Sraaddham
How did Shraaddha originate?
It is essential to know how Shraaddha originated in the world initially. It is said to be stipulated in the Anushasana Parva, 138th chapter of the great epic Mahabharata. Here, I'm sharing an article that I read about this.
A sage named Atri was born from Brahma. That sage had a son named Dattatreya. He had a son named Nimi. He was a great ascetic. He had a son named Sriman. He was a great ascetic and during his thousand-year-long penance, he died one day. Overwhelmed by grief at the loss of his son, Nimi performed the last rites for his body and was deeply distressed by the calamity that had befallen him. After making many preparations with sorrow, he fell asleep that night. Upon waking up at dawn, he began to think about what to do next. At that time, a thought occurred to him that inviting some Brahmins and offering them a meal would bring satisfaction to his son's soul. He felt this was a very good idea to consider.
When the time came, he gathered all the items that his son liked on the day of Amavasya. He prepared food to his son's liking and invited seven Brahmins. He offered them Arghya, Paadhyam, and Aachamaneeiyam, seated them in the Darbhaasanam, and served them with well-prepared items without salt in the meal plate. He positioned the Darbha on their side facing the south, and after mentioning his son's lineage and name, he placed the rice balls made with the food on it and performed the Shraaddha ritual.
After everything was over and the Brahmins had gone to their homes, Nimi began to worry whether what he had done, which had never been done by anyone before, was right or wrong. He also feared that if the sages saw this and cursed him, what would he do? Distressed by this worry, he meditated on the sage Atri, who was of his lineage.
Recognizing this sorrow, Sage Atri appeared before Nimi, comforted him who was grieving for his son with supportive words, and said, 'The act that came to your mind and then you performed is a ritual meant for the ancestors; do not be afraid, you are a sage, aren't you? This is the kind of duty that should be performed for the deceased. It was ordained by Brahma himself a long time ago that such rituals should be performed for the departed. The act you have carried out was planned by Brahma in advance. By your ascetic strength, he inspired this in your mind. Therefore, you have done it. Apart from Brahma, who else could have initiated such a ritual?'
Saying that 'because of the karma done with Shraddha, it is called Shraaddha', he then extensively taught him the method of performing Shraaddha, and then returned to Brahmaloka. Afterward, Nimi started performing it in the same way. Seeing him, all the other Rishis also started doing it. Since then, Shraaddha began to be performed around the world.
Then, who are the 'Pitrus' and why did they get that name? Let's explore. Once upon a time, Brahma created the gods and ordered them to worship him through sacrifices. However, these gods did not obey Brahma's command and instead indulged in their senses, becoming slaves to desire and devoid of wisdom. Seeing their behavior, Brahma cursed them as 'ignorant brutes'. Their realm also became devoid of wisdom, just like them.
These gods then surrendered to Brahma out of fear. He responded, "As you have been behaving improperly, go and make amends with your sons, the ascetics, and they will impart the knowledge of wisdom to you". The gods did as instructed, made amends with their sons, and the ascetics imparted them the knowledge of wisdom, and said, "Dear sons, you may go," and sent them away.
The gods were angry because their sons called them 'sons'. They went to Brahma and complained, but he said, 'What they did is correct. You created their bodies, so you are their fathers. However, because they gave you knowledge, they are also your fathers. Therefore, what they said is right. From now on, because they are your fathers by knowledge, they will be called 'Pitrs'. You will be called 'gods'." Since then, they have been known as Pitrs.
These ancestors belong to seven classes or groups. Among them, four classes are embodied, and three are disembodied. The four embodied classes are the Sukalas, Angiras, Sushvatas, and Somapas. They are born from karma. The three disembodied classes are the Vairajas, Agnishvattas, and Barhishadas. They exist as subtle beings due to their dharma-born knowledge. They have the ability to penetrate even into atoms. They can take any form they like and travel around. The eternal world where they dwell is known as Sanathana Loka, also known as Pitru Loka. These are called Pitru Ganas.
How does the oblation given by us reach our deceased father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on? It does not directly go to the deceased spirits. They go to the Pitrus (ancestors). They, by their yogic power, ensure that these offerings reach the gods, Gandharvas, humans, and all beings in the three worlds named 'Bhoo(Bhoor), Bhuva: and Suva:,' wherever they may be, in whatever form they exist.
