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यो मां पश्यती सर्वत्र सर्वं च: मयि पश्यती
तस्याहम न प्रणश्यामी स: च मे न प्रणश्यति
"He who sees me everywhere, and sees everything in Me, he never gets separated from Me, nor do I get separated from him" -Bhagwat Gita Ch. VI verse 30
Continues
140. For the same Veda, many sages have created Suthras. We have to follow that Suthra which was followed by our forefathers. In case of Shika (hair style), Pundra (what we put on our forehead), Sutha and Aacharas of our family and our forefathers have to be followed by us. If we change according to will, we would be committing sin. If we do not get a priest who knows our Suthra, we cannot follow some other Suthra. Suppose without any option, if we are forced to do it, later the same ritual should be performed according to our Suthra.
141. We should without forgetting tell our Veda - Rik Shakha Adhyayi, Yaju Shakha Adhyayi or Sama Shaka Adhyayi.
142. Suppose somebody is named as Sharma, he should tell "Sharma Namaham".
143. The room where delivery has taken place, if it is a mud floor, it should be floored again and if it is any other type of floor, we have to first burn straw in the room and bring a cow inside the room and then sprinkle Punyaaha water. Unless this is done that room cannot be used for any purpose.
144. The Lady who has delivered, on the day she does Panda Sparsam (touching of vessels), she should wear a new Mangala Suthra and take Pancha Gavya. Then only she is eligible to participate in religious and Pithru rituals.
145. On the day when death taint and birth taints go away, the person should take bath in the morning, do all morning rituals and after 8.30 AM, should take bath again, preferably in a pond or river.
146. When death occurs, till Sapindi Karana, a stone is kept in a pit in home (Graha Kunda) and another one in the river bank (Nadhi Kunda). The stones represent the pretha (dead body) of the expired person. The house where Graha Kunda is kept is fully tainted till Sapindi Karana is over.
147. If Graha Kundam is kept in some other place, then by cleaning with cow dung and after sprinkling Punyaha, the house will become pure. People who are living for rent can stay in such a house.
148. When we get tainted, if we are doing Agni Hothra (ceremony of fire), we can take bath, finish the Agni Hothra rituals. But Oupasana and worship should not be done by us. Since they have to be definitely done, we can get them done by someone who does not have taint.
149. Except Sandhya Vandhana, no other daily ritual should be done during the taint period. But Grahana Tharpana, Yekadasi, Sravana Dwadasi and Shiva Rathri should be observed during taint period.
150. If a panchama enters our home, we should throw away all earthen vessels and all others should be washed by cow dung and Punyaha water. We should throw away all cooked food. Only after bringing a cow inside the home and the dust from its feet falls inside, the house would become clean.
151. A pond where a cow enters and is washed is a pure pond. It will not get tainted by any one's touch.
152. In water source used by many, if a cat or a dog falls and dies, we have to remove 100 pots of water from it and then it can be used. If a man dies, the entire water has to be emptied and it should be cleaned by Pancha Gavyam and Punyaaham.
153. The feet of a Brahmin is holy. So the house where the dust from their feet falls is pure. Since Jyeshta Devi lives on the back side of a Brahmin, we should never make them sit on a floor but either on a mat or a plank.
154. The back side and legs of a cow are pure. So they have to be seen. Goddess Lakshmi lives there. The face of a cow and what is smelled by the face or dirty. The cow licked the flesh from the body of sage Dadichi and because of that got a portion in the fire sacrifice. So he cursed that front portion of a cow will be dirty and cursed.
155. There was a sage called Behnabha who used to grow cows and live by licking the foam on the calf's mouth after it has drunk milk. In the fire sacrifice conducted by King Ranthi Deva, they wanted to leave their body and become cows with pretty horns. When he refused, they killed him by their horn. Kamadhenu got angry and cursed that their face will become dirty and cursed.
156. We can worship the back side of a cow and decorate it. Kalidasa says King Dileepa worshipped the middle portion between the horns where lord Shiva dances. But the place for worship is the back side. After worshipping the back side, the front side can be worshipped.
157. Worship of cow, service to cow offering grass and paddy straw to cow, scratching the neck of the cow, constructing a stone pillar so that the cow can rub itself on that and offering grazing land to the cow are blessed deeds and gets us reward.
158. Once the husband knows clearly that his wife is in the family way, he has to do penance. During that penance he should not take Dhanam. He should neither shave nor cut his hair. He should not go as a Brahmin in a Sradham. He should not take bath in the sea. He should not go on a pilgrimage. He should not go to the cremation ground nor should he carry a corpse. If he does not observe these, he would accumulate sins and growth of baby would be affected.
159. To get rid of sins, we should do Kruchram. It means give punishment to the body. That is we should punish the body by starving and also repent.
160. Those who cannot fast, instead of one Prajapathya Kruchra should chant Gayathri ten thousand times. If even that is not possible, he should do 200 Pranayama. If even that is not possible he should do 1000 homams. If even that is not possible, he should read from the Vedas thirty times and people who cannot even do that, should feed 60 or 24 or 12 Brahmins and people who cannot even do that, should give Gomoolya (Rs. 3 and 15 Paise). In Tamil Nadu a Kruchra is about 40 Paisa.
161. Suppose we have to become eligible to perform Karma (ritual), we should give as gift 7 or 6 or 3 Kruchras.
162. Suppose a person dies, we have to remove the body only after one Yaamam (about 3 hours). We should not keep it more than 3 Yaamams (Nine hours). If we keep it, it would become paryushitham that is old.
