Dr Balaram Parmar (Hasmukh)
In the Asian continent, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and wherever Indians settled permanently over time, the sixteen Shraddha ritual is performed there. The history of Shraddha is ancient and it is an important festival of Hinduism. This festival is celebrated in the Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month(September-October).
In mythology and Garuda Purana, Mahabharata, and Manusmriti, there is a description of sixteen Shraddha that Lord Vishnu had established.
The Sanskrit verses related to Shraddha are as follows. “Pitrrinam tu yo na tarpayet. Tasya pitro nandanti..” That is, the person who does not repay his ancestral debt, the souls of his ancestors keep wandering.
“Shraddha tu karmana yuktih.
Pitrrinam tu tarpanam..” That is, performing Shraddha is a duty, and it is an offering to the ancestors.
“Yah pitrrunam na tarpyet. Sah pitrheenah sa uchyate.” That is, the person who does not repay his ancestral debt is called without ancestors.
“Pitarah Priyante Shraddhen. Triptaah Pitaro Mokshadaah.” That is, the ancestors are pleased with the Shraddha and after being satisfied, they attain salvation.
“Shraddhakarmani yah kriyah. Sah pitrirunam tarpayet.” That is, the person who performs Shraddha, repays his debt to his ancestors.
Thus, in Sanatan Dharma, the ritual of showing reverence and devotion is done to wish for the peace and salvation of the souls, to repay ancestral debt and to perform religious duties.
The Shraddha ritual includes Pind Daan in which a pind made of milk, ghee and grains is offered (Tarpan) to the ancestors on the banks of a reservoir or river.
Sraddha is an important ritual in Hinduism which lasts for 16 days, in which each day has a special date which is called Shraddha. The Shraddha ritual is organized after 1 or 2 years according to the date of death of the loved one i.e. Prabhu Gaman date between Padwa to Purnima.
If the Indian wonderful land is called the land of festivals and rituals, it will not be an exaggeration. Rituals are those important events and experiences that happened in the life of ancestors which continue from before birth till death and help a person to develop personally and spiritually. Such as – Garbhadhan, Punsavan, Simantonnayan Jaatkaram, Namkaran, Annaprashan, Mundan, Vidyarambh, Yajnopaveet, Marriage and cremation.
Our country India has been a slave of the Mughals for five hundred years and the British for two hundred years. Due to Macaulay’s education policy, Indian culture and traditions were destroyed. After independence, the freedom of expression in the constitution started being misused. Sanatan culture and traditions started being mocked vulgarly without any reason and without any basis.
Foreign powers who do not want to see India prosper, lure destructive and conspiratorial organizations with money. Under their influence, many organizations and institutions have started propaganda about Hindu religion. People have started talking nonsense about the dress and vehicles of gods and goddesses. For example, in the Shraddha ritual, abusive words are spoken about the practice of calling crows and offering food to them. On social media, obscene videos of conversations between ancestors in the form of crows are also seen.
It is brought to the notice of those who have little knowledge of Indian culture, civilization and tradition that like other religions, in Hinduism, the crow is considered as the messenger of ancestors.Therefore, it is invited for the Shraddha ritual in the form of the soul of ancestors. Food is offered to the sage Crow, which provides them peace, satisfaction, strength and energy. In Hinduism, food is considered holy and pure.
In the light of the verses mentioned in the Vedas, Puranas, scriptures and hymns, it can be said that the souls of ancestors are satisfied and calmed by the Shraddha ritual. One gets freedom from ancestral debt. In this way, the souls get peace and salvation and the rites are completed. As a result, happiness and prosperity come in the family and blessings of ancestors are received.
It is not that this cultural tradition exists only in Hindu Dharma. There is a tradition of celebrating Shraddha in Buddhism and Christianity too. In Buddhism it is called “Pitri Puja” or “Shraddha Puja”. In Buddhism, on the day of Pitri Puja, Buddhist monks are fed donations are made and worship is done in the name of ancestors. Buddhist mantras are chanted and the souls of ancestors are wished peace and salvation. Buddhists celebrate such a festival on New Year (Losar) and Buddha Purnima or Dhammachakra Parivartan Day.
Unlike, on October 31, Christians celebrate the Halloween festival to remember and honor the souls. They wish for peace and salvation.
Despite these differences, the rituals of all three religions are similar.
Now the question arises, why do people of ideologies like Neo-Buddhism, Christianity, BAMCEF, etc in India consider the practices of Hinduism as false and pretentious? The main reason for this is the casteism, inequality, and injustice prevalent in Indian society !!
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in his thoughts had raised his voice against the evils and injustice prevalent in the society and advocated equality, justice and individual freedom. For this reason, the followers of Ambedkar ideology, especially the people of Scheduled Castes, Tribes and backward classes, believe that many practices and customs of Sanatan Dharma are factors promoting inequality and casteism. Therefore, Marxists and Ambedkar ideologist consider these practices as false and ostentatious. They condemn them and advocate the establishment of equality, justice and personal freedom in the society in their place. Another specific reason is that these religious- social rituals in the caste system promote fanaticism in the conservative society and weaken the prevailing tolerance and harmony. There are many practices which weaken personal freedom and deprive the person of the freedom to take his own decisions.
Well ! Differences of opinion can be right or wrong in their own place. But this can never mean that one should make lewd comments on the celebration of festivals of religious, social and cultural importance of each other. Civilized society demands that people of all religions, castes and classes should look into their own conscience and live within limits and use decent language for eachother.
After all, Religion does not teach us to have enmity with each other.
Our India is the best in the world.
(The author is former Principal Kendriya Vidyalaya Chenani, Udhampur)
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