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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 1: ****Ourvah - **Braahmanaan bhojayet shraaddhe yat gunaan taan nibodha me || *Ourva *- What are the expected qualifications of the Brahmins, who are to be fed during a shraaddha. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 2: ****Trinaachiketah trimadhuh trisuparnah shadangavit | **Vedavit shrotriyo yogee tathaa vai jyeshtha saamagah || The first eligibility is trinaachiketa. The next is trimadhu. Next is trisuparna. Next is *shadangavit *- one who has knowledge of all the six angaas. Vedavit is one who has studied the Vedaas fully. A shrotriya. Vedavit and shrotriya. A yogi. A *jyestha *saamaga.
These are, in order the preferred Brahmins who are to be invited for the nimantrana in a shraaddha. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Trinaachiketah iti | Dviteeya kaathakastha anuvaaka visheshaah ****trinaachiketah, tat adhyaayee tat artha anusthaayee cha trinaachiketah | **There are three anuvaakaas in the second prashna of *Kaathaka. Taittiriya *Braahmana, the third ashtaka; in this, the last three prashnaas are said to be Kaathakaas, the second prashna, the eleventh prashna of the third ashtaka, this has three anuvaakaas. These are said to be Trinaachiketaas. One who has done adhyayana of this, and also is doing anusthaana as per this, such a person is said to be Trinaachiketah. This person is most eligible for nimantrana for a shraaddha. **Madhuvaataa iti tryachaamadhyaayee tadvratah trimadhuh | Chaandogya ukta **madhuvidyaa nishtoo vaa | There are three mantraas in Mahaanaaraayanopanishad. There are three Riks. One who is doing anusthaana of what is said in these mantraas, is said to be trimadhu. Or, in Chaandogya, Madhu vidyaa is one of the Brahma Vidyaas. This comes in Brahma Sutraas also in the Madhvadhikarana, in the Devataadhikarana. One who is doing anusthaana of this Madhu vidyaa is eligible.
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*** Brahmametu maam iti anuvaaka traya adhyaayee tat vratah cha trisuparnah | **[Chaturvarge tryarchaadhyaayee] There are three anuvaakaas in *Taittiriya Upanishad. Brahmametu maam. *Madhumetu maam. Brahmamedhayaa, Brahmamedavaa, are the other two. One who is doing adhyayana of this, and also anusthaana, is said to be trisuparna. Or the three riks.
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Yogee - brahmaadhyaayee | A yogi is one who is meditating on the Parabrahman. *** Moordhaanam diva ityaadi ruk vishedha geetam aajya doham ityaadi ****paribhaashitah saama vishesho jyeshtha saama, tat yathaavat gaayati iti jyeshta ****saamagah | [Ruta nidhanaadi paribhaashaa visheshitam * Moordhaanam diva iti ****aadi ruk visheshitam saama |] Saama trayaadi saama shaakhaanaam | **This saama is said to be jyeshtha saama. This Rik mantra which is sung like a saama. One who has studied and sings as it is, as ordained, is a jyestha saamaga. **Jaimineeyaanaam tu * udutyam chitram iti ruchotpannam saama tredhaam **sabhyaavasabhyou dvou cha iti pancha agnayah | **Saavitra naachiketa chaaturhotrya vaishvasruja aarunaketukaah teshaam **upaasaktah, vedaanta ukta panchaagni vidyaa yukto vaa | The panchaagnis are *Saavitra, Naachiketa, Chaaturhotrya, Vaishvasruja, *Aarunaketuka. One who does upaasanaa of these five agnis. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 3: ****Ritvik svastriya douhitra jaamaatru shvashuraah tathaa | ****Maatulo atha taponishthah panchaagni abhiratah tathaa | ****Shishyaah sambandhinah cha eva maataa pitru parah cha yah || **If none of them are available, any of the ritwiks can be invited - one who participates in yaagaas can be invited. Svastriya, nephew can be invited. Then douhitra, daughter’s son. Or son-in-law. Or father-in-law. Or uncle. One who is established in tapas. One who is established in the panchaagni vidyaa. These are all the people eligible for Braahmana. Or Shishyaas can be invited. Or relatives can be invited. One who loves parents can be invited. In Chaandogya, Panchaagni Vidyaa is also told. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 4: ****Etaan niyojayet shraaddhe poorva uktaan prathame nrupa | ****Braahmanaan pitru tushti artham anukalpeshu anantaram || **Whatever is told earlier, are to be given preference. If not available, in order, one after the other. Mukhya kalpa is as told in that order. Anukalpa means among related also, those who have these qualifications.
