Jivacchraddha

(“Shraddha for a living [person]”) A
particular type of shraddha, or memorial service for the dead, although in
this case it is performed for a person
who is still living. In many cases, a
person performs the Jivacchraddha for
himself if he has no sons to fulfill the
responsibility or if he suspects that
the rite may not be performed properly
after his death. The person performing
this rite makes a small figure of sacred
kusha grass, representing the person for
whom the shraddha is being performed,
and then proceeds with the normal
shraddha ceremony.