Your Query on Hindu View of Death & Rituals .

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear Students of Hindu (SanAthana) Dharma :

 

Among the 40 SamskArAs (Rituals) prescribed

for a human , the last is antyEshti . Apara Kaaryam ,

Sraaddham , TarpaNam to please the ancestors ( Pithrus)

follow in the form of Pithru mEdham " to harmonize "

the individual living in this world with the larger world

including those of the departed .

 

SrI Veeravalli SrInivAsan Niranjan has been kind to send

me an excellent article on the evolution of the handling

of the Pithru medha ceremonies and therafter . This informative

article is by the Sanskrit Religious Institute and addresses

the multi-layered traditon and its evolution during Gruhya Soothra ,

PurANic and post-PurANic periods . The evolution of the concept of

pithrus over time and obligations of the living ones to their pithrus

are very well covered . Special points about yuga dharmams

and the observances as influenced by PaancharAthra texts

are included in this study .

 

I recommend it strongly for your browsing .

 

V.Sadagopan

 

 

-

"v.s. niranjan" <niranj_77

"Sadagopan" <sgopan

Monday, July 12, 2004 4:33 AM

Re: Re: Your Query on Hindu View of Death & Rituals .

 

 

> Dear SrI Ashwin Trikamjee:

>

> The subject is a vast one . The subject may not be

> of great interest to many and even unpleasant for a

> few

> to reflect on . I congratulate you on your desire to

> want to know

> about this important subject .

>

> Hindus have developed a wonderful way of dealing

> with mortality and thereafter and have removed the

> fear of

> the dissolution of the physical body after it has been

> trained

> to serve the Lord and His devotees during life .This

> follows

> the ancient Vedic path .

>

> HIndu dharma sAsthrAs have apara prayOgams to

> honor the one who has left this world to join the Lord

> in the other world or to enter into other lives based

> on

> one's accumulated karmAs . The ceremonies that we do

> as

> realtives left behind are to honor the departed soul

> ( First 13 days , whole year and annual SrArddham ,

> TarpaNams/offerings et al ) although that soul has

> left

> on its journeys based on its karmAs .

>

> Hindus had an elaborate way in designing sacraments

> after

> death following Gruhya SoothrAs as a part of the 40

> SamskAras prscribed from conception in the Mother's

> womb to death . " The Life after Life " is a vast

> subject too .

>

> There are 10 steps that are significant in the context

> of

> death Rituals ( apara Kaaryams ). You may take a look

> at

> this URL:

>

> http://mailerindia.com/hindu/veda

>

> In depth , there are coverages at the source level :

>

> 1) Grihya Sutras , The sacred Books of the East series

> ,

> Motilal Banarsidas Publishers , Bungalow Road ,

> Jawahar Nagar , New Delhi 7

>

> 2) Hindu SamskArAs : Dr.Raj Bali Pandy , Same

> Publisher.

>

> 3) Funeral and other screments after death , Jnana

> PrabhOdhini,

> 510 Sadashiv Petha , Pune 411 033 , India .

>

> Hope this helps you ,

>

> V.Sadagopan

>

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