Criticism or inappropriate views on Shraddha rites and their refutation

In our previous Issue, we had covered the following aspects regarding ‘Shraddha’ :

1. People who lack faith in ritualistic worship, shraddha, and consider social service to be superior, have very naive views. They say that instead of performing shraddha for the ancestors, they would rather donate food to the poor or provide help to schools. The shraddha rites are necessary so that the journey of our parents (after death) becomes comfortable and without any distress, and they attain sadgati (Appropriate momentum).

If shraddha is not performed, the desires of the ancestors remain unfulfilled. Negative energies very easily control such desire-riddled ancestors, and then, enslave them. They use the ancestors to cause distress to their own family members. By performing shraddha, we get relieved from the distress caused by the ancestors, and our life on earth becomes comfortable. If shraddha is performed on a particular day, tithi (Date as per the Hindu Lunar Almanac), then some specific benefits can also be obtained.

2. Information on the word ‘shraddha’

3. History of shraddha rites, 4. Pitrupaksha (Mahalayapaksha)
Many people criticise Sanatan Vaidik Dharma (Hindu Dharma), which has been in existence since times immemorial, as also the Holy Scriptures of the Hindus, their Deities, Saints, the system of Varnashram (Four classes and four stages of life), Spirituality, etc. Many take the inappropriate criticism as appropriate. While there are others who are aware of the malicious nature of criticism, but since there is no appropriate refutation of the criticism, they are unable to give a fitting reply. At times, out of ignorance or unknowingly, inappropriate thoughts are expressed by some scholars or students of Spirituality. When all such inappropriate views and criticism are not answered, the faith of Hindus gets shaken and harms Dharma. For the Hindus to get intellectual strength to prevent this harm, Sanatan’s Spiritual text sums up the inappropriate views and criticism and provides their refutation. We have provided a few examples here.

1. It is said that the shraddha rites are a plot of the Brahmans to earn a livelihood !

Inappropriate view : The shraddha rites are a plot of the Brahmans. They have created a means of livelihood for themselves.

Refutation

A. Shraddha is being performed in every village, household and every nook and corner of the country since times immemorial. The rites too are identical everywhere. There is a famous quote – ‘You cannot fool all the people all the time !’

Accordingly, if the shraddha rites were a ‘plot’ of the Brahmans, could they have fooled society for thousands of years ? Even today, shraddha is performed at Holy places such as Gaya, Tryambakeshwar, Ramtek, Prayag, etc.

B. We are in Kaliyug when people are very selfish. They arrange lavish liquor parties for their friends and family, and squander money unnecessarily. They find happiness in such activities. However, it is surprising that they are not willing to serve a meal to the Brahmans (who represent their ancestors) to liberate themselves from the debt unto their departed parents. The fact is that the debt unto our parents is so enormous, that it cannot be repaid even if we serve them throughout our life. Irrespective of how rich an individual is, the main shraddha rite requires just two Brahmans.

C. The Puranas say that serving meals to guests during shraddha rites amounts to appeasing ancestors; the Yogis (Ascetics), evolved souls and Deities keep going around the earth to watch the rites of shraddha.

D. It is said that a utterly helpless individual should go into a forest, raise his arms and cry out with bhav – ‘I am penniless and without food. Liberate me from the debt unto the ancestors’. This will beget the merit of performing a shraddha.

E. To cry facing the south in a given circumstance is also a kind of shraddha rite.

Given these facts, can the shraddha rites ever be a plot of the Brahmans to create a means of livelihood ?

2. It is said that shraddha is an uncivilized act; it is better to donate to social organisations

Inappropriate view : The shraddha rites are an uncivilized act. On death anniversaries of the parents, it is appropriate to place their photos, offer floral tributes, light frank-incense, oil lamp, and donate grains, etc. to social organisations, orphanages, etc.

Refutation

A. If we assume that mere donations are sufficient to meet the needs of the shraddha rites, this will mean that ‘the disease is one and the remedy is on another’. Shraddha is a rite performed as per the Scriptures amidst the recitation of mantras and with full faith. Instead of performing shraddha, if donations are made under the influence of emotion, the ancestors are not pleased; because, the fruit of the donation does not reach them.

B. The ancestors whose shraddha is not performed, affect the blood of those who do not perform it. The presiding Deity of blood is the pitar. If shraddha is not performed as per the Scriptures, they create very subtle defects in blood. Deficiency in blood brings about abnormality of semen, and the progeny becomes weak, handicapped and is riddled with various diseases.

C. The subtle body in the form of air gains energy due to performance of karmas advised by the Scriptures. After death, the jiva assumes another form and proceeds to another subtle region. It is in a corpse-like state without a physical body. The shraddha and such worldly rites are necessary for it to assume a new body.

From these points, it will be clear how inappropriate it is to donate instead of performing shraddha rites.

3. It is said that honouring and gifting something to the father, grandfather, etc. while they are alive also amounts to a shraddha

Inappropriate view : ‘Honouring, respect-ing and gifting something to the father, grand-father, etc. while they are alive itself amounts to a shraddha.’ – Swami Dayanand Saraswati (Founder of Arya Samaj)

Refutation

A. Shraddha is performed only for the dead : A shloka of Sage Manu, which Swami Dayanand has quoted to emphasise his understanding, is quite the opposite. When the father is alive, the shraddha rites cannot be performed. Shraddha is performed only for the dead.

B. Benefits of shraddha : When 3 pindas are offered on the earth (A portion of land in the southern direction is dug up, darbha are spread and 3 pindas are placed on them), the ancestors in Narak (Hell region) are liberated. A son must make every effort to perform the shraddha of his departed father. When his name and gotra are pronounced in a ritualistic manner accompanied by rites such as offering of the pindas, they attain the next region. Since their desires are fulfilled in this manner, they do not harass the family. They also gain momentum and go to the next subtle region. It has been proved through experiments that performing shraddha begets good results.

Thus, it is observed that the statements of Swami Dayanand and other contemporary individuals are incorrect. If their statements had been true, what would have been the need for the numerous rites in shraddha ?

– Gurudev (Dr) Kateswamiji (Ghangarjit, Dec. 2008 and Jan. 2009)

Instead of performing shraddha, if donations are made under the influence of emotion, the ancestors are not pleased !