says, Mathru Devo Bhava,Pitru Devo Bhava’,Devote yourself to Mother ,Father.

    This, during the parents’ lifetime.

    After Death?

    Last and ensuing rites after death is to be performed by the son, and by the father for the son.

    These Karmas are to be performed with the Sacred Thread worn on the Left shoulder(Pracheena Veedhi)

    The Last rites are to be performed only by the eldest son That is the rites performed immediately after death.

    But after the Thirteenth day all the Rites, including Srardha is to be performed by all the sons.

    There is a view that if the elder son performs the Srardha, other sons need not perform.

    If all the brothers stay in one house and perform the Srardha the eldest can do and the others can be by his side.

    If they stay separately then every one has to perform separately.

    Other than the sons of the wife married in the Vedic way, sons of the deceased may perform the last rites, if

    The son was born to a Man who married without paying the parent’s of the girl ,

    of a Concubine.

    On death, all the relatives must bathe the dead body ,dress it up with only Dhoti,or Saree apply Vibhuthi,Thiruman or Kumkum and adorn with Garland.

    No ornaments, even if it is Rudraksha has to be removed and the body’s head should face the South.

    All the relatives must take part in this.

    Daughter of the deceased must bathe the body and wash the place where the body was kept initially and keep the washed body there.

    As soon as one is dead, a smoking fire is to be kept outside the House.

    None should eat till the body is set afire.

    After the Pretha(Body)Karmas are done with and the body burnt in the Ghat, people should enter the house after washing their feet and take bath with their clothes.

    Should sleep on the floor till the twelfth day.

    Till the thirteenth day food can be taken only once in the morning and Pinda, a Rice ball, is to be placed for the dead.

    The Karmas are to be performed at Home.

    A small hole, Kuzhis, is to be made , just outside the house,within the compound, and covered.

    The Kuzhi Tharpana is to be performed by the Paternal side relatives till the tenth day.

    Should take bath outside the village or town, offer Tharpana and donate Dhoti,Angavastra or Saree and Blouse bit on the First,Third, Seventh and ninth day of the death.

    Asthi Sanjayan, the dissolving of ashes is to be done on the Fourth day.

    (The Current practice is performing this Karma on the second day, Vishnu Purana says it should be done on the Fourth day)

    After twelfth day one can sleep on he bed.

    But till the thirteenth day no intimate relations with husband or wife is allowed.

    During this period, all the three varnas, Brahmana,Kshatriya and Vaisya should not recite Vedas, Engage in Dhaana or Dharma nor should one accept any thing from the others..

    For more on this read my posts on Srardha and Srardha Samayal

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  • Mourning Death Theetu Rituals Hinduism Details

    There are forty Samskaras to be performed by a Hindu.

    Death is an important Samskara,

    I will provide some guidelines with Links.

    However, the suggestions of the Purohit is to be taken for consideration as some customs vary for each Caste and even in a Caste for a particular Family/Group.

    General.

    Those who become Untouchable during the period of Mourning-Theetu

    The following link is very useful.

    http://stotraratna.awardspace.com/sruthi/Samkshepa%20dharma%20sastram/vd4.pdf

    Check list.

    1.Inform Family priest, Sastrigal.

    2.Keep the body lying head facing South.

    3.Light an Oil lamp near the  Head;apply Vibhuti(basmam, not as a paste)

    3.Light some Agarbathis to ward off smell.

    4.As one is not to cook at Home till the body is taken out,inform relatives for arrangement of food for the day.

    5.Inform people who are to be informed.

    6.At best the body can be kept for about 10 hours;under special circumstances, it may be kept for 24 hours in an air-conditioned casket.

    7.Those who go to the burning ghat must go the next day for the collection of Ashes.

    8.Ensure that a Doctor visits and give you a certificate.

    9.In the case of Death in a hospital, make sure that the necessary formalities are complied with and a certificate is obtained.

    10.Inform the Crematorium about the expected time of the arrival of the body after consulting the Sastrigal.

    11.At the Crematorium show the certificate and get a receipt. Some times it will be issued the next day.

    12.Get the Death registered .

    Clarifications on some aspects.

    1,One can perform the ceremonies for the first twelve days at specified places,

    However it is correct to perform all the Rites at Home and it will bring prosperity.

    2.The rites for the first ten days may be done from the seventh day , performing the cumulative rites for six days.

    3.There is still a custom in the Hindu communities. especially among Brahmins for a  Widow.

    That of removing the Mangal Sutra or Thaali and breaking of Bangles in Public.

    This does not have the sanction of the Sastras.

    The wearing of Thaali is a later custom developed and it does not find a place in Vedic Marriage,

    The removal of Mangal Sutra may be done some one who is widowed already(preferably elder to the one in question) quietly on the morning of the Eleventh Day,;have the bangles removed and have the Mangal Sutra removed and dropped in a vessel containing  milk.

    One can perform all functions in the Family including Marriage after the Thirteenth Day, Subasweekara,Gruha Yajnam, except in the case of Spouse. Wife and children.

    The Gruha Yajna means you are  permitted to do Yajna.

    Subasweekaara means you invite Auspiciousness.

    Suggestions, questions are welcome.

    Additional Link.

    http://indiansamourai.hautetfort.com/media/01/02/1850732936.pdf

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