Guest guest Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Namaste all family and Kumari: Kumari asked Swami the following question about ancestor worship: Namaste Swami: > > Is it necessary to offer pindas (rice balls) to our ancestors? What > if our ancestors were not Hindus. Would that not offend my parents > if they were staunch Christians? I am in uncertainty about this. > Also, if those who have gone before us are in the presence of Brahman > or " in heaven " is it necessary to offer them worship for > satisfaction? And, is it required for those who are renounced (taken > vows of sanyasa) to celebrate this ritual? They have broken their > ties with family and home, so I would think that they would no longer > have ancestors to bless? > > Respectfully submitted with salutations to Swamaji and Shree Maa, > Kumari SWAMI REPLIED: It is not necessary, but it can do no harm. It is certainly good for the people who offer. It would not offend your ancestors, but actually the fact that they are being remembered with devotion would be pleasing. For those who have renounced, the entire world is their family. Therefore they can offer worship for everyone's relatives. JAI MAA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Namaste and Salutations to Swamiji: Thank you for your answers to my questions. You have given me something to think about. Your answers are on a spiritual level, which is the best place to reply on these matters. They focus attention from the object of devotion to the worshipper. It brings back the question to my mind, " Why do we do ritual? " Does the object of our devotion need the things we give and the rituals that we do? Or is it we human beings who need to sacrifice and give and do rituals for that object of devotion? My opinion is more the second, I need to do this, it is the right thing, the harmonious thing for me to do. And, wonderful thing is: I get a response, a loving response. I know this and yet I forget it all the time. The ego of human beings, to think the universe, the Goddess, Brahman needs my offerings. She already has it! But still she graciously accepts it from my hand. Jai Ma! Om namah Shivaya! Kumari , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste all family and Kumari: Kumari asked Swami the following > question about ancestor worship: > > Namaste Swami: > > > > Is it necessary to offer pindas (rice balls) to our ancestors? What > > if our ancestors were not Hindus. Would that not offend my parents > > if they were staunch Christians? I am in uncertainty about this. > > Also, if those who have gone before us are in the presence of Brahman > > or " in heaven " is it necessary to offer them worship for > > satisfaction? And, is it required for those who are renounced (taken > > vows of sanyasa) to celebrate this ritual? They have broken their > > ties with family and home, so I would think that they would no longer > > have ancestors to bless? > > > > Respectfully submitted with salutations to Swamaji and Shree Maa, > > Kumari > > SWAMI REPLIED: > > It is not necessary, but it can do no harm. It is certainly good for > the people who offer. > > It would not offend your ancestors, but actually the fact that they > are being remembered with devotion would be pleasing. > > For those who have renounced, the entire world is their family. > Therefore they can offer worship for everyone's relatives. > > JAI MAA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.