163. If a person dies in day time, his body should be cremated within 3 Yamams (9 hours) but if it is night, the body can be cremated within Nine Nazhigai (One Nazhigai is 24 minutes), It is believed that the soul of the dead man is being taken with great speed by the assistants of God Yama.
164. If we keep the body for a long time either in the day time or night, Parayooshitha Dosha will set in. To remove this, we have to give away three Kruchrams and wash the body with Panchagavyam and then again wash it with pure water and then cremate it.
165. It is believed that, while cremating, we are doing Homa of the body in fire. Since it is not possible to lift it and do Homa, we set up a pyre, place the body on it and set fire to it.
166. Dying in Dakshinayayana, Krishna Paksha, at night and on the cot are each a dosha. We have to give one Kruchram each for each of these doshas and then only cremate the body. Once a person's soul was taken by mistake to Yama Loka by the assistants of Yama since they brought the wrong soul, Yama, the Lord asked them to take back the soul and return it to its body. They have the power to do that and so we should not cremate the body in a hurry.
167. What all things need to be done before a person dies? Death would come definitely to everyone. Suppose we know that our death is nearing, we should do Prayachitha (redemption). That would remove the sins committed till then and make death occur without much pain. This is an important ritual and should be done.
168. If the man is about to die and has sufficient strength, he should take bath, do Sankalpa and do various Dhanas. If he does not have strength, he can instruct his son to do it.
169. If after doing this, suppose he lives for another 3 more days, he has to do this Prayaschitha again. It is possible that he might have sinned again by his mind or body. Even if we do not do any fresh sin, since he was not performing daily rituals like Sandhya Vandhana due to his health, he would be committing some sin.
170. The Dhanam that we do ourselves before our death is our great friend and so we have to do such rituals which would help us in the other world.
171. If we are not able to do it, then we can get it done by our sons. We should make the dying man see Thulasi leaves, great Brahmins, we should murmur in the dying person's ear "Rama, Rama". If possible, we can ask them to chant "Rama, Rama". We should sprinkle Ganga water on our body and also drink it.
172. Once we know that the person is about to die soon, we should not make him lie on a cot or bed. In the hall we can spread Durba and make that person lie down on that. King Parikshtith attained hell because he died on a cot. Devi Bhagwatha says that Janamejaya made Devi Bhagawatha Navaha (reading Devi Bhagwatham in 9 days) and sent his father to heaven.
173. If you have done only Punya (blessed deeds) then our soul will leave our body easily. The soul will leave by the holes in the mouth. The soul of sinners would leave the body very slowly after troubling them a lot. The soul would leave the body through the hole for stools and urine. For realized souls, the soul will break their heads and go out via Sushumna Nadi. Mahabharatha says that Drona's soul left that way.
174. What is the going of the Soul? Soul, which is the complete mingling of mind, 5 Jnanendriyas, 5 Karmendriyas, and five airs of the body (called Prana) and the past karma that we have done becomes like a spark of fire and goes from our body to other worlds. For those who have got salvation, it will all get mixed here itself. In case of those who learn Vedas, it will go to the world of Brahma, read Vedas there and at last merge with Brahma. Those for whom all the 48 Samsakaras are done or those who give as charity things like earth, gold, cow etc., can go to Brahma Loka but because they do not have knowledge of Vedantha they have to return back.
175. What is the labored breath with effort at the time of death? Normally the udana at the neck will prevent other Vayus (airs) from going out of the body. Till he gives way, the other airs of the body try to come out and when prevented, make one more trial, till Udana allows it to go out. People understand from this that the person is about to die.
176. How does the soul leave the body? Prana Vayu in the heart, Apana Vayu in our ears, Udana Vayu in the neck, Samana Vayu in the belly button and Vyana Vayu is all over the body are called Pancha Vayu. Before the soul leaves the body, Vyana from the blood comes to the heart. This causes very great pain. Till Apana and Samana come to the heart, the tubes carrying stool and urine would be closed and digestion is completely stopped,
177. When will milk not go inside the body? When Udana opens the way to Prana to go out, if we pour milk or water in the mouth, it will not go in but come out. Before and after that the milk will go in. Since all the powers of the organs go and merge in the mind, we will not be able to see or hear or smell and the skin will be without any feeling.
178. Since soul is a shining entity, till it is there in the body, the chest would be warm. Right from the beginning of Vyana going and other airs going out, those areas would lose their warmth. Even if heart beat is not there and even if none of the senses are working, we cannot conclude that a person is dead. Pouring milk in the mouth, keeping cotton in the nose are the normal tests. Again these are not the ultimate symptoms of death. Some people grind pepper or clove and apply on that person's eye. If there is no soul, water will not come out of the eye. This is not a good method of testing.
179. Is there any other body? Some people believe that the soul catches hold of another body and then only leaves our body. They believe that the soul does not go to any other world and there is no need to observe sradham (Death anniversary) for them. It is like a person does not like to leave the house where he has lived for long, the soul also does not like to leave the body. So the assistants of Yama show the picture of another body and then attracted by it, the soul leaves the body and that soul is taken to the world of Yama.
180. Soul never dies. Only body dies. When we are alive, youth goes and middle age sets in and later old age sets in and each of these changes is like throwing out the old dress and wearing a new dress. Death also is like that. It is only a change of new cloths discarding old ones. This is mentioned in Gita.