When Bheeshma performed the Shraddha and Pinda Dana for his father, the Earth split open and a hand appeared, asking for the Pinda. It was adorned with many ornaments and bracelets. That hand belonged to his father. It was as if he was about to pass away. Bheeshma, considering it inappropriate to place the Pinda Dana in the hand of the deceased father in this situation, put a darbha (a type of sacred grass) on the Earth and performed the ritual there. Pleased with his righteous conduct, his father blessed him and then disappeared.
Therefore, the Pinda Dana and Havis that we offer go to the aforementioned Pitru Devas, who then distribute them to the departed souls. This secret was told to Markandeya by Sanatkumara, as mentioned in the first part of Harivamsa, chapters 16 and 17.
As Nimi had arranged, everyone performed the Shraddha and the Pitrus (ancestors) consumed large quantities of oblations, which caused indigestion. They complained about this to the Moon. As per the Moon's advice, they went to Brahma and asked him to help relieve their discomfort. He told them that Lord Agni (fire) could help alleviate their issue. The Pitrus then prayed to Agni, who assured them that he would consume the excess oblations with them in the future. Since then, the oblations have been offered in the fire during a homam (ritual sacrifice).
Therefore, the concept of Shraaddha dates back to ancient times, based on the scriptural evidence of the Vedas, revealed by Brahma, illuminated by the great penance of his great-grandson Nimi. Understanding that this followed the wishes of Brahma, Nimi performed it and made it a key practice for others to follow. The materials given to the Brahmins and offered in the fire during the ritual are called 'Pitrukas', the deities. It is believed and described in scriptures that through these deities, our deceased ancestors, wherever and in whatever life they may be, receive these offerings and find satisfaction.
As it stands, even if the departed souls have attained liberation and become liberated souls( Mumukshu - or those that have attained moksha), hence having no hunger or thirst, the respect prescribed in the scriptures for them should not be diminished by anyone. This is stated in texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Pancha-ratra Shastra. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the Shraddha ceremonies, considering them as a form of worship to the Lord. By doing this, the Lord himself is satisfied. Those who fail to do this will diminish the common respect prescribed by the scriptures and invite the wrath and punishment of the Lord. This is the conclusion of the ancient scholars.
A sage named Atri was born from Brahma. That sage had a son named Dattatreya. He had a son named Nimi. He was a great ascetic. He had a son named Sriman. He was a great ascetic and during his thousand-year-long penance, he died one day. Overwhelmed by grief at the loss of his son, Nimi performed the last rites for his body and was deeply distressed by the calamity that had befallen him. After making many preparations with sorrow, he fell asleep that night. Upon waking up at dawn, he began to think about what to do next. At that time, a thought occurred to him that inviting some Brahmins and offering them a meal would bring satisfaction to his son's soul. He felt this was a very good idea to consider.
When the time came, he gathered all the items that his son liked on the day of Amavasya. He prepared food to his son's liking and invited seven Brahmins. He offered them Arghya, Paadhyam, and Aachamaneeiyam, seated them in the Darbhaasanam, and served them with well-prepared items without salt in the meal plate. He positioned the Darbha on their side facing the south, and after mentioning his son's lineage and name, he placed the rice balls made with the food on it and performed the Shraaddha ritual.
After everything was over and the Brahmins had gone to their homes, Nimi began to worry whether what he had done, which had never been done by anyone before, was right or wrong. He also feared that if the sages saw this and cursed him, what would he do? Distressed by this worry, he meditated on the sage Atri, who was of his lineage.
Recognizing this sorrow, Sage Atri appeared before Nimi, comforted him who was grieving for his son with supportive words, and said, 'The act that came to your mind and then you performed is a ritual meant for the ancestors; do not be afraid, you are a sage, aren't you? This is the kind of duty that should be performed for the deceased. It was ordained by Brahma himself a long time ago that such rituals should be performed for the departed. The act you have carried out was planned by Brahma in advance. By your ascetic strength, he inspired this in your mind. Therefore, you have done it. Apart from Brahma, who else could have initiated such a ritual?'
Saying that 'because of the karma done with Shraddha, it is called Shraaddha', he then extensively taught him the method of performing Shraaddha, and then returned to Brahmaloka. Afterward, Nimi started performing it in the same way. Seeing him, all the other Rishis also started doing it. Since then, Shraaddha began to be performed around the world.
