Apara Karma - a quick intro

Apara Karma...

The samakaras or the rites, one undergoes, right from the time of being an embryo in one's mother's womb , brith, naming, first shaving etc.. upto the day one breathes last have all been well defined in the Shastras.  Manu Shastras, have the authrotiy on how we do things etc.. and the regulations associated with the same. Similarly various rishis like Aapasthamba, Bhodayana etc.. have laid down aphorisms called Sutras, which described these in an elaborate manner. The samaskaaras, which happen before the death or when one is alive are called as Purva (or before) and the ones, which are performed (by one's children etc.) are called as Apara (after) respectively. We will see the Dharma / Gruhya Sutras of Apasthamba, Manu Shastras etc.. relating to Apara karmas in this blog.

We know the very science of this nature - every single living being on this earth should be disposed back to the nature some day. Although we all know that, this entire world is impermanent, we kind of regret and express our grief when our dear and near passes away. Usually in loukeekam or material life, they consider these thins as "bad" or inauspicious information, although Shastras declare these things as virtuous or "punya" karma.

The purpose of this blog is to discuss various shastras, puranas and holy scriptures, related to the apara karma or the rituals after one's soul or the five vital air passes away from one's body. Manu Smrithi, Aapasthamba Sutras (for Yajur Vedis) etc.. elaborate on the (Brahminical) rituals for this kind of karma.

While one has an option to skip the religious duties like performing pujas etc.., one can never skip or escape these karmas - as it is like an emergency situation. As soon as one's parents pass away it is the duty of the children to perform these karma and show their respect to their parents. We can compare this to the services, one's parent does to a new born kid. These karma's are for the welfare of the Soul, which entered into the spiritual or Pithru lokam from the human body. This analogy would show us the importance of the stuff, which must happen after a parent's death. And there is no compromise for these things.