In this order, from the beginning, priority is to be given. If mukhya kalpa is not there, after that, anukalpa. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **www.sadagopan.org [[169]] of 219
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**Etaan iti poorva uktaan asambandhinah trinaachiketaadi prathamam niyojayet | ****Teshaam abhaave tat gunaan sambandhinah api ritvik aadeen anukalpeshu | **Those who are not related, but are trinaachiketa, trimadhu, trisuparna, etc., are to be given preference over relatives. Related persons are given less priority than persons who are not related, but who have these qualifications. After telling who are the people who are most eligible to be invited as Braahmanaas, he tells about those who should not be invited.
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In the same way, those who are not eligible is also going to be told. We will see this next. We are studying Amsha 3, Chapter 15, where Ourva Rishi is telling Sagara about shraaddha karma. To start with, he tells about who are the people who are to be invited for nimantrana, in shraaddhaas. A lot of options are given - mukhya kalpa, and *anukalpaas. Trinaachiketah, Trimadhu, Trisuparna, **Shadangavit, Vedavit, Shrotriyah, Yogee, Jyestha saamaga, Ritwik, Svastriya, **Douhitra, Jaamaatru, Shvashura, Maatula, Taponishtha, Panchaagni abhirata, *Shishyaa, Sambandhi. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 5: ****Mitradhruk kunakhee kleebah shaavadantah tathaa dvija | **Kanyaa dooshayitaa vanhi vedojjhah somavikrayee || These are all the people who are not to be invited for shraaddha. One who has cheated a friend, who has done droha to a mitra. One who is having twisted or crooked nails by birth itself. One who is a napumsaka. One who has black teeth, by nature - these kind of Brahmins. A Brahmin who has spoiled a girl. One who has given up Agni, or one who has given up Vedaas, without reason. One who sells soma rasa. An Agnihotri daily protects the Agni. But, if he takes Sannyaasaashrama, then he has to give up Agnihotra. In one place in the Vedaas, it says that it is not good to give up Agni. But, in another place, because Sannyaasa is also ordained, this is alright. But, without any reason, if one gives up Agni, or one gives up Vedaas, such a person should not be invited for shraaddha. Soma lathe has to be bought in exchange for a one-year old cow. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Mitradhruk iti | Nisargaat kunakhee krushnadantah cha | **By birth, one who has crooked nails. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 6: ****Abhishastah tathaa stenah pishunaa graamayaajakah | **Bhrutakaadhyaapakah tadvat bhrutakaadhyaapitah cha yah || One who is rejected by society. A thief. A back-biting person. One who performs yaaga for land, graamaas. One who teaches Vedaas by insisting on taking money. One who has learnt Vedaas by giving money.
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**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Abhishasta iti | Satyena vaa asatyena vaa mahaa paatakena abhishastah | **One who is tainted with some mahaa paataka, either really or aaropita. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 7: ****Parapoorvaapatih cha eva maataa pitroh tathaa ojjhakah | **Vrushalee sootiposhthaa cha vrushaleepatih eva cha || One who marries a widow. One who has rejected his parents, not looking after them, deserted them. One who has brought up a child of a shoodra. One who has married a shoodra. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **Parapoorva iti | Parapoorvaa punarbhooh, vahnivedojjhakah akaaranaat | **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 8: ****Tathaa devalakah cha eva shraaddhe naarhanti ketanam || **One who disrespects Gods after worshipping them. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Tathaa iti | Devalakah rudra kaalyaat upajeevakah | Ketanam nimantranam | **One who worships kshudra devataa. After having told who should not be invited, and who should be invited, the procedure for performing the shraaddha is going to be told now. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 9: ****Prathame ahni budhah shastaan shrotriyaadeen nimantrayet | **Kathayet cha tathaa eva eshaam niyogaan pitru daivikaan || Those who are most eligible, who have studied Vedaas, he has to invite such dvijaas, on the first day. When he invites them, he has to also tell them whether they are invited for the pitru sthaana, or vishve deva sthaana, or *Vishnu *sthaana. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****[Prathame ahani ityaadi dvayoh ekaam vaakyam |] tata iti | Dvijaih saha na ****kurveeta dvijaah cha na kurveeran iti arthah | ****Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 10: ****Tatah krodhah vyavaayaadeen aayaasam taih dvijaih saha | ****Yajamaano hi kurveeta doshah tatra mahaanayam || **On the previous day to the shraaddha, the yajamaana should not get angry, even the invited dvijaas should also not get angry. They should not unite with their wives. Should not also unnecessarily make them tired. This is supposed to be a big defect, not to be done. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 11: ****Shraaddhe niyukto bhuktvaa vaa bhojayitvaa niyujya cha | **Vyavhaayee retaso garte majjayati aatmanah pitruun || Being invited for nimantrana during a shraaddha, or having taken food in the shraaddha, or one who feeds to a Brahmin in a shraaddha, or one who has www.sadagopan.org [[171]] of 219
