Death rituals the month of Bhadrapad and Shraddha

By Hetal Patel

We first perform the ritual known as cremation to release the soul from its earthly existence. We believe that cremation is more beneficial to the departed soul.

As we all know that one thing is certain in this life time; eventually we must die. The cyclical reincarnation of the soul is the foundation theory of our culture and many possible destinations of the soul after departure from this earthly world. While the ultimate goal is to transcend the need to return to earth, we believe that we will be reborn based on past thoughts and Karmas.

We first perform the ritual known as cremation to release the soul from its earthly existence. We believe that cremation (compared to outside disintegration or burial) is more beneficial to the departed soul. This is based on the belief that the soul or the astral body will linger around the physical body so long the body is visible. So the attachment of the soul has to be ended by cremating the body. Now the soul has to find its way to other world.

The death ritual does not end with the elimination of the body. There is still the safety of the soul to look after. To make sure the passage to the other world, eleven day ritual call Shraddha is performed. It consists of daily offering of rice balls called "Pindas", which provide a symbolic transitional body for the dead. During this period the dead person makes a journey to the heaven or the world of ancestors or the far shore !!!!!. On twelth day the departed soul is believed to reach its destination and be joined with the ancestors. And the big Pind of the departed soul is joined with his three immediate ancestors. Without this rite the soul may never find his place in realm of Yama.

And here comes the month of Bhadrapad the month of performing Shraddha. The second half of Bhadrapad month is Shraddha fortnight. Many of our relatives, friends have left this material world and have travelled to far shore. We love them, we take inspiration from their virtues and also shed some tears on their memory. We remember them and perform their Shraddha during the month of Bhadrapad. The dark fortnight of this month is known as Pritripaksha in which oblations are offered to the departed ancestors. This 15 days of dark fortnight carries a special importance for offering oblations which reach the ancestors directly because of the boon from Lord Yam. Those deceased whose date of death is not known or whose Shraddha cannot be performed on the date of anniversary; their Shraddha should be performed on Mahalaya Amavasya, the new moon day of this Bhadrapada month. This Amavasya has a special importance as Sun and Moon both enter sign Virgo (Kanya) on this day.

It is also believed that on this day the departed spirits of our ancestors leave their abode in the world of Yama and descend to the world of mortals and occupy the houses of their descendents to shower their blessings. Moreover the ceremonies performed in honor of our deceased ancestors during this fortnight are considered those equal to Gaya. Whatever Shraddha is performed during this fortnight gives satisfaction to the departed soul so they remain in peace during rest of the year.

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