help needed regarding ....

[Guest guest]

Dear Punith Balu,

 

Namaskar. The understanding given to me by knowledgeable people is after

completion of 21 days devotee is permitted to resume his/her prayers to Divine

Mother in normal manner. Same rule applies when very close family member

(father, mother, brother, sister, spouse) leave this world.

 

There are many practical troublesome situations may exist in life where one can

not afford to ignore or stay away from Divine Mother for one full year period.

Hence Sastra permit a devotee to resume prayers after 21 days and to

re-establish contact with Divine Mother.

 

NOTE : In case of distant relative demise, prayers may be resumed even after

completion of 11 days.

 

Best Regards

 

Upendra V

 

 

mymy062004 <mymy062004 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote: Sarvam Sivam,

 

Dear Friends,

 

could anyone help me in this regard?

 

my maternal uncle passed away 1 month before, Now I would like to

know, could I resume my pooja and abhisekams at home now?, I am asking this

because people say, one should not perform pooja and light the deepams atleast

for 1 year immediately after a death.

 

Kindly help me in this regard.

 

shivaya namaha,

 

with regards,

punith balu

[Guest guest]

I can quote only Tamilian practice which I am very much aware of, as

these customs vary from region to region.

 

Generally, deepam for Gods in home can be lit after the 13th day.

 

Only kolam, if one's family has that custom, cannot be put on

threshold and in front of the Gods.

 

Depending on where one is, if the person had crossed an ocean

(meaning abroad), there is no concern at all. All one have to do is a

snAnam after hearing the news. No mourning period applies.

 

If one is in the same place as the person who had departed, further

rules apply.

 

If the departed relative is from the paternal side, more restrictions

exist. If from the maternal side, it is only 3 days of mourning - if

not living with the affected family under the same roof.

 

If the person asking the question is unmarried, then no rules, except

for a snAnam. Except, if the person is living with a family (or

parents) who come under the 13 day rule, then as soon as the person

eats something made by the family, they come under that rule.

 

Going to temples is a bit more complicated rule. Generally, on the

13th day, everybody have to visit a temple (if haven't crossed the

ocean). After that some say to wait for 45 days and others 90 days to

visit temples. Also, it is ok to visit temples w/o a dwajasthambam

during the following 1 year period after 45 or 90 days.

 

Pujas and worship at home....daily prayer (sadhana with diksha mantra

can be done even during the 13 days but w/o any kumkum and w/o

sankalpam and w/o pranayamam), neivedyam etc can be done after 13

days. Full fledged/major pujas....may be better to wait until 45 days

if one falls under the above rules and restrictions.

 

If one is a SVU, better to ask the guru regarding the practices of

the parampara.

 

G

 

, upendra rao <upendrav2003

wrote:

>

> Dear Punith Balu,

>

> Namaskar. The understanding given to me by knowledgeable people is

after completion of 21 days devotee is permitted to resume his/her

prayers to Divine Mother in normal manner. Same rule applies when

very close family member (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse)

leave this world.

>

> There are many practical troublesome situations may exist in life

where one can not afford to ignore or stay away from Divine Mother

for one full year period. Hence Sastra permit a devotee to resume

prayers after 21 days and to re-establish contact with Divine Mother.

>

> NOTE : In case of distant relative demise, prayers may be resumed

even after completion of 11 days.

>

> Best Regards

>

> Upendra V

>

>

> mymy062004 <mymy062004 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote: Sarvam Sivam,

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> could anyone help me in this regard?

>

> my maternal uncle passed away 1 month before, Now I would like to

> know, could I resume my pooja and abhisekams at home now?, I am

asking this because people say, one should not perform pooja and

light the deepams atleast for 1 year immediately after a death.

>

> Kindly help me in this regard.

>

> shivaya namaha,

>

> with regards,

> punith balu

>

[Guest guest]

Greetings to all in her name.