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invited someone, one should not unite with women. If he does so, pitrus will go to naraka which is filled with retas. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 12: ****Tasmaat prathama mantroktam dvijaagryaanam nimantranam | ****Animantrya dvijaan evam aagataan bhojayet yateen || **The first duty is that the most eligible Brahmins should be invited for nimantrana. If there are yatis who come even without being invited, they should also be appointed for nimantrana, they can also be requested to come for the shraaddha. And they have to be fed. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **Tasmaat iti | Yateen niyatendriyaan | Those who can come without being invited, they need not be sannyaasis, but those who have controlled their senses. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 13: **Paadashouchaadinaa geham aagataan poojayet dvijaan || Those Brahmins who come home, they have to be given paadya, their feet have to be cleansed. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 14: ****Pavitra paanih aachaantaan aasaneshu upaveshayet | **Pitruunaam ayujo yugmaan devaanaam icchayaa dvijaan || Wearing pavitra, after having washed their feet, after they have done aachamana, he has to offer them a seat to sit down. For pitru sthaana, odd number of persons have to be invited. For the place of devaas, it is up to the yajamaana. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 15: ****Devaanaam ekam ekam vaa pitruunaam cha niyojayet || **If so many people are not available, one person for each place itself, is enough. This is what is practiced nowadays. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 16: ****Tathaa maataamaha shraaddham vaishvadeva samanvitam | ****Kurveeta bhakti sampannah tantram vaa vaishvadaivikam || **In the same way, the maataamaha shraadha also has to be done, along with vaishvadeva. With great devotion, one has to perform. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Tathaa iti | Tantram sakrut anusthaanam; pitru maataamahavarga shraadhayoh ****ekam eva vaishvadevam iti arthah | **Separate vaishvadeva need not be done for pitru varga shraaddha and *maatru *varga shraaddha. One vaishvadeva is also enough. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 17: ****Praangmukhaan bhojayet vipraan devaanaam ubhayaatmakaan | **Pitru maataamahaanaam cha bhojayet cha api udangmukhaan || www.sadagopan.org [[172]] of 219
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Both the devaas have to be facing the east. For the pitru varga and maatru varga, they should be facing north. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **Praangmukhaani iti | Ubhayaat sakaan pitru maataamahavargaan | Pitru varga and maataamaha varga both facing east. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 18: ****Pruthaktayoh kechit aahuh shraaddhasya karanam nrupa | **Ekatra ekena paakena vadanti anye maharshayah || Some say that maatru varga shraaddha has to be done separately, *pitru varga *shraaddha has to be done separately, and cooking of food has to be separate. Some maharshis say that one cooking is enough for both. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 19: ****Vishtaraartham kusham datvaa sampoojya arghyam vidhaanatah | **Kuryaat aavaahanam praajnyo devaanaam tat anujnyayaa || For the seat, giving darbhaa, and offering them arghya, paadya, after that, he has to do aavaahana of devaas, taking their permission. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 20: ****Yavaambunaa cha devaanaam dadyaat arghyam vidhaanavit | **Srak gandha dhoopa deepaam cha tebhyo dadyaat yathaa vidhi || Yavodaka is to be given, with rice. Devaas arghya is given with yavodaka. *Pushpa, *gandha, dhoopa, deepa, are offered to the Brahmins, as ordained in the shaastraas. Then mantraas are recited, and they say that they are pleased with this - sugandhah, sujyotih. Ass ordained. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 21: ****Pitruunaam apasavyam tat sarvam eva upakalpayet | **Anujnyaam cha tatah praapya dattvaa darbhaan dvidhaakrutaan || For pitrus, it is apradakshina. Darbha has to be cut into half and given to pitrus for anujnyaa. Or two sets are given in both the hands. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 22: ****Mantrapoorvam pitruunaam tu kuryaat aavaahanam budhah | **Tilaambunaa cha apasavyam dadyaat arghyaadikam nrupa || For pitrus, aavaahana is to be done with the respective mantraas. He has to offer sesame with water, in the apradakshina. Arghya has to be given like this. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 23: ****Kaale tatra atithim praaptam annakaamam nrupa adhvagam | **Braahmanaih abhyanujnyaatah kaamam tam api bhojayet || O King. One who is coming on the way, an atithi, in need of food, expecting food to be given, for such Brahmins, he has to ask the remaining Brahmins, who have been invited, whether it is okay for him to sit with them, and have food in shraaddha. If they all accept and agree, then that atithi can also be given food. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 24: **www.sadagopan.org [[173]] of 219