181. There are modes for the soul to go. They are called, the northern way and the southern way. These are also called the way of devas or way of manes or also called the way of devotees and the way of bad souls. Those who go by northern way are blessed as per the good deeds done by them and they will go via world of Yama to Heaven or Mahar Lokam, Jana Lokam, Thapo Lokam or Brahma Lokam. Sinners only go to Yama Loka.
182. Those who go to Brahma Loka will die in Utharayana (January 15th to July 15th), in the waxing period of moon in day time. It will take one to God of Utharayana or God of the Year and from there he will go to Brahma Loka. This is the path to those who become experts in the knowledge of Upanishads.
183 Those who die in the southern way will die at night and the god of night will take them to the god of the waning moon, who will take him to God of Dakshinayana and further to the God of the year and further to land of Yama or to heaven. This also is called the Dhooma Marga.
184. Does it mean that all those who die in Dakshinayana and in Krishna Paksha will go to Yama Loka and Swarga? Suppose a person is a great devotee of god, or has done innumerable charities, will he not go to Brahmaloka. This is not true that all of them go to the heaven as your placement depends only on the sins and blessed deeds that you have done.
185. Mahabharatha says that Bhishma wanted to die only in Utharayana and postponed his death. Because of this we should not assume that only those who die in Uttarayana would go to heaven. It is a holy time and his father had given him a boon that he can choose his time of death. So he did this to use that boon.
186. Cleanliness is a divine concept. We should keep our body, words, mind, the cloths that we wear, the food we eat and the articles that we handle as clean. Achara means all these aspects being clean. If they are unclean then it is anachara.
187. If a woman in her periods or a chandala comes near us, we have to take bath along with the cloths that we wear. Then only we will become clean. If Sudras, tainted Brahmins, Brahmins who had haircut, dog or crow touches us then we have to take bath along with cloths.
188. If women in periods or Chandalas touch us or if we touch a dead body or if we carry a dead body, we have to take bath with our cloths. Males should then change their sacred thread. Then only they would become fit to do their rituals.
189. If our stool or urine or somebody else's stool or urine falls upon us, we have to take bath along with the cloth that we wear.
191. Great people believe that even though silk is got by troubling a worm, it is clean. They also say that the milk we get after the calf feeds on the cow is again clean.
192. Like that the honey got after it is drunk by the bees is also considered as pure. It is fit for anointing of God.
193. Though a peepal tree is grown from the seeds which are eaten by the crow, it is also considered as clean.
194. If we wash silk cloths or get it washed by washer man then it loses its purity. To remove dirt from it, it has to be washed using the gruel of green gram dhal on Amavasya or Dwadasi days.
195. Doing Sradha wearing a white silk or giving white silk to a Brahmin on a Sradha day is considered as great.
196. Pancha Gavya is made of mixing five things got out of a cow. A woman after delivery becomes pure only after she takes Pancha Gavya after the taint period is over.
197. Pancha Gavya is the mixture of cow's urine (one palam - 60 Gms.), half thumb equivalent of cow dung, about half a litter of milk, 60 Gms. of ghee (clarified butter), 60 Gms. of durba water. There is a mantra to mix them.
198. The Mantra for making Pancha Gavya:
Yath thwak asthikadham papam, dehe thishtathji maamake, prasanam Pancha gavyasya dahathu Agneer iva indhanam.
Meaning: Let the sin adhering to my skin and bones or my body be burnt by Pancha Gavya like a fire wood is burnt by you fire.
199. Some information about Sradham: Sradham means that which we perform with sincerity and belief. Some people call it Thidhi and Divasam. Calling it Thevasam or Srardham is wrong. It should be called as Divasam or Sradham.
200. This has to be done in the month that a person died, in the paksha that he died and on the thidhi that he died. Because of this it is termed as Prathyabdhika Sradham.
201. One day is divided into 60 Nazhigas (24 minutes), the thirty Nazhigai of day time is divided in to 5 portions of 6 Nazhigai each. Each of these division has a name:
1. First 6 Nazhigas - Pratha Kala,
2. 7th to 12th Nazhiga - Sangava Kala
3. 13th to 18th Nazhika - Madyahneeka Kala
4. 19th to 24th Nazhigai - Aparanna
5. 25th to 30th Nazhigai - Sayanna.
202. The thidhi of death for sradha should be there up to Aparahna. Suppose the thidhi comes two days in a month, in Aparannaha, sradha should be performed on the day when it is more in Aparanha.
203. If the thidi comes twice in a month, normally Sradha should be done on the later date. But if the later thidhi has Sankramana dosha, then it should be done on the former thidhi. If in both cases, such dosha is there, it should be performed only on the later date.
204. In the months of Chithirai, Vaikasi, Aadi, Aavani, Iypasi, Karthigai and Masi, if the month begins in the Madhyahnika Kala, Sankaramana dosha is there. In the months of Aani, Purattasi, Margazhi, Thai and Panguni this dosham is not there.
205. If there is only one thidhi in the month, we need not bother about Sankramana Dosham. Sradha can be done on that day.
206. In the night if Sankramana is there within 15 Nazhikais, then thidhi has Sankramana Sosha. If Sankramana at night is after that, then there is no dosham.
207. Apranna Kaala is further divided in to three equal parts called Gandahrva period, Kuthaba period and Rouhineeya period. If the thithi occurs on two days and if it is not fully in Aparanna Kaala, it would be there in the Kuthabha Kala of the next day. So Sradha should be done only on the next day.
208. If the thidhi does not occur in a month, in the previous Chandramana month if there is the proper Thidhi, we should perform the Sradha on that day. If Thidhi is not there in Chandramana also, Sradha should be performed in the next month.