 

Having heard this before can anyone shed some light on why these waiting periods

exist? I am a westerner and certain cultural aspects of the practices are

confusing to me.

 

I have difficulty understanding why they would be forbidden at a time that a

devotee would most require the Mother's nurturance and support via the contact

with her presence by puja and prayer. With Durga, Chandi and Mahakali as

aspects of the beloved Goddess, surely the idea of death as a contamination must

not be the reason. Could anything defile the eternal? Might the rationale be

that one will be too disturbed emotionally to perform the spiritual practices

appropriately? Would Devi mind if one were making the best effort possible

under trying circunstances?

 

I work with the dying every day, and consider the sustenance I receive from my

daily practice a great part of what allows me to minister to the needs of those

children of HER that I have the privilege to care for. My proximity to death

and what I do for my patients is as much a prayer and offering to the Divine

Mother as anything done in formal puja.

 

Please understand that these questions are raised in the interest of furthering

my understanding and not to challenge or judge a different cultural perspective

than mine.

 

With gratitude to this forum and the wisdom and knowledge of it's members.

Namaste

 

Nadananda

 

-

upendra rao

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 7:42 AM

Re: help needed regarding ....

 

 

Dear Punith Balu,

 

Namaskar. The understanding given to me by knowledgeable people is after

completion of 21 days devotee is permitted to resume his/her prayers to Divine

Mother in normal manner. Same rule applies when very close family member

(father, mother, brother, sister, spouse) leave this world.

 

There are many practical troublesome situations may exist in life where one

can not afford to ignore or stay away from Divine Mother for one full year

period. Hence Sastra permit a devotee to resume prayers after 21 days and to

re-establish contact with Divine Mother.

 

NOTE : In case of distant relative demise, prayers may be resumed even after

completion of 11 days.

 

Best Regards

 

Upendra V

 

mymy062004 <mymy062004 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote: Sarvam Sivam,

 

Dear Friends,

 

could anyone help me in this regard?

 

my maternal uncle passed away 1 month before, Now I would like to

know, could I resume my pooja and abhisekams at home now?, I am asking this

because people say, one should not perform pooja and light the deepams atleast

for 1 year immediately after a death.

 

Kindly help me in this regard.

 

shivaya namaha,

 

with regards,

punith balu

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Ganpra is absolutely right when he says " If one is a SVU, better to

ask the guru regarding the practices of the parampara. "

In MY parampara, neither birth death nor even monthly periods are

considered as a stoppage for sadhana. In fact, when my father died

and the body was in the house, I went did my pooja and came down.

Some people were shocked smile*. You see all depends on the mind. My

wife who is also an SVU, will not d any pooja when she is having

perio0ds – because she still has the idea of " pollution " in mind. I

do not press her.

It is all in the mind. If you think it is polluting, it IS so. If

you think it is not, it is NOT.

 

, " ganpra " <ganpra wrote:

 

I can quote only Tamilian practice which I am very much aware of,

as these customs vary from region to region.

 

Generally, deepam for Gods in home can be lit after the 13th day.

 

Only kolam, if one's family has that custom, cannot be put on

threshold and in front of the Gods.

 

Depending on where one is, if the person had crossed an ocean

(meaning abroad), there is no concern at all. All one have to do is

a snAnam after hearing the news. No mourning period applies.

 

If one is in the same place as the person who had departed, further

rules apply.

 

If the departed relative is from the paternal side, more

restrictions exist. If from the maternal side, it is only 3 days of

mourning - if not living with the affected family under the same

roof.

 

If the person asking the question is unmarried, then no rules,

except for a snAnam. Except, if the person is living with a family

(or parents) who come under the 13 day rule, then as soon as the

person eats something made by the family, they come under that rule.

 

Going to temples is a bit more complicated rule. Generally, on the

13th day, everybody have to visit a temple (if haven't crossed the

ocean). After that some say to wait for 45 days and others 90 days

to visit temples. Also, it is ok to visit temples w/o a

dwajasthambam during the following 1 year period after 45 or 90 days.

