pRANAM 😊 This smile is for the self admission in the note column of GAYA srardham, repetitively made; well first Q is it only me who disagrees and all other 125 members accept the statement of Gaya srardham is final?. In this group unless demanded parochially no one will write their mind. (sitting on the fence). So one who writes does not mean to be concluded as THE ONLY ONE. In this view an extract of the author and one TRS Iyengar whom he worshipped as Guru (when he was 64 year old 2007) is furnished: (draw your own conclusion ): (trsiyengar.com/sraddha/tharpana, niyama ) "QUESTION & ANSWERS ON SRARDDHA & THARPAN Introduction.After having his some doubts cleared on Gaya Srardha, through the FAQ pages <https://trsiyengar.com/7_1.php> of this website, Mr. Gopala Krishna has written many mails asking for clarifications in our Srardha and TharppaNa procedures. This question & answer is prepared to have an enlightening about Sraardha and Tharpan. I am thankful to Mr. Gopalakrishnan Ramaiyer, now settled in Chennai for condensing our email exchanges into this Q & A format. The Questions some times you may see as something you always wanted to ask and get the Answer. The answers are given in simple understanding manner. In fact it is the compression of the various questions put to me in different occasions by visitor Sri R. Gopala Krishnan who is a retired officer from BSNL Trivandrum. In fact, the summarized Q&A below is out of our various e-mail exchanges on the subject.
Q9. Sir, Do not think I am philosophical and too much pondering. When we offer the seventh pinda during sraadha it go to Jnatha Anjatha pithrus. Am I correct if I say it pertain to sahothra? A9. Mr, Gopala Krishnan- It is not you are going philosophical but it is a desire to know more on sraadha. I am happy you are showing so much interest. I am too much happy to answer you … Ok, Sir, you are correct. Jnatha Anjatha Here, when you perform the srardham with homam, after offering twice each to Pithru, Pithamaha & Prapithamaha – the seventh time offering is to Njaathi -i.e. distant cousins who left the earth. In case of anyone who left without any such ceremony performed, let the seventh step offering reach them – that is for the Sahothra njaathi. (Njaathaagnjaatha, pithrupyapcha, yathaa swaahaah:) By doing this seventh Ahuthi with Havis that reaches to the Sahothra Daayathi, who might have left without any kriya/kainkaryam performed for many reasons (No issues, died at unknown place, nobody knows who is who when left, or some of them with issues but they never cared to perform the rituals from the beginning etc. etl.) So, even if our parents, grand & great grand parents reached the abode, it is for us to continue the thithi srardham till our life time only for those who might have fortunate. Q24. Sir my next question is about theertha sraadha. and specifically sraadha performed at Rameswaram, Prayag, Banaras and Gaya. I want an elaborative reply from you regarding their importance and why they are important. A24. First I will answer Why this Gaya sraadha is made important. A srardha performed near any of the Sacred river-side known as Jeeva Nadhi is always has multiple benefits. And when it comes to Gaya, Kasi or Sethu known as Rameswaram, it has more value, as these places are mentioned as Punya-Kshetra, where the Lord Himself has set His foot. More so, in Gaya the Lord’s feet print (only in single) known, as Vishnu Padam <https://www.trsiyengar.com/id56.shtml> is located, thus signifying the offering the Pindam directly to the Vishnu Padam. Thus Gaya srardham gets highest merits to add punya-bhalam to the coming generations in a flow. As stated earlier, being the important place where Sri Mahavishnu’s footprint known as Vishnu Padam is located, it was widely given much more importance in Srardha Niyama. Thus expecting the entire Sanadhana Dharma followers will be visiting once in their lifetime, the settlement of Brahmin communities was imminent. To help it’s followers, each Mutt or Sect has established it’s branches to facilitate the visitors of respective sect to do the ordained ritual; they made every available source to render its services to the needy. Here in Gaya, irrespective of your faith and membership of one’s sect, you can perform the srardha from any other mutt also, as the aim and intention is the same. Also, the mantra vidhi is all the same for every one! Another important thing-Every body who simply desire to go are not able to go to these places. Some obstructions in some way come in their way. Above all some destiny take us there…. And only the gifted