209. If the mother's and father's Sradha comes on the same day or both get postponed due to death or birth taint, then on same day father's Sradha should be performed first and next mother's Sradha should be done. The same cooked food can be used for both.
210. If Mother's or father's Sradha is postponed due to death or birth taint, then they can be performed on the day that the taint leaves.
211. If Lunar of solar eclipse comes on the Sradha day, you should observe fast on that day and perform Sradha the next day only.
212. If for some reason you forget to perform the Sradha, from the day you realize it, you should observe fast, observe Krucharacharanam and then perform Sradha the next day. This is the opinion of some saints.
213. For some other reason, we are not able to perform Sradha or suppose we do not know which thidhi it has to be performed, it can be done on the Krishna Paksha Ekadasi or Amavasya.
Some Rules regarding Sradha:
214. Those who perform Sradha should not eat food of outsiders, should not shave or have a haircut, should not take oil bath and should not make love for one month (some say 15days) before the Sradham.
215. If there are other problems these should not be done at least for one week before the Sradha. These should never be done for three days prior of Sradha.
216. Whatever may be the circumstance or reason they should not be indulged on the day before the sradha. If you do it, our Pithrus (manes) will curse us and we will lose our wife, children and Wealth.
217. A householder is supposed to do Sradha in Oupasanagni. Only if your wife is there, Oupasanagni can be maintained. So Sradha should be performed only in the place where wife is there. If wife dies Vidura Oupasanam can be maintained.
218. At least in the Paksha when the Sradha falls or at least three days before Sradha Oupasana should be started and on both times of the day. At least it should be done in the morning of the Sradha.
219. It is good, if we can do Koosmanda Homa before the Sradha. It removes sins like abortion, eating in unknown places etc. The pithrus will accept the Sradha only if we get rid of our sins before doing Sradha.
220. Even if we are not able to Koosmanda Homan, we can keep ourselves pure by Drinking Panchagavya, bath in the sea (if it is Parva Kala) bathe in sacred rivers and then do Sradha.
221. The day before Sradha, on Sradha day and the day after Sradha, we should not clean our teeth using stick or brush. We can clean it by rubbing softly by our fingers and gargling. This is because if you take out the water from the gums, we will immediately feel hungry.
222. Before Sradha, worship of Gods, worship of guests, special bathing and Dhanam should not be done. Dhanam should also be not taken. Even those who do not take early morning bath or Oupasanam should take bath early, do Sandhya Vandanam and perform Oupasanam and take bath on the Sradha day morning. Only sick people are permitted to do only one bath. Not adhering to this will invite curses from Pitrhrus.
223. The man who does the Sradha should personally invite the Brahmins participating on the night before they have taken their food. If we do not do it, several sorrows will befall us. Normally we invite three Brahmins - one representing Visva Seva, one representing Pithru, Pithamaha Prapithamaha or Mathru, Pithamaha, Prapithamaha and third one representing Lord Vishnu. Some people do not call a Brahmin to represent Vishnu but only put a leaf and serve all items there. We should always follow our forefathers in any such issues.
223. The qualification for a Brahmin to participate in a Sradha: One who has read Vedas, Vedanthi, Yogi, one who performs Agni Hothra (the best), Sama Vedhi, Shukla Yajurvedi, one who does not go against one's Dharma. One who knows Dharma Sasthras, one who is peaceful, one who is born in a family of Vedic pundits even if he does not chant Vedas and one who does Gayathri Japa without fail. Only these can participate in Sradha.
225. If you do not get Brahmins, father-in-law, uncle, guru, daughter's son and the priest who helps us in performing Sradha can represent in the Sradha. Some Rishis say that daughter's son has a special place in this.
226. Who should not represent? Those who do not know Vedas, those who do not have wife or son, one who works under people lower than him, one who works in government, priests of Sudras, people who do not observe Vruthas, people affected by leucoderma, leprosy, people with Damaged nails or damaged teeth, people who steal, atheists, eunuchs, those who drink alcohol, people who earn money by singing or playing musical instruments, people who have extra limbs like fingers, people who want to be recommended for eating in Sradha, people who hate Vedas and Brahmins, people who find fault with Vedas and Brahmins, those who do not do Sradha of their parents, people who have returned after crossing the sea, people who have taken food in a Sradha in the previous day, people who accept sinful Dhanas should not take part in the Sradha as Brahmins.
227. If we accept wrong type of people in Sradha, what we give will not reach the pithrus. If a man, who has not learnt Vedas, eats in a Sradha, when that Brahmin and the performer reaches hell they will be asked to take as many iron balls as much as the number of hands of food taken by that Brahmin.
228. If we do not get those who have learnt Vedas, at least we should take those who chant Gayathri, the mother of Vedas properly. It is a sin to employ Brahmins, who are not Brahmins any more.
229. We have to first show hospitality to Visva Devas first and then only to the one who represents the Pithrus. Like that, when we send them after the Sradham, first we have to bid farewell to Brahmin who represented Visva Devas.
230. When we are washing the feet of Sradha Brahmins, on the northern side, we have to make a square of 12" with cow dung.
231. On its southern side, we have to make a circle of 12" diameter for washing feet of the Brahmin representing Pithrus again by cow dung.
232. In between these, there should be at least a distance of 6". We have to take care that the water used to wash
the feet of one Brahmin should not touch the water used to wash the feet of the other Brahmin. Some people either put a wet cloth or rice husk in between them.
