Have you ever wondered how this food fill the hunger of our decesed family menebr sduring Shraddh or Pitru Paksha?
Namaste!
Welcome to the oasis of insightful readings at www.onindianpath.com. Join us on a voyage to find the meaning, relevance and need of offering food to pitar during Shraddh.
Introduction
Hindus consider the living and non living beings as important as flora, fauna and the divine. Let’s read about Shraddh in detail.
|श्रद्धया दीयते यत् तत् श्राद्धम्||
This Sanskrit Shloka defines the need and meaning of Shraddh. Thus, Shraddh means whatever is given with devotion. The material donation (donation of food grains, sesame seeds, kusha, water) done with devotion for the ancestors is called Shraddh.
Key Highlights of Shraddh
- Shraddha Karma is a simple yet meaningful way to honor and repay our ancestors. This year, it begins on September 17 and continues until October 2, 2024. To know more about the process, read my blog on Shraddh.
- Performing Shraddha during Pitru Paksha ensures that our ancestors stay content and bless us throughout the year.
- Through Shraddha Karma, a person not only honors their ancestors but also brings satisfaction to all beings, from the smallest creatures to the entire universe, from Lord Brahma to the grass.
- However, as per ancient text, worshiping ancestors is regarded as a form of worshiping Lord Vishnu himself.
How do the items of Shraddh reach the ancestors?
Many people wonder how the offerings made during Shraddha reach their ancestors. After death, depending on one’s deeds, souls take different forms – some become deities, ancestors, ghosts, animals, or even plants. This raises a question: how can ancestors, in such varied forms, find satisfaction with the offerings meant for them in their current small or different bodies?
The Skand Purana provides a simple and beautiful explanation for this doubt. Once, King Karandham asked the great Yogi Mahakal, “How do the offerings like water and food made by humans reach their ancestors, when these things remain on Earth?
How do pitra (ancestors) find satisfaction in Shraddh?
Lord Mahakal explained, the Creator (supreme god) has designed a system where the offerings of Shraddh reach the ancestors in a form that suits them. Apparently, it is call Ras tatva. This system is overseen by Agnishwat. The section of Pitris (ancestors) and Deities is unique—they can hear prayers from afar, accept worship from a distance, and are pleased by praises spoken from far away. They possess knowledge of the past, present, and future, and can be present everywhere.
Although, their bodies are composed of nine elements: the five natural elements ( water, air, Space, Earth and fite) mind, intellect, ego, and nature. The tenth element, Lord Purushottam ( Hindu God Shri Hari Vishnu), resides within them.
Thus, the ancestors and deities are nourished by the essence of offerings (ras tatva), such as smell and taste, while living with the elements of sound and accepting the elements of touch. They are pleased by purity and in return, give blessings.
Just as humans are nourished by food and animals by grass, the Pitras are sustained by the essence of food—the smell and taste. They accept only this rasa (essence)), while the remaining physical offerings stay behind on the Earth.
In what form does the food reach the Pitra?
As per Puranas, there is a process by whi lch pitra recieve food and water. The food, water, and other offerings given to the ancestors, along with the recitation of their name and gotra, are delivered to them by Vishvadev and Agnishwat, the divine ancestors. These sacred entities ensure that the offerings reach the ancestors in the spirit realm.
Our ancient text has suggest that in Pitra lok and other lokas our ancestors live as per their karma. And, if the ancestors have become deities, they receive the food as ‘amrita’. As Gandharvas, they receive it as offerings. In animal form, they get it as grass. As Nagas, they receive it as air. If they are betel eaters, they get it as betel leaves, and as demons, they receive it as meat. As ghosts, they get it as blood, and in human form, they receive it as food that satisfies them.
In fact, many of my readers might wonder how the souls of our great-grandparents recognize us in a crowd. In other words, just as a calf finds its mother in a herd, the offerings made during tarpan and pind daan—given with the guidance of name, gotra, heartfelt devotion, and place-time—reach the ancestors through the power of mantras. Even if the soul has passed through hundreds of births, the satisfaction still reaches them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Shraddh rituals hold deep significance in honoring and nourishing the souls of our ancestors, regardless of their form or the number of births they have taken. Through offerings made with devotion, guided by mantras, and rooted in tradition, we maintain a spiritual connection with our forefathers. This sacred practice ensures their peace and satisfaction, while also reminding us of the timeless bond between the living and the departed.
Have a blessed time.
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