one does perform the Srardha here, let what come the cost. The Gaya Srardha <https://www.trsiyengar.com/faq1.asp> has no equations. It is the specialty of Vishnu Padam location, which counts much more benefits; one needs to do, perform the Theertha Srardha once in their lifetime. Above all, it is the gifted souls that reach their to perform the srardha – either in the belief of weeding off their sins, or to gain to punyabhalam; in most cases, the visitors sincerely and honestly perform it there, to relieve the souls and send them to their ultimate destinations, out of pure love, affection and care for the departed persons. In your one earlier query I had clarified already the following points which I may add here too for the benefit of visitors: 1. Gaya sraadha is equivalent to performing 60 annual sraadhas. *2. After Gaya sraadha, conducting sraadha should not be discontinued. *Continuing sraadha will surely feed Jnatha Anjatha pithrus if our pithrus have gone to their destinations. It adds to punniabalam. There are even persons perform sraadha for Jnatha anjatha pithrus too for punniam. I hope this reply is elaborate as you desired. KR After a long years of gaining from a guru and getting answered that gaya is not final, when kR wrote, the gentleman wrote one member may not agree. Wondering. KR IRS 261221 On Sun, 26 Dec 2021 at 11:39, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < iyer...@googlegroups.com> wrote: > *QUES ANSW DIVINE 86* > > *Dear friends,* > > *These are information posted by members compiled as QA by me in > 1998’s-2004’s and stored in my computer. At this date I have no information > of the members posted.* > > * BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS.* > > * Sincerely,* > > *R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, Former ITS, AGM Telecom Trivandrum dated > 24-12-2021* > > *Q1 Do Rahu’S head seveared by vishnu is told in Srimad Bhagavata?* > > *A1 Yes as follows**..But one demon, named Rahu, dressed himself like a > demigod and sat down in the line of the demigods. He sat beside the sun and > the moon**. * > > *When the Supreme Personality of Godhead understood how Rahu was cheating, > He immediately cut off the demon’s head. Rahu, however, had already tasted > the nectar, and therefore although his head was severed, he remained alive** > Srimad-Bhagavatam 8:9 Summary* > > * “Rahu, the demon who causes eclipses of the sun and moon, covered > himself with the dress of a demigod and thus entered the assembly of the > demigods and drank nectar without being detected by anyone, even by the > Supreme Personality of Godhead. * > > *The moon and the sun, however, because of permanent animosity toward > Rahu, understood the situation. Thus Rahu was detected. * > > *Rahu could understand that Mohini-murti was cheating the demons, **and > therefore he changed his dress, disguised himself as a demigod, and sat > down in the assembly of the demigods * > > *Here one may ask why the Supreme Personality of Godhead could not detect > Rahu.* > > * The reason is that the Lord wanted to show the effects of drinking > nectar. This will be revealed in the following verses.* > > * The moon and sun, however, were always alert in regard to Rahu. Thus > when Rahu entered the assembly of the demigods, the moon and sun > immediately detected him, and then the Supreme Personality of Godhead also > became aware of him.” * > > Q2 Do people from allover India visit Gaya? > > > A2 Yes is the answer. If anyone doubts that there is some underlying > unifying factor in India, that doubt will be dispelled by a visit to Gaya. > During my trip, I saw folks from Karnataka, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, > Maharashtra, Bengal,(this is my observation from the languages I heard) > etc., performing the shraddha ceremony for their forefathers. > > > *The core belief that Gaya is the ultimate holiest place **(**not > Prayag/Allahabad, not Benares/ Varanasi) as far as funeral ceremonies are > concerned is widespread throughout India.* > > *[Among the Brahmins of the South, there is a tradition that the Shraddha > needs to be performed only once if it were to be done in Haridwar or > Rameshwaram, otherwise, there is the annual Shraddha ceremony.]* > > *Probably, this belief varies from community to community. * > > *Shraddha at Gaya can be treated as the final and last ceremony one has to > perform if for some reason one has to discontinue* *the practice of > annual remembrance though annual ceremonies are strongly recommended even > after the Gaya shraddha if circumstances would permit it. * > > *Never heard of a final ceremony in Hardwar or Rameshwaram** though it is > entirely possible that the priests at these places worked out something for > families who are unable to travel to Gaya and want to perform one final > ceremony and get it over with.