Question on Death

June 5, 2008

Hari om all

I would like to know when a hindu dies, when do we start counting from, the day of death or creamation?

For the 10 day and the 13 day, do we count from the day of death or cremation?

please advice

thank you

hari om

rishi

June 5, 2008

Dear Member,

If this question is being asked for a "Hindu" then answer varies from caste to caste, community to community.

Normally for a Vedic anthyesthi-the count if from the day of death.Also, the corpse is cremated on the day or max--next day of death(unlike some communities who keep the corpse, so that all the relatives can come and see the corpse).

So, the question of Day of death/cremation does not really come.(If it is the next day, the count starts form that day when the corpse leaves the house)--so 10/11 days and then 13th day ceremony(Shraddha) is the vedic norm.

Th hurry to cremate the corpse is because, the soul is listless and intially is in a confused condition and tries to re-enter the body fast.In many cases does, and tries to revive the body but since the Kala-mruthyu cannot be avoided it is not able to do anything.It then takes an disembodied form of Bhutha,pretha,pisacha and even calls its brethren from the paisaacha loka.

The more days the body is kept without cremating, the more listless the soul becomes.So, if one really cares for the person deceased, the body of the person should be cremated fast.

1.Chit-agni also has a purifying effect on the soul of the person, because Vedic ceremonies involve chantingof mantras all along and even after the body is cremated.

2. Other malefic spirits are not invited to see the body, which will hinder the process of the soul's further journey.

3. The more the body rests in the house, the more depressed the inmates of the house become.There are heavy bad vibrations which resonate in the house and Vedic mantras chanted are to cleanse these bad vibrations away.

4. Also, it is hygenic to cremate the body soon.

Then begins the period of defilement or pollution, called ashaucha, which ends on the tenth day after the death(not cremation). During this time, the family observes many restraints, like not cooking food at home. Their neighbors must feed them, while they work out their grief and readjust their lives after the death in the family. This practice not only allows the bereaved family some time to recover from their loss but also enforces a sense of community.

There are many many rituals to be followd apart from reading Ramayana/Bhagavath Geetha/Vedic mantras and it willbe a digression in this forum.

Rg Veda has verses referring to the final rites of a dead person.You may peruse that if you are really interested.Also,Funeral rites have remained mostly unchanged.

There is a also a kriya by way of Mahashodasi mantra tarpana for dead people, it is not known to many even in the Srividya lore.

There is also something called Tripindi Shraddham:

Tripindi Shradha is an offering in the memory of the dear departed. If for three consecutive years the offerings are not made to the dear departed then the dead gets vehement, so to calm them these offerings are made.

Types of afflictions:

One month of humans equals one day for the dead. The day of new moon is the lunar day for the dead. On this day Darsha Shradha is performed. Unsatisfied dead harasses in the form of demon. Cancellation of rites meant for the forefathers, denying offerings made in the memory of the dear departed and spiritual procedures if not performed as per the traditions then problems may arise from goblin, corpse, demi-gods, the 27'th lunar mansions and may led to religious discord. Such tribulations may occur intermittently and may span in a period of one day, three days or fifteen days. It may also lead to delay in marriage prospects, failure in business, receding prosperity day after day. Tripindi Shradha must be performed to resolve such calamities. Its assertion is mentioned in "Shradha Chintamani".

Remedy as Tripindi Shradha:

This rite can be performed on the important months like 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 2nd month of the Hindu calendar and on 5th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 30th in the dark half of the lunar month is the lunar day or Sunday. But if fierce-day agony is experienced then Tripindi Shradha must be performed immediately. This measure is mentioned in "Godayatra Viveka-Darsha". As per the above text, Tripindi Rite can be performed in Triambakeshwar.In this religious act of oblation to the dear departed, 'Yekechiprapene pindayente cha maheshwar' affirmation is mentioned. Kalidas has mentioned in his Raghuvansh MahaKavya (epic) ' Maheshwara Trambak yeva napparha'. After all maheshwar Sanghya is meant for Trimbakeshwar. 'Hey Maheshwara, (Trambak) whoever is harassing us in the form of demon destroy them all' is my prayer to you. Dead in the form of demon Ravi when it is positioned between Kanya (Virgo) and Tula (Libra) they attack on earth. This is a very important and right phase and time for offerings to the departed. By performing this Kaam Shradha (Offerings) one is liberated from the demons. Do not perform this Kaam Shradha during the festivity of Navratra. Also do not perform Tripindi Shradha and Tirtha Shradha on the same day. Perform it on different days but if you are short of time then firstly perform the Tripindi Shradha and then perform the Tirtha Shradha.

Performing Tripindi Shradha:This religious act should be performed at a holy place meant for demon liberation or sacrifice. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are the main Gods in this rite. Of the two kinds, from the earth, from the sky and spirit, virtue, particle, irascible also infant, young and old dead in all stages are oppressed with vehement emotions. In the end one must perform Tripindi Shradha as per the tradition and conventions. Before this rite it is necessary to undertake holy dip in Ganga for expiation and body purification. Here Skhaur is not necessary. As Shakhur is innate part of expiation, Tripindi rite is to be performed accompanied by wife. One can perform this rite even if you are single or a widower. In this God Brahma (Money), Vishnu (Gold), Rudra (Copper) are omnipresent.

Nowadays, everyone is cremated except very young children and ascetics, who are buried. A significant change is the increasing popularity of electric crematoriums in urban areas. Antyeshti too, is much less elaborate today.

Also, the priests and everyone involved much chant Gayathri and other mantras to relieve themselves of the gross vibrations of the departed soul.The mantras must be chanted for the prescribed amount and not just two or three rounds.This too is sometimes neglected by all according to their 'convinience'.

The grosser the vibrations in humans, the more polluted the mental psyche of the society in general.

Kali-prabhavam, I guess!

Yours yogically,

Shreeram Balijepalli

Rajarajeshwari_Kalpataru , Rishi Keshanand <gtbadman2001 wrote:>> > Hari om all> & nbsp;> I would like to know when a hindu dies, when do we start counting from, the day of death or creamation?> & nbsp;> For the 10 day and the 13 day, do we count from the day of death or cremation?> & nbsp;> please advice > thank you> hari om> rishi>