Importance Of Pitra Shradh

Every parent struggles and faces hardships to ensure happy future for his children. Our parents faced the same situation, and every parent of previous numerous generations also followed the same path thereby creating a debt (rin) on the succeeding generation. It is difficult to imagine the extent of debt we owe to our Pitras. It is not possible in every case to trace all our ancestors hence we confine to our previous three generations. Its importance can be seen from Shrimad Bhagwat Gita: Chapter 1, Shloka 42.

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलजानां कुलस्य च।
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः॥42॥

saṅkaro narakāyaiva kula-ghnānāṁ kulasya cha
patanti pitaro hy eṣhāṁ lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ

Bhagwat Gita 1.42

अवांछित सन्तानों की वृद्धि के परिणामस्वरूप निश्चय ही परिवार और पारिवारिक परम्परा का विनाश करने वालों का जीवन नारकीय बन जाता है। जल तथा पिण्डदान की क्रियाओं से वंचित हो जाने के कारण ऐसे पतित कुलों के पित्तरों का भी पतन हो जाता है।

We live in BHULOK. After death, our Pitra (ancestors) go to PITRALOK, which is a level above Bhulok. But the final destination is BHUVARLOK and beyond. Till the time of the death the soul is wandering in various worlds. The most accepted manner to pacify the departed ancestors is by performing shradh. Shradh is our way of repaying the debts of our Pitras. As the descendants, we respect our ancestors. We donate in their name and undertake activities that will please them. As per the scriptures, performing Shradh is a part of abiding by Dharma. The pitras are satisfied only after receiving pinḍa and water from their sons or qualified shradh performer.

In Shrimad Bhagwat Gita it is said, if Shradh, Pindadan and Tarpan is not performed, the departed soul goes to the hell region. Souls need energy on the onward journey. The food offered in shradh performed as per the ‘Tithi’ nourishes the subtle body of that individual for the whole year. So long as there are unfulfilled desires and expectations, the deceased expects food from his descendants on that particular shradh day. By performing Shradh, not only are the desires of Pitras fulfilled, but they also get energy for their onward journey.

If the deceased individual’s wish of someone performing Shradh is not fulfilled from the expected descendant, then the deceased becomes unhappy. It may lead to the deceased becoming a Pishach (a type of spirit), and take revenge on its relatives for not performing the Shradh rites. The deceased soul may manifest in its relative and starts speaking.

In Bhramapuran it is said that; ‘He who performs the Shradh rites diligently and as per his financial status, satisfies everyone right from Deity Brahma to the insignificant blade of grass. No one in the family of the individual performing the Shradh remains unhappy.’ Hence, Shradh rituals are performed.

In a nutshell, Shradh rites, help pitras in the Pitrulok (Region of the pitrars), gain momentum for their onward journey. Pitra who are stuck in the inferior region due to unsatisfied wishes and desires gain momentum to their onward journey. Some PITAR due to their Karma does not go to Pitrulok, instead enter the ghost area. To relieve them, Shradh is performed.

Origin Of Shardh

As per Hindu sacred texts, Rishi Atri (one of the 10 sons of Lord Brahma) was the first one to decipher the rituals of Shradha as told by Lord Brahma to his son Nimi Rishi. 

Nimi Rishi, guided by Narad Muni, started invoking his ancestors who appeared and told, “Nimi, your son has already taken place amongst Pitra Devas. Since you have performed the act of feeding and worshipping the soul of your departed son, it is same as if you had performed Pitri Yajna”. Since that time the Shradh is accounted as an important ritual of the Sanatan Dharma.

The Benefit of Performing Shradh

आयुः पुत्रान् आयुः पुत्रान् यशः स्वर्गं कीर्तिं पुष्टिं बलं श्रियम् ।
पशुन् सौख्यं धनं धान्यं प्राप्नुयात् पितृपूजनात् ।।
Garuḍpuraṇ, Ansha 2, Adhyaya 10, Shloka 57

The benefits of performing Shradh are Long life, a male child, success, heaven, fame, nourishment, strength, riches, animals, happiness and wealth. Performing Shradh during eclipse gives fruits equivalent of donating the earth.

One of the debts people have is PITRA-RIN; an obligation towards the creator- Brahma. Pitra Rin is only paid off by offering Pindadan, performing Shradh and Tarpan for the ancestors. The other two are DEV-RIN- obligation towards Vishnu, RISHI-RIN- obligation towards Lord Shiva. It is necessary that man should aspire to clear himself of these Rin or life remains unfulfilled and wasted. 

Different Kinds of Shradh

Twelve (12) kinds of Shradh are Nitya, Neimitik, Kaamya, Vriddhi, Sapindan, Paarvann, Goshtth, Shurdhyarth, Karmaang, Deivik, Oupcharik and Saanvatsarik Shradh. There are more than 96 types of Shradh, but we are here only limited to Pitra and Parental shradh.

Who Should Perform Shradh

Son is typically expected to perform Shradh. Shradh should ideally be performed by the person for parents and ancestors. But, as we do not know the ritual– we outsource it to the Brahman.

For Whom Shradh can be Performed

An individual can perform Shradh for the father, grandfather, great paternal grandfather, mother, grandmother, great maternal grandmother, stepmother, mother’s father, grandfather and great maternal grandmother, wife, son, maternal uncle, brother, brothers wife, father’s sisters, mother’s sisters, sisters, father-in-law, daughters, guru, paternal cousins and disciple.

When There is no Son to Perform Shradh

Hindu rituals have dictated a line of order for deciding who performs the shradh. Hence Shradh is possible for all Pitra. The holy text Dharmasindhu says, if after considering every possible candidate, if we do not find anyone to perform shradh, than the King should perform Shradh.

Here is the order of the person eligible to perform shradh.

1-Son (including one whose thread ceremony has not been done)

2-Daughter

3-Grandson

4-Great-grandson

5-Wife

6-Daughter’s son (if he is one of the heirs to the property)

7-Real brother

8-Nephew

9-Cousin’s son

10-Father

11-Mother

12-Daughter-in-law

13-Children of elder and younger sisters

14-Maternal uncle

15-Sapinda individual (anyone from seven generations and belonging to the same family lineage)

16-Samanodak individual (anyone after the seven generations and belonging to the same gotra (The same family domain)

17-Disciple

18-Upadhyay (Brahmans)

19-Friend

20-Son-in-law of the deceased individual 

Who Performs Pitra Shradh in a Joint Family?

The head of the family, the eldest in the family or Karta; one who shoulders the responsibility of caring for everyone, should perform Shradh. However, for any genuine cause the younger in the family can perform it with the permission of Karta.

Can Women Perform Shradh?

Women can perform Shradh. If you look at the order of people to do Shradh, women are part of it. In earlier times, even women used to have their thread ceremony and were eligible to perform Shradh. Now, as this practice has been mostly stopped, Brahman refuses to be part of Shradh, where the person doing Tarpan is a woman. However, suppose there is no one to perform Shradh, in that case, it is considered better and appropriate that Shradh is performed by a woman than not performing it at all.

The Significance of Cow, Crow, Dog and the Ant in Shradh

When food is cooked in Shradh, we take out five portions. One for Cow representing Earth, Dog representing water, Crow representing ether and Ant representing fire. The fifth portion is for Devtas representing the sky, and this we pay respect to all the five elements of life.

It is also said that PITRA comes in the form of animals to consume Shrad Bhog, and hence it is served to them.

The third reason. Cows represent all the five elements and helps the soul cross the mythical Akashganga. Crow is the messenger and the Dog, an associate of Lord Yamaraj and gives company to the deceased soul.