* > > *My note- This was the posting by a member which I made in to answer in > the QA. One member may surely disagree, but that need not be by calling me > **ignorant and stupid**.* > > *Q3 What are the attributes of Rameswaram island?* > > *A3 It is located on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban > channel and is less than 40 kilometers from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri > Lanka. * > > *Together with Kashi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in > India to Hindus. Hence, it is a bustling pilgrim centre.* > > *The religious island is spread in an area of 61.8 square kilometers and > happens to be in the shape of a conch.* > > * The Ramanatha Swamy Temple occupies major area of Rameshwaram.* > > *As of 2001 India census,[3] Rameswaram had a population of 38,035. Males > constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Rameswaram has an average > literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%:* > > *Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is > incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram.* > > *The presiding deity here is in the form of a Linga with the name Sri > Ramanatha Swamy, it also happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.* > > *The masterpiece of South Indian architecture boasts of the largest temple > corridor in India. Different rulers built the Ramanatha Swamy Temple over a > period of time starting from the 12th century. The temple comprises forty > wells where the taste of the water of each well is different from the > other.* > > *According to the Puranas, upon the advice of Rishis (sages), Rama along > with Sita and Lakshmana, installed and worshipped the Sivalinga here to > expiate the sin of Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin) (Ravana was a Brahmin > the great grandson of Brahma* > > *Rama fixed an auspicious time for the installation and sent Anjaneya to > Mount Kailas to bring a lingam. As Anjaneya could not return in time, Sita > herself made a linga of sand. * > > *When Anjaneya returned with a linga from Mount Kailas the rituals had > been over. To comfort the disappointed Anjaneya, Rama had Anjaneya’s lingam > (Visvalingam) also installed by the side of Ramalinga, and ordained that > rituals be performed first to the Visvalingam.* > > *Q4 What are the special attributes of Varanasi/Kasi?* > > *A4 Kāśī** is a city situated on the left (west) bank of the river Ganga > (Ganges) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, regarded as holy by Hindus, > Buddhists and Jains, and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in > the world[3][4].* > > *The city has been a cultural and religious centre in northern India for > several thousand years. A particular style of classical Hindustani music > developed in Varanasi centuries ago, and many prominent Indian > philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi, > including Kabir, Ravi Das, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Ram > Chandra Shukla, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Ustad > Bismillah Khan.* > > * Tulsidas wrote his Ramacharitamanas there, and Gautama Buddha gave his > first sermon at Sarnath near Kashi. **Ayurveda is said to have originated > at Varanasi.* > > *American writer Mark Twain wrote, "Benares is older than history, older > than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of > them put together."[6]* > > *The name, Varanasi, has its origin possibly in the fact that the city > lies where the Varuna River and the Assi River in its north and south, > respectively, flow into the river Ganga* > > *The name, Varanasi, was written as Baranasi in the ancient Pali language, > and in later times the name transformed into Banaras* > > *According to legend, the city was founded by the Hindu deity, Shiva, > around 5,000 years ago,[3].thus making it one of the most important > pilgrimage destinations in the country. It** is one of the seven sacred > cities of Hindus. Many Hindu scriptures, including Rigveda, Skanda Purana, > Ramayana, and Mahabharata, describe the city.* > > *During the time of Gautama Buddha (born circa 567 BCE), Varanasi was the > capital of the kingdom of Kashi. **The celebrated Chinese traveler, > Xuanzang, attested that the city was a center of religious, educational, > and artistic activities, and that it extended for about 5 km along the > western bank of the Ganges.