 

Pujas and worship at home....daily prayer (sadhana with diksha

mantra can be done even during the 13 days but w/o any kumkum and

w/o sankalpam and w/o pranayamam), neivedyam etc can be done after

13 days. Full fledged/major pujas....may be better to wait until 45

days if one falls under the above rules and restrictions.

 

If one is a SVU, better to ask the guru regarding the practices of

the parampara.

 

G

 

, upendra rao <upendrav2003@

wrote:

 

Dear Punith Balu,

 

Namaskar. The understanding given to me by knowledgeable people is

after completion of 21 days devotee is permitted to resume his/her

prayers to Divine Mother in normal manner. Same rule applies when

very close family member (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse)

leave this world.

 

There are many practical troublesome situations may exist in life

where one can not afford to ignore or stay away from Divine Mother

for one full year period. Hence Sastra permit a devotee to resume

prayers after 21 days and to re-establish contact with Divine Mother.

 

NOTE : In case of distant relative demise, prayers may be resumed

even after completion of 11 days.

 

Best Regards

 

Upendra V

 

mymy062004 <mymy062004 (AT) (DOT) co.in wrote: Sarvam Sivam,

 

Dear Friends,

 

could anyone help me in this regard?

 

my maternal uncle passed away 1 month before, Now I would like to

know, could I resume my pooja and abhisekams at home now?, I am

asking this because people say, one should not perform pooja and

light the deepams atleast for 1 year immediately after a death.

Kindly help me in this regard.

shivaya namaha,

with regards,

punith balu

[Guest guest]

why is the same message being repeated so many times? a glitch??

 

e wrote: Greetings to all in her name.

 

Having heard this before can anyone shed some light on why these waiting periods

exist? I am a westerner and certain cultural aspects of the practices are

confusing to me.

 

I have difficulty understanding why they would be forbidden at a time that a

devotee would most require the Mother's nurturance and support via the contact

with her presence by puja and prayer. With Durga, Chandi and Mahakali as aspects

of the beloved Goddess, surely the idea of death as a contamination must not be

the reason. Could anything defile the eternal? Might the rationale be that one

will be too disturbed emotionally to perform the spiritual practices

appropriately? Would Devi mind if one were making the best effort possible under

trying circunstances?

 

I work with the dying every day, and consider the sustenance I receive from my

daily practice a great part of what allows me to minister to the needs of those

children of HER that I have the privilege to care for. My proximity to death and

what I do for my patients is as much a prayer and offering to the Divine Mother

as anything done in formal puja.

 

Please understand that these questions are raised in the interest of furthering

my understanding and not to challenge or judge a different cultural perspective

than mine.

 

With gratitude to this forum and the wisdom and knowledge of it's members.

Namaste

 

Nadananda

 

-

upendra rao

 

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 7:42 AM

Re: help needed regarding ....

 

Dear Punith Balu,

 

Namaskar. The understanding given to me by knowledgeable people is after

completion of 21 days devotee is permitted to resume his/her prayers to Divine

Mother in normal manner. Same rule applies when very close family member

(father, mother, brother, sister, spouse) leave this world.

 

There are many practical troublesome situations may exist in life where one can

not afford to ignore or stay away from Divine Mother for one full year period.

Hence Sastra permit a devotee to resume prayers after 21 days and to

re-establish contact with Divine Mother.

 

NOTE : In case of distant relative demise, prayers may be resumed even after

completion of 11 days.

 

Best Regards

 

Upendra V

 

mymy062004 <mymy062004 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote: Sarvam Sivam,

 

Dear Friends,

 

could anyone help me in this regard?

 

my maternal uncle passed away 1 month before, Now I would like to

know, could I resume my pooja and abhisekams at home now?, I am asking this

because people say, one should not perform pooja and light the deepams atleast

for 1 year immediately after a death.

