Sharadam Procedure

[Guest guest]

Dear Mama,

 

When we perform sharardham, do we need to perform with agni if dharmapathni

cannot join due to various reasons?

 

My friend who is staying in US visits India everytime alone and performs

Hiranya shrardham (they belong to sama vedham) because without wife being

present, full sharardham cannot be done.

 

However other friend (Yajur vedham) they are performing full even if wife is

not present.

 

Kindly clarify from the sastram point of view.

 

Adiyen

Seshadri Muralidharan

 

 

***

This is due to difference in " Soothram " by relavant rushis of that particular

Vedha Saakha.

 

As per Yajur Vedham Aapastham soothram, a Gruhasthan can perform Agni Santhanam

with out his wife, and can do some prayogams like Chradham etc. Because without

performing the homam, there is no formula to make pindams etc. but in Saama

Vedham - Dhraahyaayana Saakha - that rushi he made a special procedure

(Soothram) which is called " Paani Homam " . (This procedure is there in Rig vedham

also)

 

You may know that Paani means hand. He defines that Brahmanan is having Agni in

his hand, so, whenever he is not with his wife to produce the 'Prathyaksha Agni'

(real agni), he can use this " Hand Agni " to perform the Chradha Homam. Paani

Homam is very much similar to Paarvana Homam. As per Saama vehda soothram, there

are only two aavarthis of Anna homam:

1. Somaaya Pithrumadhe Swaahaa

2. Agnaye Kavyavaahanaaya Swaahaa.

These two homams will be done in the Hand of the 'Pithru Swami' then it will be

gathered in the 'Prasaadha Dhonnai' itself. All other procedures will be done

according to a Paarvana Homam.

 

So, Your US fried can perform this " Paani Homam " instead of Hiranya or Sankalpa

chradhams.

 

I hope that the given explanation is enough to calrify your doubt, if you have

still doubts, let me know it for further clarifications.

 

best wishes,

nvs