* > > *Varanasi is closely associated with the Ganges and has many temples along > its banks* > > *Varanasi has a humid subtropical climate with large variations between > summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to > October, with intervening monsoon seasons.* > > * Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across > the city in the winter from December to February. * > > *The temperature ranges between 32°C – 46°C (90°F – 115°F) in the summers, > and 5°C – 15°C (41°F – 59°F) in the winters.[14]* > > *The main residential areas of Varanasi (especially for the middle and > upper classes) are situated in regions far from the ghats; they are more > spacious and less polluted.* > > *Varanasi has nearly 100 ghats. Many of the ghats were built when the city > was under Maratha control* > > *Many ghats are owned privately. The former Maharaja of Kashi (Kasi) owns > Shivala or Kali ghat.* > > *Most of the ghats are bathing ghats, while others are used as cremation > sites**.** Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies.* > > *According to mythology, Agni (the Lord of Fire) was born here. Hindu > devotees propitiate at this place Vireshwara, the Lord of all heroes, for a > son.* > > *Devout Jains visit Bachraj Ghat in particular because it has three Jain > temples near the river's banks.* > > *Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas at Tulsi Ghat.* > > *More than 1,000,000(Ten Lakhs) pilgrims visit the city each year. It has > the holy shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath (a manifestation of Lord Shiva), > and also one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. According to > mythology, Lord Shiva once in fact lived in Kashi (Varanasi).* > > *Above the ghat, several of Kashi’s most influential shrines are located > within the tight maze of alleyways of Siddha Kshetra (the Field of > Fulfillment). * > > *Varanasi is one of the holiest places in Buddhism** too, being one of > the four pilgrimage sites said to have been designated by Gautama Buddha > himself, (the others being Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Lumbini).* > > * Varanasi is a city of temples. **Almost every **road crossing has a > nearby temple. Such small temples form the basis of daily local prayers and > other rituals. But there are many large temples too, erected at different > times through out the history of Varanasi.* > > *The population of Varanasi urban agglomeration in 2001 was 1,371,749; the > sex ratio was 879 females every 1000 males.[23] * > > *Varanasi is well connected by air, rail and buses with all the main > Indian cities. Its distance from Delhi is 776 km. * > > *The Babatpur airport **is about 25 km from the city center (about 45 > minutes by taxi) * > > *Varanasi is the site of three public universities**. * > > *Banaras Hindu University, which includes Institute of Technology and > Institute of Medical Sciences is among the top 3 largest residential > universities in the world having more than 128 independent teaching > departments.[31] Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth University and > Sampurnanand Sanskrit University are the other two universities.* > > *Banaras Hindu University (1916) was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan > Malaviya with the cooperation of Dr Annie Besant. * > > *Its 1350 acre (5.5 km²) campus was built on land donated by the Maharaja > of Kashi.* > > *Governor General Lord Cornwallis **established the Sanskrit College > (1791), which was the first college in Varanasi. * > > *Since ancient times people have been coming to Varanasi to learn > philosophy, Sanskrit, **astrology,** social science and religious > teachings**. * > > *In Indian tradition, Varanasi is often called "Sarva Vidya Ki Rajdhani" > (capital of knowledge).[34] The city also has the Jamiah Salafiah, a Salafi > Islamic institution.[35]* > > *Varanasi is a noted centre for silk weaving and brassware * > > *In the Rigveda, the city was referred to as Kasi or Kashi, "the luminous > one"[citation needed * > > *Another reference to Varanasi is found in a hymn by Sri Veda Vyasa:* > > *Ganga-taranga-ramaneeya-jataakalaapam,* > > > * Gauri-nirantara-vibhushita-vaamabhaagam. > Narayanapriyam-Ananga-madaapahaaram, Varanasi-pura-patim bhaja > Vishwanatham.* > > *Q5 What are the special attributes of Dashashwamedh Ghat ?