601--Q&A WITH SWAMIJI- More on observing Pitri Paksh

[Guest guest]

Question from a devotee :

I would like to add the names of my ancestors to the puja list but I am unsure of how many generations count as 'ancestors'; the parents and grandparents?

Nanda ventures a tentative response :

Upto 7 generations. Swamiji, can you please confirm. Thank you for your time.

Swamiji's response:

Yes, up to seven generations Mother's side and Father's side.

Question from a devotee :

My mother grew up with very loving fosterparents; do they count as ancestors?

Swamiji's response:

Yes.

Question from Nanda:

Can one offer tarpan for deceased friends and include their names for Sep 22nd puja? Thank you for your time.

Swamiji's response:

Only relatives are indicated in the scriptures. It would be appropriate to say a silent prayer.

Question from a devotee :

I don't know the names of my biological maternal grandparents; can I add them to my prayers anyway? (The list to be given to the Mandir for 22nd Sept)

Swamiji's response:

There is a special offering called: Lepa Bhuja - unknown.

Question from Nanda:

Can you please clarify this answer. When you do the puja on the 22nd, will you offer for all ancestors known (as in the list given to you from the club) and for ancestors unknown (and so no one needs to give a list of all their unknown ancestors).

Thank you for your time.

Swamiji's response:

How can we generate a list of unknown ancestors? There is one mantra which covers unknown ancestors, and then there is a final errors and omissions mantra at the end.

Let's gather the list of known relatives who have departed. And let's be specific. Don't just say Grandma. If you don't know the name, it will come under unknown.

Please, no pets and friends.

Nanda's footnote : So dear group members, if you would like for your ancestors to be prayed for in the special puja on Sept 22 at the Mandir please just send an email to _prayer_club with subject line "Shraadh" and give the specific names of your relatives that have departed. No pets or friends please. And Swamiji will be including a mantra that includes all our unknown ancestors so you dont have to list out any that you are not sure of.

[Guest guest]

You forgot to mention the dakshina...

 

I wonder if you could ask Swamiji a question for me...

 

This shraddha, I know he has spoken of it as an expression of

gratitude, but I'm wondering if there is more. After all, I don't need

a special puja to offer my gratitude, a simple prayer will do, won't

it? Does this practice offer practical benefit to the ancestors, ie.,

light (spiritual wisdom), or the burning of karmas? When does the

benefit accrue, while they are/were waiting for a body (outside of our

time), or is it at whatever position (embodied or not) they are in at

the present time of the puja according to our reality?

 

Thank you.

 

Jai Maa!

Chris

 

 

 

 

, Nanda <chandimaakijai wrote:

>

> Question from a devotee :

> I would like to add the names of my ancestors to the puja list but I

am unsure of how many generations count as 'ancestors'; the parents

and grandparents?

>

> Nanda ventures a tentative response :

> Upto 7 generations. Swamiji, can you please confirm. Thank you for

your time.

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Yes, up to seven generations Mother's side and Father's side.

>

> Question from a devotee :

> My mother grew up with very loving fosterparents; do they count as

ancestors?

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Yes.

>

> Question from Nanda:

> Can one offer tarpan for deceased friends and include their names

for Sep 22nd puja? Thank you for your time.

>

> Swamiji's response:

> Only relatives are indicated in the scriptures. It would be

appropriate to say a silent prayer.

>

> Question from a devotee :

> I don't know the names of my biological maternal grandparents; can I

add them to my prayers anyway? (The list to be given to the Mandir for

22nd Sept)

>

> Swamiji's response:

> There is a special offering called: Lepa Bhuja - unknown.

>

> Question from Nanda:

> Can you please clarify this answer. When you do the puja on the

22nd, will you offer for all ancestors known (as in the list given to

you from the club) and for ancestors unknown (and so no one needs to

give a list of all their unknown ancestors).

> Thank you for your time.

>

> Swamiji's response:

> How can we generate a list of unknown ancestors? There is one mantra

which covers unknown ancestors, and then there is a final errors and

omissions mantra at the end.

> Let's gather the list of known relatives who have departed. And

let's be specific. Don't just say Grandma. If you don't know the name,

it will come under unknown.

> Please, no pets and friends.

>

> Nanda's footnote : So dear group members, if you would like for your

ancestors to be prayed for in the special puja on Sept 22 at the

Mandir please just send an email to _prayer_club with

subject line "Shraadh" and give the specific names of your relatives

that have departed. No pets or friends please. And Swamiji will be

including a mantra that includes all our unknown ancestors so you dont

have to list out any that you are not sure of.

>