Aapasthamba Suthra

Aapasthamba Suthra

As the name suggests this post would be covering the details of cremation rituals as prescribed for (Yajur Veda) Aapasthamba Sutra. These are called as Grihya Sutras as they talk about the rituals for a householder in detail. The beauty is that Aapasthamba Maharishi has covered the rituals to such an extents of granularity that, the way one dresses, etc.. have all been well explained here.

In general, Aapasthma Sutra operates in conjunction with Dharma Shastras to enforce a virtuous life, in accordance with Shastras. The following are the crucial rituals associated with Apara karmas (starting from the time a person is expired).

• Prayaschitham
• Karna Manthra Japam
• Prethagni Santhanam
• Pithrumedha Samaskaram
• Udaga Daana Vidhi
• Sanchayana Vidhi
• Dasaha Vidhi
• Shati Homam
• Ananda Homam
• Ekadasha Vidhi
• Vrushoth Sarjanam
• Ekothistha Shradham
• Dwadasha Vidhi  (Sapindi karana Shardham)
• Thrayodasha Vidhi (Shuba Sweekaram)

As we see above starting from the time, a man or woman is on the death bed, up-to the thirteenth day the karmas or rituals continue (for a Brahmana). As seen earlier, the period of ashaucham for a Brahmana is up-to the 10th day inclusive of the day of demise. After the ashaucha kaalam is over, and all the (pretha) kaaryams are over after 10 days, the Pithru kaaryams are conducted for 2 days and on the 13th day Shuba Sweekaaram or the Navagruha Homam is conducted and the asheervaadam, Devatharaadhanam etc.. concludes the aparam karma(which is followed by Oona Maasyams, Soda Kumbham, Maskia Shrardham and concludes with the prathama varshaabdheekam.

While our parents are responsible to take care of us, in this world, we are responsible to do services to them, like how we do to a small kid, when they are in their Sukshma Roopam or in the so called Pithru lokam. This certainly shows our respect, involvement and the commitment we have for our parents, for this body is theirs and this the mind, intellects Aathma etc.. are theirs too. That's why Shastras declare, "Aathmaanam Puthra Naamasi".

As mentioned earlier all these are punya kaaryams, and the fruit of all these karmas are reached out to our parents/ ancestors only with the blessing(s) of Lord Maha Vishnu, who is the "distributor"of the rewards of good/ bad deeds thus the protector of this World and other worlds.

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.