Tobe continued
तस्याहम न प्रणश्यामी स: च मे न प्रणश्यति
"He who sees me everywhere, and sees everything in Me, he never gets separated from Me, nor do I get separated from him" -Bhagwat Gita Ch. VI verse 30
Continues
140. For the same Veda, many sages have created Suthras. We have to follow that Suthra which was followed by our forefathers. In case of Shika (hair style), Pundra (what we put on our forehead), Sutha and Aacharas of our family and our forefathers have to be followed by us. If we change according to will, we would be committing sin. If we do not get a priest who knows our Suthra, we cannot follow some other Suthra. Suppose without any option, if we are forced to do it, later the same ritual should be performed according to our Suthra.
141. We should without forgetting tell our Veda - Rik Shakha Adhyayi, Yaju Shakha Adhyayi or Sama Shaka Adhyayi.
142. Suppose somebody is named as Sharma, he should tell "Sharma Namaham".
143. The room where delivery has taken place, if it is a mud floor, it should be floored again and if it is any other type of floor, we have to first burn straw in the room and bring a cow inside the room and then sprinkle Punyaaha water. Unless this is done that room cannot be used for any purpose.
144. The Lady who has delivered, on the day she does Panda Sparsam (touching of vessels), she should wear a new Mangala Suthra and take Pancha Gavya. Then only she is eligible to participate in religious and Pithru rituals.
145. On the day when death taint and birth taints go away, the person should take bath in the morning, do all morning rituals and after 8.30 AM, should take bath again, preferably in a pond or river.
146. When death occurs, till Sapindi Karana, a stone is kept in a pit in home (Graha Kunda) and another one in the river bank (Nadhi Kunda). The stones represent the pretha (dead body) of the expired person. The house where Graha Kunda is kept is fully tainted till Sapindi Karana is over.
147. If Graha Kundam is kept in some other place, then by cleaning with cow dung and after sprinkling Punyaha, the house will become pure. People who are living for rent can stay in such a house.
148. When we get tainted, if we are doing Agni Hothra (ceremony of fire), we can take bath, finish the Agni Hothra rituals. But Oupasana and worship should not be done by us. Since they have to be definitely done, we can get them done by someone who does not have taint.
149. Except Sandhya Vandhana, no other daily ritual should be done during the taint period. But Grahana Tharpana, Yekadasi, Sravana Dwadasi and Shiva Rathri should be observed during taint period.
150. If a panchama enters our home, we should throw away all earthen vessels and all others should be washed by cow dung and Punyaha water. We should throw away all cooked food. Only after bringing a cow inside the home and the dust from its feet falls inside, the house would become clean.
151. A pond where a cow enters and is washed is a pure pond. It will not get tainted by any one's touch.
152. In water source used by many, if a cat or a dog falls and dies, we have to remove 100 pots of water from it and then it can be used. If a man dies, the entire water has to be emptied and it should be cleaned by Pancha Gavyam and Punyaaham.
153. The feet of a Brahmin is holy. So the house where the dust from their feet falls is pure. Since Jyeshta Devi lives on the back side of a Brahmin, we should never make them sit on a floor but either on a mat or a plank.
154. The back side and legs of a cow are pure. So they have to be seen. Goddess Lakshmi lives there. The face of a cow and what is smelled by the face or dirty. The cow licked the flesh from the body of sage Dadichi and because of that got a portion in the fire sacrifice. So he cursed that front portion of a cow will be dirty and cursed.
155. There was a sage called Behnabha who used to grow cows and live by licking the foam on the calf's mouth after it has drunk milk. In the fire sacrifice conducted by King Ranthi Deva, they wanted to leave their body and become cows with pretty horns. When he refused, they killed him by their horn. Kamadhenu got angry and cursed that their face will become dirty and cursed.
156. We can worship the back side of a cow and decorate it. Kalidasa says King Dileepa worshipped the middle portion between the horns where lord Shiva dances. But the place for worship is the back side. After worshipping the back side, the front side can be worshipped.
157. Worship of cow, service to cow offering grass and paddy straw to cow, scratching the neck of the cow, constructing a stone pillar so that the cow can rub itself on that and offering grazing land to the cow are blessed deeds and gets us reward.
158. Once the husband knows clearly that his wife is in the family way, he has to do penance. During that penance he should not take Dhanam. He should neither shave nor cut his hair. He should not go as a Brahmin in a Sradham. He should not take bath in the sea. He should not go on a pilgrimage. He should not go to the cremation ground nor should he carry a corpse. If he does not observe these, he would accumulate sins and growth of baby would be affected.
159. To get rid of sins, we should do Kruchram. It means give punishment to the body. That is we should punish the body by starving and also repent.
160. Those who cannot fast, instead of one Prajapathya Kruchra should chant Gayathri ten thousand times. If even that is not possible, he should do 200 Pranayama. If even that is not possible he should do 1000 homams. If even that is not possible, he should read from the Vedas thirty times and people who cannot even do that, should feed 60 or 24 or 12 Brahmins and people who cannot even do that, should give Gomoolya (Rs. 3 and 15 Paise). In Tamil Nadu a Kruchra is about 40 Paisa.
161. Suppose we have to become eligible to perform Karma (ritual), we should give as gift 7 or 6 or 3 Kruchras.
162. Suppose a person dies, we have to remove the body only after one Yaamam (about 3 hours). We should not keep it more than 3 Yaamams (Nine hours). If we keep it, it would become paryushitham that is old.