* > > *A5 Dashashwamedh Ghat is located close to "Vishwanath Temple", and is > probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu mythologies are associated > with it: * > > * According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. > According to another, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses in a yajna here.* > > *A group of priests daily perform in the evening at this ghat "Agni Pooja" > (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganga, > the Sun, Agni (Fire), and the whole universe.* > > *Q6 What are the special attributes of Mani karnika ghat ?* > > *A6 Two legends are associated with Manikarnik Ghat: * > > *According to one, it is believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu dug a > pit with his Chakra and filled it with his perspiration while performing > various penances.* > > * While Lord Shiva was watching Lord Vishnu at that time, the latter's > earring ("manikarnik") fell into the pit. * > > *According to the second legend, in order to keep Lord Shiva from moving > around with his devotees, his consort Goddess Parvati hid her earrings, and > asked him to find them, saying that they had been lost on the banks of > Ganga.* > > *Goddess Parvati's idea behind the fib was that Lord Shiva would then > stay around, searching forever for the lost earrings.* > > * In this legend, **whenever a body gets cremated at the Manikarnik Ghat, > Lord Shiva asks the soul whether it has seen the earrings.* *and that > Vishalakshi Temple stands on the spot where Goddess Sati's earrings > fell.[16]* > > *According to mythology, the owner of Manikarnika bought King > Harishchandra as a slave and made him work on the Manikarnika at > Harishchandra Ghat. * > > *Hindu cremations customarily take place here, though a majority of dead > bodies are taken for creation to the Manikarnik Ghat.* > > *Q7 What are the special attributes of Kashi Vishwanath Temple,?* > > *A7 Kashi Vishwanath Temple, also called Golden Temple, which in its > present shape was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, is > located on the outskirts of the Ganga. * > > > *This temple makes Varanasi a place of great religious importance to the > Hindus It is said that a single view of Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga is > considered to merit more than that of other jyotirlingas.* > > *The temple was once destroyed by the Muslim Emperor Aurangzeb who built a > mosque over it.* > > *It was later resurrected at a location near the mosque, and is many times > a cause of local strain among Hindus and Muslims.[18]* > > *Q8 What are the special attributes of Durga or Monkey temple?* > > *A8 Durga Temple, also nicknamed "Monkey temple," was built at some point > of time in 18th century by a Bengali Queen. The temple got the name 'Monkey > temple' because of the presence of large number of monkeys in the temple in > the temple. * > > *According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by > man but appeared on its own in the temple * > > *Q9 What are the other temples at Kasi and their attributes?* > > *A9 **Sankat Mochan Temple **is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is very > popular with the local citizens. * > > *The new Vishwanath Temple, called Birla Mandir, **mainly funded by Raja > Birla of the Birla family of industrialists, was built as a replica of the > old Kashi Vishwanath Temple.[19] Planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, > the temple is part of the Banaras Hindu University, and stands for national > revival. The temple is open to people of all castes and religions.* > > *Q10 DO we get divine grace through abishekam substances?* > > *A10 Yes. **We get divine grace through abishekam substances. This is > because these substances, having come into contact with the divine form, > get elevated to a high spiritual state and thus become receptors of divine > grace.* > > *Q11 Whom does Soorya worship with His hands? How does Soorya do this > worship?* > > > *A11 He worships the Siva Lingam form of the Universal Lord; He worships > the form of the Universal Mother, of Maha Vishnu and other deities. * > > *By bathing the divine form with his rays. His rays are at once both His > hands and the abishekam substance that He offers to the Supreme Lord.* > > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to iyer123+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1371367031.1130571.1640499014794%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1371367031.1130571.1640499014794%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to thatha_patty+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZoo5vLTS2XLxwYqekyN3Z9zKycoMAafidaAYHPwKpuT%2ByQ%40mail.gmail.com.
