Grihastas and Purohits - Worries

[amritha varshini]

From: P.R. KANNAN <prkann...@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, Apr 5, 2015 at 3:12 PM
Subject: Grihastas and Purohits - Worries

Dear all,

I am touching upon a very important matter. Kindly spare a few minutes for reading.

It has normally been the practice for Sastragnas to preach Grihasthas about the necessity for following Dharma Sastram and to enlighten them on its various aspects. But we have been hearing for the past many years about Purohits (Vadhyars) not guiding Grihasthas properly or even misguiding them. It is common experience that when we discuss this issue with Grihasthas, they blame the Purohits and when we discuss with Purohits, they blame the Grihasthas. This has resulted in very severe erosion in practice of Dharma Sastram.

Many are the instances where Sastram is being blatantly violated. We find that marriages are being conducted during Mahalaya Paksham. In Apara kriyas, many are the violations that are encouraged or even suggested by Purohits - postponing cremation, postponing Nityavidhi rituals (to 9th day), not performing all Maasikam Sraadhams  as Paarvanam etc.

In a shocking instance just occurred in my own close circle, Sapindikaranam has been performed on the Chandra Grahanam day, 4th April 2015. This is on top of all the usual deviations - postponing cremation, start of Nityavidhi rituals from 5th day (as an appeasement for me) etc., which were encouraged by the Purohit, though I had been strongly advising the Grihastha to follow the Sastram. 

On 10th day (Dasasthu) I personally argued with the Purohit about the 12th day rituals scheduled for Chandra Grahanam day. I said that when any Sraadham cannot be performed on Grahanam day and is postponed to the next day and when the Panchangam itself clearly states that the Grahanam commences at 3.45 p.m. and that food should not be taken after 7 a.m., the question of performing such a vital ritual as Sapindikaranam does not arise. I even warned him of the great sin that would accrue to him as well as the Grihastha and pleaded with him fervently to desist from this unbecoming act and to guide the Grihastha correctly as a Guru. I also conveyed that in the absence of clear direction from him as Purohit, the Grihasha would not agree to my request for the postponement of Sapindikaranam by a day, citing personal inconvenience.

The Purohit gave all false and incredible reasons for his decision to conduct Sapindikaranam on the Grahanam day. He said: (1) Grahanam is not visible in that particular place. I countered that this Grahanam is visible from Australia to America and, in any case, in the whole of Bharatadesa. (2) Some local Samajam says Grahanam is not visible. I said we are here to follow the truth and not what some Samajam says. (3) Two other similar Sapindikaranam rituals are being conducted in the same place on that day. I said we are not concerned with that. (4) Panchangam prohibits only Sraadhams and not Sapindikaranam. I said Sapindikaranam is a more important Sraadham, where the Preta attains the status of Pitru; if this vital ritual is messed up, the soul would hang around and all subsequent Sraadhams would be adversely affected. (5) He would start the ritual early and complete early. I said that is no answer.

The Purohit however finally did what he wished to do and proceeded with the Sapindikaranam on the Grahanam day. He claimed that he is a Samavedi, trained under the great Dharmaraja Srouthigal in Raja Pathasala in Kumbakonam, where he studied for 8 years!

I am reminded of the last verse in Mahabharatham called 'Bharata Savitri', where Bhagavan Vyasa bemoans:

'I shout with both my hands raised; but no one is listening to me. Moksha is attained through Dharma, of course; Artha and Kama are also attained through Dharma alone. Let no one abandon Dharma due to personal wish, fear, greed or even for saving life. Dharma is eternal; joy and sorrow are transient. Jivatma is eternal; the cause of its bondage is transient.'

You may recall that I had recently circulated an article of mine, 'MINIMUM GRIHASTHA ROUTINE', which appeared in four parts in the website 'thanjavurparampara.com'. In the fourth part the following piece on Apara Kriyas was there. I hope you read it.

I request each one of you to take this with utmost seriousness and try to propagate basic Brahmana Dharma as far as possible. There is urgent need to reform Purohits, as much as Grihasthas.

I am bringing this matter to the notice of Kanchi Matham for the kind attention of Periyaval. Those of you, who are able to contact Sringeri Matham, may kindly do so urgently so that Purohits are also guided properly.

"Apara Kriyas

 

Apara kriyas should be performed adhering as strictly as possibly to injunctions of Sastras. Three major deviations that have crept in these days are very unfortunate. If you love the departed soul, you should not commit these serious errors.

 

1. Dead body is kept in morgue or embalmed till a relative comes from a faraway place. The soul suffers very much if apara kriyas are delayed after death. Cremation should be done within 10 hours in case of death in daytime and 3½ hours in case of night. The hunger and thirst suffered by the soul are unbearable. Hence the karta or any relative close to him as per hierarchy in Sastras should perform the cremation without waiting for anyone. The sentiment of love in seeing the dead body should be kept aside in consideration of the suffering of the departed soul.

 

2. After cremation is done, the daily rituals (Nityavidhi) are postponed for no reason. Many times these rituals are started on the ninth day. This again results in avoidable, unbearable suffering of hunger and thirst of the departed soul. Is it correct to keep your parents hungry and thirsty for eight days, articularly when their hunger and thirst are at peak level and then feed them all the food of nine days together? The reason for postponement is sometimes given as non-availability of a suitable place for Paashaana sthapanam. No such excuse should be offered. Sastras require that the Nithyavidhi rituals should commence on the same day after cremation, on reaching home. This has nothing to do with Sanchayanam, which can be done the next day.

 

3. During the period of one year after death, there was a practice in earlier times of performing Nitya (daily) sraadham. There are however 15 Ekoddishta sradhas, which are performed during the year and they are: Unamasikam on any day in the period of 3 days from 27th day; Traipakshikam in the 5 day period from 40th day; Unashanmasikam in the 10 day period from 170th day; Unabdikam in the 15 day period from 340th day; eleven Anumasikams on the monthly tithi in the11 months. ‘Sodakumbha’ sraadham is performed on the day previous to these sraadhas. It is currently the practice to ‘attract’ (advance) the above 11 Anumasika sraadhas and perform all of them on eleventh day itself through gift of rice and vegetables (Aama sradham).  In case the karta passes away during the year, the Ekoddishta sradhas would remain incomplete, leading to failure of release of jiva from Preta into Pitru. Further this kind of advance action also helps in celebrating any marriages etc. in the family during the year if necessary. The 15 Ekoddishta sradhas are however also to be performed on the appointed days during the year for timely assistance to the jiva during his long and difficult journey from here to Yamaloka, which takes one year and during which he suffers from severe hunger and thirst. Presently some people ignore or club some of these sraadhas. That is very harsh for the departed jiva and should never be done."

 

 

Regards

P.R.Kannan
A-9001, Olive Shallots,
Plot 17, Sector 16A, Sanpada,
Navi Mumbai-400705.
Mob. 9860750020