163. If a person dies in day time, his body should be cremated within 3 Yamams (9 hours) but if it is night, the body can be cremated within Nine Nazhigai (One Nazhigai is 24 minutes), It is believed that the soul of the dead man is being taken with great speed by the assistants of God Yama.
164. If we keep the body for a long time either in the day time or night, Parayooshitha Dosha will set in. To remove this, we have to give away three Kruchrams and wash the body with Panchagavyam and then again wash it with pure water and then cremate it.
165. It is believed that, while cremating, we are doing Homa of the body in fire. Since it is not possible to lift it and do Homa, we set up a pyre, place the body on it and set fire to it.
166. Dying in Dakshinayayana, Krishna Paksha, at night and on the cot are each a dosha. We have to give one Kruchram each for each of these doshas and then only cremate the body. Once a person's soul was taken by mistake to Yama Loka by the assistants of Yama since they brought the wrong soul, Yama, the Lord asked them to take back the soul and return it to its body. They have the power to do that and so we should not cremate the body in a hurry.
167. What all things need to be done before a person dies? Death would come definitely to everyone. Suppose we know that our death is nearing, we should do Prayachitha (redemption). That would remove the sins committed till then and make death occur without much pain. This is an important ritual and should be done.
168. If the man is about to die and has sufficient strength, he should take bath, do Sankalpa and do various Dhanas. If he does not have strength, he can instruct his son to do it.
169. If after doing this, suppose he lives for another 3 more days, he has to do this Prayaschitha again. It is possible that he might have sinned again by his mind or body. Even if we do not do any fresh sin, since he was not performing daily rituals like Sandhya Vandhana due to his health, he would be committing some sin.
170. The Dhanam that we do ourselves before our death is our great friend and so we have to do such rituals which would help us in the other world.
171. If we are not able to do it, then we can get it done by our sons. We should make the dying man see Thulasi leaves, great Brahmins, we should murmur in the dying person's ear "Rama, Rama". If possible, we can ask them to chant "Rama, Rama". We should sprinkle Ganga water on our body and also drink it.
172. Once we know that the person is about to die soon, we should not make him lie on a cot or bed. In the hall we can spread Durba and make that person lie down on that. King Parikshtith attained hell because he died on a cot. Devi Bhagwatha says that Janamejaya made Devi Bhagawatha Navaha (reading Devi Bhagwatham in 9 days) and sent his father to heaven.
173. If you have done only Punya (blessed deeds) then our soul will leave our body easily. The soul will leave by the holes in the mouth. The soul of sinners would leave the body very slowly after troubling them a lot. The soul would leave the body through the hole for stools and urine. For realized souls, the soul will break their heads and go out via Sushumna Nadi. Mahabharatha says that Drona's soul left that way.
174. What is the going of the Soul? Soul, which is the complete mingling of mind, 5 Jnanendriyas, 5 Karmendriyas, and five airs of the body (called Prana) and the past karma that we have done becomes like a spark of fire and goes from our body to other worlds. For those who have got salvation, it will all get mixed here itself. In case of those who learn Vedas, it will go to the world of Brahma, read Vedas there and at last merge with Brahma. Those for whom all the 48 Samsakaras are done or those who give as charity things like earth, gold, cow etc., can go to Brahma Loka but because they do not have knowledge of Vedantha they have to return back.
175. What is the labored breath with effort at the time of death? Normally the udana at the neck will prevent other Vayus (airs) from going out of the body. Till he gives way, the other airs of the body try to come out and when prevented, make one more trial, till Udana allows it to go out. People understand from this that the person is about to die.
176. How does the soul leave the body? Prana Vayu in the heart, Apana Vayu in our ears, Udana Vayu in the neck, Samana Vayu in the belly button and Vyana Vayu is all over the body are called Pancha Vayu. Before the soul leaves the body, Vyana from the blood comes to the heart. This causes very great pain. Till Apana and Samana come to the heart, the tubes carrying stool and urine would be closed and digestion is completely stopped,
177. When will milk not go inside the body? When Udana opens the way to Prana to go out, if we pour milk or water in the mouth, it will not go in but come out. Before and after that the milk will go in. Since all the powers of the organs go and merge in the mind, we will not be able to see or hear or smell and the skin will be without any feeling.
178. Since soul is a shining entity, till it is there in the body, the chest would be warm. Right from the beginning of Vyana going and other airs going out, those areas would lose their warmth. Even if heart beat is not there and even if none of the senses are working, we cannot conclude that a person is dead. Pouring milk in the mouth, keeping cotton in the nose are the normal tests. Again these are not the ultimate symptoms of death. Some people grind pepper or clove and apply on that person's eye. If there is no soul, water will not come out of the eye. This is not a good method of testing.
179. Is there any other body? Some people believe that the soul catches hold of another body and then only leaves our body. They believe that the soul does not go to any other world and there is no need to observe sradham (Death anniversary) for them. It is like a person does not like to leave the house where he has lived for long, the soul also does not like to leave the body. So the assistants of Yama show the picture of another body and then attracted by it, the soul leaves the body and that soul is taken to the world of Yama.
180. Soul never dies. Only body dies. When we are alive, youth goes and middle age sets in and later old age sets in and each of these changes is like throwing out the old dress and wearing a new dress. Death also is like that. It is only a change of new cloths discarding old ones. This is mentioned in Gita.