 

Kindly help me in this regard.

 

shivaya namaha,

 

with regards,

punith balu

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thousands of years before, great philosophers asked the same questions. Are the

Vedas or other ancient sources the final authority on every aspect ?

If they are, why there are so many anomalies ? Out of such questions the Sankhya

system of philosophy developed. But Hinduism has encompassed even the

questioning as a part of its vast spread and diversity. If one cannot follow all

these rules, there are always some antidote pujas . The concept of sin in

Hinduism is not as frightening as in some other religions. What ever impurity

you acquired by touching the dead can be washed away by some simple Mantra

repeated 3 times. This is the fantastic tolerance that this religion provides.

Do not take all these strictures to be followed after death too seriously. It is

OK if your body and mind is clean before praying. I think it is what all other

religions say too.

Cliff & Micha <numinae wrote:

Greetings to all in her name.

 

Having heard this before can anyone shed some light on why these waiting periods

exist? I am a westerner and certain cultural aspects of the practices are

confusing to me.

 

I have difficulty understanding why they would be forbidden at a time that a

devotee would most require the Mother's nurturance and support via the contact

with her presence by puja and prayer. With Durga, Chandi and Mahakali as aspects

of the beloved Goddess, surely the idea of death as a contamination must not be

the reason. Could anything defile the eternal? Might the rationale be that one

will be too disturbed emotionally to perform the spiritual practices

appropriately? Would Devi mind if one were making the best effort possible under

trying circunstances?

 

I work with the dying every day, and consider the sustenance I receive from my

daily practice a great part of what allows me to minister to the needs of those

children of HER that I have the privilege to care for. My proximity to death and

what I do for my patients is as much a prayer and offering to the Divine Mother

as anything done in formal puja.

 

Please understand that these questions are raised in the interest of furthering

my understanding and not to challenge or judge a different cultural perspective

than mine.

 

With gratitude to this forum and the wisdom and knowledge of it's members.

Namaste

 

Nadananda

 

-

upendra rao

 

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 7:42 AM

Re: help needed regarding ....

 

Dear Punith Balu,

 

Namaskar. The understanding given to me by knowledgeable people is after

completion of 21 days devotee is permitted to resume his/her prayers to Divine

Mother in normal manner. Same rule applies when very close family member

(father, mother, brother, sister, spouse) leave this world.

 

There are many practical troublesome situations may exist in life where one can

not afford to ignore or stay away from Divine Mother for one full year period.

Hence Sastra permit a devotee to resume prayers after 21 days and to

re-establish contact with Divine Mother.

 

NOTE : In case of distant relative demise, prayers may be resumed even after

completion of 11 days.

 

Best Regards

 

Upendra V

 

mymy062004 <mymy062004 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote: Sarvam Sivam,

 

Dear Friends,

 

could anyone help me in this regard?

 

my maternal uncle passed away 1 month before, Now I would like to

know, could I resume my pooja and abhisekams at home now?, I am asking this

because people say, one should not perform pooja and light the deepams atleast

for 1 year immediately after a death.

 

Kindly help me in this regard.

 

shivaya namaha,

 

with regards,

punith balu

 

 

[Guest guest]

Because, attending to the needs of the departed soul becomes the most

important duty (for the kartha - one who is eligible to do the rites)

for the prescribed time (10 days) as follows. The soul is neither

here nor there.

 

 

Pinda Upanishad <http://www.shastras.com/otherupanishads/pinda/>

__________________

Then Brahman spoke:

" In water, it stays for three days; three days in fire; then it goes

through the ether three days; and for a day then, in the wind. "

__________________

 

 

, " Cliff & Micha " <numinae

wrote:

>

> Greetings to all in her name.

>

> Having heard this before can anyone shed some light on why these

waiting periods exist? I am a westerner and certain cultural aspects

of the practices are confusing to me.