CHAPTER II.
SHRADDHA
श्राद्ध-कर्म
SHRADDHA is the name of the ceremonies performed to help the Jiva, who has put off hie visible body in death, by those who re- main in this world. The Jiva that has put off his visible body is called a Preta, and the part of the Shraddha performed to help him at this stage is called the Preta-kriya.
The visible body, the Annamayakosha, is carried to the burning-ground that it may be dissolved into its constituents as quickly as possible ; the ashes are gathered together on the third day, and are thrown into running water, preferably into a sacred stream. When the Annamayakosha is destroyed, the Pranamaya-kosha rapidly disperses, and this dispersal is quickened by some of the mantras used at the cremation.
Burning is the best way of destroying a dead body, and this destruction is important both for the departed Jiva and for those left behind ; so long as it remains undissolved, the Pranamayakosha hangs round it, in consequence of the magnetic attraction between them, and the Jiva is thus linked to the earth, which is bad for him ; on the other hand, a slowly decaying body in the ground, as in burial, sends out poisonous gases, and this is bad for those remaining behind.
The Shraddhas performed after the burning help in a re-arrangement of the materials of the Manomayakosha, partly by the magnetic influences of the objects used, and partly by the vibrations set up by the mantras. After a certain time, the Sapindikarana ceremony is performed, which helps the Jiva to pass from Pretaloka, to Pitriloka, and he is then enrolled among the Pitris, or the ancestors living in the subtler regions of Bhuvarloka.
Seven generations, one in Bhurloka and six in Bhuvarloka, can affect each other. When the Jiva passes on into Svarga, he has no further need of the help furnished by Shraddha.
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देशे काले च पात्रे च श्रद्धया विधिना च यत् ।
पितृनुद्दिश्य विप्रेभ्यो दत्तं श्राद्धमुदाहृतम् ।। – ब्रह्मपुराण
"Gifts to deserving Brahmanas for the sake of benefit to the Pitris, in the proper times and places and with faith, are known as Shraddha."
अर्थ: देश, काल तथा पात्र (उचित स्थान)के अनुसार, पितरों को उद्देशित कर ब्राह्मणों को श्रद्धा एवं विधियुक्त जो (अन्नादि) दिया जाता है, उसे श्राद्ध कहते हैं ।
कुर्यादहरहः श्राद्धं अन्नाद्येनोदकेन वा ।
पयोमूलफलैर्वापि पितृभ्यः प्रीतिं आवहन् ।
"Shraddha should be offered to the Pitris, day by day, with corn and water, or even roots and fruits and water, bringing them satisfaction."
गृहस्थ व्यक्ति अन्न आदि भोज्य पदार्थों से और जल तथा दूध से, कन्दमूल, फल आदि से माता – पिता आदि बुजुर्गों से अत्यन्त प्रेम करते हुए प्रतिदिन श्राद्ध – श्रद्धा से किये जाने वाले सेवा – सुश्रूषा, भोजन देना आदि कर्तव्य करे ।
पञ्चभ्य एव मात्राभ्यः प्रेत्य दुष्कृतिनां नृणाम् ।
शरीरं यातनार्थीयं अन्यदुत्पद्यते ध्रुवम्।। मनुस्मृति/१२/१६
तेनानुभूय ता यामीः शरीरेणेह यातनाः ।
तास्वेव भूतमात्रासु प्रलीयन्ते विभागशः।। मनुस्मृति /१२/१७
यद्याचरति धर्मं स प्रायशोऽधर्मं अल्पशः ।
तैरेव चावृतो भूतैः स्वर्गे सुखं उपाश्नुते ।। मनुस्मृति १२.२० । ।
"Out of the five elements a (subtler but) firm body is born (as seeth) for sinful Jivas (after death), that they may suffer punishment therein.
"After the suffering of the punishments awarded by Yama, in that body (the body) dissolves again into the elements.
"If (the J iva) has done more Dharma and little Adharma, he goes on to Svarga and enjoys happiness there enclosed in (another body composed of) the same elements."
चितामोक्षप्रभृति च प्रेतत्वमुपजायते।
"After the cremation is completed (the Jiva) becomes a Preta."
वर्ष यावत्खगश्रेष्ठ मार्गे गच्छति मानवः ।
ततः पितृगणैः सार्धं पितृलोकं स गच्छति ॥
दत्तैः षोडशभिः श्राद्धैः पितृभिः सह मोदते ।
पितुः पुत्रेण कर्तव्या पिण्डदानोदकक्रियाः ।
बृहत्पराशरमृतिः, ७/ ४९
"The Jiva remains on the path (r. e., the Pretaloka) for a year, best of birds ; then he passes on into the Pityi-loka (and dwells) with the Pitris.
"By the offering of the sixteen Shraddhas he is helped to dwell in joy with the Pitris. Therefore should the son ever perform the Sapindikarana rites for the father."
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