181. There are modes for the soul to go. They are called, the northern way and the southern way. These are also called the way of devas or way of manes or also called the way of devotees and the way of bad souls. Those who go by northern way are blessed as per the good deeds done by them and they will go via world of Yama to Heaven or Mahar Lokam, Jana Lokam, Thapo Lokam or Brahma Lokam. Sinners only go to Yama Loka.
182. Those who go to Brahma Loka will die in Utharayana (January 15th to July 15th), in the waxing period of moon in day time. It will take one to God of Utharayana or God of the Year and from there he will go to Brahma Loka. This is the path to those who become experts in the knowledge of Upanishads.
183 Those who die in the southern way will die at night and the god of night will take them to the god of the waning moon, who will take him to God of Dakshinayana and further to the God of the year and further to land of Yama or to heaven. This also is called the Dhooma Marga.
184. Does it mean that all those who die in Dakshinayana and in Krishna Paksha will go to Yama Loka and Swarga? Suppose a person is a great devotee of god, or has done innumerable charities, will he not go to Brahmaloka. This is not true that all of them go to the heaven as your placement depends only on the sins and blessed deeds that you have done.
185. Mahabharatha says that Bhishma wanted to die only in Utharayana and postponed his death. Because of this we should not assume that only those who die in Uttarayana would go to heaven. It is a holy time and his father had given him a boon that he can choose his time of death. So he did this to use that boon.
186. Cleanliness is a divine concept. We should keep our body, words, mind, the cloths that we wear, the food we eat and the articles that we handle as clean. Achara means all these aspects being clean. If they are unclean then it is anachara.
187. If a woman in her periods or a chandala comes near us, we have to take bath along with the cloths that we wear. Then only we will become clean. If Sudras, tainted Brahmins, Brahmins who had haircut, dog or crow touches us then we have to take bath along with cloths.
188. If women in periods or Chandalas touch us or if we touch a dead body or if we carry a dead body, we have to take bath with our cloths. Males should then change their sacred thread. Then only they would become fit to do their rituals.
189. If our stool or urine or somebody else's stool or urine falls upon us, we have to take bath along with the cloth that we wear.
191. Great people believe that even though silk is got by troubling a worm, it is clean. They also say that the milk we get after the calf feeds on the cow is again clean.
192. Like that the honey got after it is drunk by the bees is also considered as pure. It is fit for anointing of God.
193. Though a peepal tree is grown from the seeds which are eaten by the crow, it is also considered as clean.
194. If we wash silk cloths or get it washed by washer man then it loses its purity. To remove dirt from it, it has to be washed using the gruel of green gram dhal on Amavasya or Dwadasi days.
195. Doing Sradha wearing a white silk or giving white silk to a Brahmin on a Sradha day is considered as great.
196. Pancha Gavya is made of mixing five things got out of a cow. A woman after delivery becomes pure only after she takes Pancha Gavya after the taint period is over.
197. Pancha Gavya is the mixture of cow's urine (one palam - 60 Gms.), half thumb equivalent of cow dung, about half a litter of milk, 60 Gms. of ghee (clarified butter), 60 Gms. of durba water. There is a mantra to mix them.
198. The Mantra for making Pancha Gavya:
Yath thwak asthikadham papam, dehe thishtathji maamake, prasanam Pancha gavyasya dahathu Agneer iva indhanam.
Meaning: Let the sin adhering to my skin and bones or my body be burnt by Pancha Gavya like a fire wood is burnt by you fire.
199. Some information about Sradham: Sradham means that which we perform with sincerity and belief. Some people call it Thidhi and Divasam. Calling it Thevasam or Srardham is wrong. It should be called as Divasam or Sradham.
200. This has to be done in the month that a person died, in the paksha that he died and on the thidhi that he died. Because of this it is termed as Prathyabdhika Sradham.
201. One day is divided into 60 Nazhigas (24 minutes), the thirty Nazhigai of day time is divided in to 5 portions of 6 Nazhigai each. Each of these division has a name:
1. First 6 Nazhigas - Pratha Kala,
2. 7th to 12th Nazhiga - Sangava Kala
3. 13th to 18th Nazhika - Madyahneeka Kala
4. 19th to 24th Nazhigai - Aparanna
5. 25th to 30th Nazhigai - Sayanna.
202. The thidhi of death for sradha should be there up to Aparahna. Suppose the thidhi comes two days in a month, in Aparannaha, sradha should be performed on the day when it is more in Aparanha.
203. If the thidi comes twice in a month, normally Sradha should be done on the later date. But if the later thidhi has Sankramana dosha, then it should be done on the former thidhi. If in both cases, such dosha is there, it should be performed only on the later date.
204. In the months of Chithirai, Vaikasi, Aadi, Aavani, Iypasi, Karthigai and Masi, if the month begins in the Madhyahnika Kala, Sankaramana dosha is there. In the months of Aani, Purattasi, Margazhi, Thai and Panguni this dosham is not there.
205. If there is only one thidhi in the month, we need not bother about Sankramana Dosham. Sradha can be done on that day.
206. In the night if Sankramana is there within 15 Nazhikais, then thidhi has Sankramana Sosha. If Sankramana at night is after that, then there is no dosham.
207. Apranna Kaala is further divided in to three equal parts called Gandahrva period, Kuthaba period and Rouhineeya period. If the thithi occurs on two days and if it is not fully in Aparanna Kaala, it would be there in the Kuthabha Kala of the next day. So Sradha should be done only on the next day.
208. If the thidhi does not occur in a month, in the previous Chandramana month if there is the proper Thidhi, we should perform the Sradha on that day. If Thidhi is not there in Chandramana also, Sradha should be performed in the next month.