Then, who are the 'Pitrus' and why did they get that name? Let's explore. Once upon a time, Brahma created the gods and ordered them to worship him through sacrifices. However, these gods did not obey Brahma's command and instead indulged in their senses, becoming slaves to desire and devoid of wisdom. Seeing their behavior, Brahma cursed them as 'ignorant brutes'. Their realm also became devoid of wisdom, just like them.
These gods then surrendered to Brahma out of fear. He responded, "As you have been behaving improperly, go and make amends with your sons, the ascetics, and they will impart the knowledge of wisdom to you". The gods did as instructed, made amends with their sons, and the ascetics imparted them the knowledge of wisdom, and said, "Dear sons, you may go," and sent them away.
The gods were angry because their sons called them 'sons'. They went to Brahma and complained, but he said, 'What they did is correct. You created their bodies, so you are their fathers. However, because they gave you knowledge, they are also your fathers. Therefore, what they said is right. From now on, because they are your fathers by knowledge, they will be called 'Pitrs'. You will be called 'gods'." Since then, they have been known as Pitrs.
These ancestors belong to seven classes or groups. Among them, four classes are embodied, and three are disembodied. The four embodied classes are the Sukalas, Angiras, Sushvatas, and Somapas. They are born from karma. The three disembodied classes are the Vairajas, Agnishvattas, and Barhishadas. They exist as subtle beings due to their dharma-born knowledge. They have the ability to penetrate even into atoms. They can take any form they like and travel around. The eternal world where they dwell is known as Sanathana Loka, also known as Pitru Loka. These are called Pitru Ganas.
How does the oblation given by us reach our deceased father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so on? It does not directly go to the deceased spirits. They go to the Pitrus (ancestors). They, by their yogic power, ensure that these offerings reach the gods, Gandharvas, humans, and all beings in the three worlds named 'Bhoo(Bhoor), Bhuva: and Suva:,' wherever they may be, in whatever form they exist.
When Bheeshma performed the Shraddha and Pinda Dana for his father, the Earth split open and a hand appeared, asking for the Pinda. It was adorned with many ornaments and bracelets. That hand belonged to his father. It was as if he was about to pass away. Bheeshma, considering it inappropriate to place the Pinda Dana in the hand of the deceased father in this situation, put a darbha (a type of sacred grass) on the Earth and performed the ritual there. Pleased with his righteous conduct, his father blessed him and then disappeared.
Therefore, the Pinda Dana and Havis that we offer go to the aforementioned Pitru Devas, who then distribute them to the departed souls. This secret was told to Markandeya by Sanatkumara, as mentioned in the first part of Harivamsa, chapters 16 and 17.
As Nimi had arranged, everyone performed the Shraddha and the Pitrus (ancestors) consumed large quantities of oblations, which caused indigestion. They complained about this to the Moon. As per the Moon's advice, they went to Brahma and asked him to help relieve their discomfort. He told them that Lord Agni (fire) could help alleviate their issue. The Pitrus then prayed to Agni, who assured them that he would consume the excess oblations with them in the future. Since then, the oblations have been offered in the fire during a homam (ritual sacrifice).
Therefore, the concept of Shraaddha dates back to ancient times, based on the scriptural evidence of the Vedas, revealed by Brahma, illuminated by the great penance of his great-grandson Nimi. Understanding that this followed the wishes of Brahma, Nimi performed it and made it a key practice for others to follow. The materials given to the Brahmins and offered in the fire during the ritual are called 'Pitrukas', the deities. It is believed and described in scriptures that through these deities, our deceased ancestors, wherever and in whatever life they may be, receive these offerings and find satisfaction.
As it stands, even if the departed souls have attained liberation and become liberated souls( Mumukshu - or those that have attained moksha), hence having no hunger or thirst, the respect prescribed in the scriptures for them should not be diminished by anyone. This is stated in texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Pancha-ratra Shastra. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the Shraddha ceremonies, considering them as a form of worship to the Lord. By doing this, the Lord himself is satisfied. Those who fail to do this will diminish the common respect prescribed by the scriptures and invite the wrath and punishment of the Lord. This is the conclusion of the ancient scholars.
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