209. If the mother's and father's Sradha comes on the same day or both get postponed due to death or birth taint, then on same day father's Sradha should be performed first and next mother's Sradha should be done. The same cooked food can be used for both.
210. If Mother's or father's Sradha is postponed due to death or birth taint, then they can be performed on the day that the taint leaves.
211. If Lunar of solar eclipse comes on the Sradha day, you should observe fast on that day and perform Sradha the next day only.
212. If for some reason you forget to perform the Sradha, from the day you realize it, you should observe fast, observe Krucharacharanam and then perform Sradha the next day. This is the opinion of some saints.
213. For some other reason, we are not able to perform Sradha or suppose we do not know which thidhi it has to be performed, it can be done on the Krishna Paksha Ekadasi or Amavasya.
Some Rules regarding Sradha:
214. Those who perform Sradha should not eat food of outsiders, should not shave or have a haircut, should not take oil bath and should not make love for one month (some say 15days) before the Sradham.
215. If there are other problems these should not be done at least for one week before the Sradha. These should never be done for three days prior of Sradha.
216. Whatever may be the circumstance or reason they should not be indulged on the day before the sradha. If you do it, our Pithrus (manes) will curse us and we will lose our wife, children and Wealth.
217. A householder is supposed to do Sradha in Oupasanagni. Only if your wife is there, Oupasanagni can be maintained. So Sradha should be performed only in the place where wife is there. If wife dies Vidura Oupasanam can be maintained.
218. At least in the Paksha when the Sradha falls or at least three days before Sradha Oupasana should be started and on both times of the day. At least it should be done in the morning of the Sradha.
219. It is good, if we can do Koosmanda Homa before the Sradha. It removes sins like abortion, eating in unknown places etc. The pithrus will accept the Sradha only if we get rid of our sins before doing Sradha.
220. Even if we are not able to Koosmanda Homan, we can keep ourselves pure by Drinking Panchagavya, bath in the sea (if it is Parva Kala) bathe in sacred rivers and then do Sradha.
221. The day before Sradha, on Sradha day and the day after Sradha, we should not clean our teeth using stick or brush. We can clean it by rubbing softly by our fingers and gargling. This is because if you take out the water from the gums, we will immediately feel hungry.
222. Before Sradha, worship of Gods, worship of guests, special bathing and Dhanam should not be done. Dhanam should also be not taken. Even those who do not take early morning bath or Oupasanam should take bath early, do Sandhya Vandanam and perform Oupasanam and take bath on the Sradha day morning. Only sick people are permitted to do only one bath. Not adhering to this will invite curses from Pitrhrus.
223. The man who does the Sradha should personally invite the Brahmins participating on the night before they have taken their food. If we do not do it, several sorrows will befall us. Normally we invite three Brahmins - one representing Visva Seva, one representing Pithru, Pithamaha Prapithamaha or Mathru, Pithamaha, Prapithamaha and third one representing Lord Vishnu. Some people do not call a Brahmin to represent Vishnu but only put a leaf and serve all items there. We should always follow our forefathers in any such issues.
223. The qualification for a Brahmin to participate in a Sradha: One who has read Vedas, Vedanthi, Yogi, one who performs Agni Hothra (the best), Sama Vedhi, Shukla Yajurvedi, one who does not go against one's Dharma. One who knows Dharma Sasthras, one who is peaceful, one who is born in a family of Vedic pundits even if he does not chant Vedas and one who does Gayathri Japa without fail. Only these can participate in Sradha.
225. If you do not get Brahmins, father-in-law, uncle, guru, daughter's son and the priest who helps us in performing Sradha can represent in the Sradha. Some Rishis say that daughter's son has a special place in this.
226. Who should not represent? Those who do not know Vedas, those who do not have wife or son, one who works under people lower than him, one who works in government, priests of Sudras, people who do not observe Vruthas, people affected by leucoderma, leprosy, people with Damaged nails or damaged teeth, people who steal, atheists, eunuchs, those who drink alcohol, people who earn money by singing or playing musical instruments, people who have extra limbs like fingers, people who want to be recommended for eating in Sradha, people who hate Vedas and Brahmins, people who find fault with Vedas and Brahmins, those who do not do Sradha of their parents, people who have returned after crossing the sea, people who have taken food in a Sradha in the previous day, people who accept sinful Dhanas should not take part in the Sradha as Brahmins.
227. If we accept wrong type of people in Sradha, what we give will not reach the pithrus. If a man, who has not learnt Vedas, eats in a Sradha, when that Brahmin and the performer reaches hell they will be asked to take as many iron balls as much as the number of hands of food taken by that Brahmin.
228. If we do not get those who have learnt Vedas, at least we should take those who chant Gayathri, the mother of Vedas properly. It is a sin to employ Brahmins, who are not Brahmins any more.
229. We have to first show hospitality to Visva Devas first and then only to the one who represents the Pithrus. Like that, when we send them after the Sradham, first we have to bid farewell to Brahmin who represented Visva Devas.
230. When we are washing the feet of Sradha Brahmins, on the northern side, we have to make a square of 12" with cow dung.
231. On its southern side, we have to make a circle of 12" diameter for washing feet of the Brahmin representing Pithrus again by cow dung.
232. In between these, there should be at least a distance of 6". We have to take care that the water used to wash
the feet of one Brahmin should not touch the water used to wash the feet of the other Brahmin. Some people either put a wet cloth or rice husk in between them.
Tobe continued