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**Yogino vividhaih roopaih naraanaam upakaarinah | **Bhramanti pruthiveem etaam avijnyaata svaroopinah || It is said that yogis take different forms, we cannot say which yogi is coming in what form. Atithis have to be treated like this. They are roaming around for doing upakaara to everyone. We cannot know their nature by seeing them. We cannot know that they are great yogis. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 25: ****Tasmaat abhyarchayet praaptam shraaddha kaale atithim budhah | **Shraaddha kriyaa phalam hanti narendra apojito atithih || This is the reason why an atithi who comes during shraaddha kaala, has to be worshipped properly, offered food. If an atithi is not treated properly, then the fruits of the shraaddha will not be obtained by the yajamaana. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 26: ****Juhuyaat vyanjana kshaara varjam annam tato anale | ****Anujnyaato dvijaih taih tu trikrutvah purusharshabha || **He has to do homa with plain rice, without any salt, chilly, vegetables. It should be plain cooked rice. He has to do three times, he has to take anujnyaa from the Brahmins, that ‘I am going to do homa’, and when they say yes, he should accept. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Juhuyaat iti | Vyanjanam shaakaadi, kshaaram mareecha lavanaadi | ****Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 27: ****Agnaye kavyavaahaaya svadhaa ityaadou nrupa aahutih | **Somaaya vai pitrumate daatavyaa tadanantaram || The three offerings which are given - the first one is for Agni. He has to say " Agnaye kavyavaahaaya svaaha" and offer it to Agni. Second one is Soma. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 28: ****Vaivasvataaya cha eva anyaa truteeyaa deeyate tatah | **Hutou avashishtam alpa annam viprapaatreshu nirvapet || Third one is for Yama. Three offerings are given after taking permission from the Brahmins. With plain cooked rice. For these three *devataas - *Agni, Soma, Yama. The remaining anna, after doing the homa, has to be placed in the eating place of the vipraas. Their bhojana paatra. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 29: ****Tato annam mrushtam atyartham abheeshtam ati satkrutam | **Dattvaa jushadhvam icchaato vaachyam etat anishthuram || After that, he has to serve them with the food which is well cooked, very tasty, liked by them. After that, he has to request them, “Please accept this, and be pleased”. They will take as they like, as much is needed. This has to be told by the yajamaana, and they will accept. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 30: ****Bhoktavyam taih cha tat chittaih mounibhih sumukhaih sukham | **www.sadagopan.org [[174]] of 219
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Akruddhyataa chaatvarataa deyam tena api bhaktitah || They have to also eat the food, as they are sitting in the place of pitrus, devaas. They have to eat the food without talking. They have to be very pleased in their mind. They have to be focussing on that only. They have to accept the food in a pleasant manner. The person who serves the food should not be in a hurry, should not be angry. They have to be served with great devotion. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 31: ****Rakshoghna mantra pathanam bhomeh aahtaranam tilaih | ****Krutvaa dhyeyaah svapitarah ta eva dvijasattamaah || **On the ground where they sit, tilaa is sprayed first, to make it clean. One has to recite the Rakshoghna mantra. This is in the Taittiriya Aranyaka, second *prashna, *Sah vai devaanaam. Two anuvaakaas are recited as Rakshoghna mantraas. Having done all this, one has to meditate on their pitrus, who have actually come in the form of these Brahmins. One has to do the anusandhaana that the Brahmins who are sitting there and taking the food, are our pitrus actually. With this in mind, one has to perform, with great devotion. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 32: ****Pitaa pitaamahah cha eva tathaa eva prapitaamahah | **Mama truptim prayaantu adya vipradeheshu samsthitaah || One has to chant these mantraas. Let the pitaa, pitaamaha, and prapitaamaha be very pleased, being present in the bodies of these Brahmins. Let them be satisfied with what I have offered here. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 33: ****Pitaa pitaamahah cha eva tathaa eva prapitaamahah | **Mama truptim prayaantu adya homaapyaayita moortayah || Let them be very pleased with the homa that I have done. Let them make me satisfied with what I have offered, and that I have done my duty properly. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 34: ****Pitaa pitaamahah cha eva tathaa eva prapitaamahah | **Truptim prayaantu pindena mayaa dattena bhootale || And the pinda which is given on the ground, let them be pleased with that. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 35: ****Pitaa pitaamahah cha eva tathaa eva prapitaamahah | ****Truptim prayaantu me bhaktyaa yat mayaa etat udaahrutam || **Whatever mantraas I said, I requested them with great devotion. Let them be very pleased. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 36: ****Maataamahah truptim upaitu tasya tathaa pitaa tasya pitaa tu yo anyah | ****Vishve cha devaah pramaam prayaantu truptim pranashyantu cha ****yaatudhaanaah || **Similarly, maataamaha, maataamaha’s pitaa, and his pitaa, be very pleased. Let the vishvedevaas be very pleased. ****www.sadagopan.org [[175]] of 219
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 37: ****Yajnyeshvaro havya samastakavya bhoktaa avyayaatmaa harireeshvaro atra | ****Tat sannidhaanaat apayaantu sadyo rakshaamsi asheshaani asuraah cha sarve **|| These are all the mantraas which are told. When we spread the tilaa, and tell the Rakshoghna mantra, O saakshaat eeshvara, who is Hari, Yajnyeshvara is the one who is taking all this havya, who is eating all of these, who is antaryaami of the pitrus, who are there in the form of these Brahmins. If we meditate like this, Bhagavaan’s presence will be there. He is anyway there, but we have to be thinking of that. Because of His presence, immediately, all the asuraaas, let them run away. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 38: ****Trupteshu eteshu vikiret annam vipreshu bhootale | **Dadyaat aachamanaarthaaya tebhyo vaari sakrut sakrut || After they are all satisfied and have eaten, some particles of rice are taken and spread on the ground. Then, teertha has to be given for aachamana. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 39: ****Sutruptaih taih anujnyaatah sarvena annena bhootale | ****Satilena tatah pindaan samyak dadyaat samaahitah || **After they are all satisfied, and taking their permission, the remaining rice has to be given as a pinda, on the ground. Along with tilaa, with great devotion. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 40: ****Pitru teerthena salilam tathaa eva salilaanjalim | ****Maataamahebhyah tena eva pindaan teerthena nirvapet || **With pitru teertha. Even for maataamaha, in the same way, it is to be done. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 41: ****Dakshinaagreshu darbheshu pushpa dhoopaadi poojitam | ****Svapitre prathamam pindam dadyaat ucchishta sannidhou || **After they have eaten, near the bhojana paatra, whatever is left, placing the darbha in south, offering flowers and dhoopa, first, for his pitrus, pinda has to be given. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 42: ****Pitaamahaaya cha eva anyam tat pitre cha tathaa aparam | ****Darbha moole lepa (bhaa) bhujah preenayet lepagharshanaih || **Next to that is for pitaamaha, and then for prapitaamaha. The south facing darbha which is kept, three pindaas are placed, one for *pitaa, pitaamaha, *prapitaamaha. After that, at the edge of the darbhaa, the fourth generation onwards, whoever is eligible for this pinda, as told in the smruti. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Pitaamahaaya iti | Lepa (bhaa)janah chaturthaadeen, * lepabhaajah ****chaturdhaah pitraadyaah pinda bhaaginah * iti smruteh | ****Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 43: **www.sadagopan.org [[176]] of 219
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**Pindaih maataamaahaan tadvat gandha maalyaadi samyutaih | ****Poojayitvaa dvijaagryaanaam dadyaat cha aachamanam tatah || **Similarly, for maataamaha also, one has to place the pindaas. One has to worship with gandha, pushpa, etc. After doing all this, aachamana is to be offered to the Brahmins. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 44: ****Pitrubhyah prathamam bhaktyaa tanmanasko nareshvara | ****Susvadhetyaashishaa yuktaam dadyaat shaktyaa cha dakshinaam || **First, with great devotion, focussing on that, for pitrus is to be given. With the aasheervaada Susvadhaa, which the Brahmins say, then they have to be given dakshinaa, as much as one can afford. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 45: ****Dattvaa cha dakshinaam tebhyo vaachayet vaishva devikaan | ****Preeyantaam iha ye vishvedevaah tena iteerayet || **After that, telling " Vishvedevaah preeyantaam", dakshinaa is to be given to the Brahmin in the Vishvedeva sthaana. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 46: ****Tathaa iti chokte taih vipraih praarthaneeyaah tathaa aashishah | **Pashchaat visarjayet devaan poorvam paitryaan maheepate || They will say Tathaa, or Om. They have to be prayed as “Please do aasheervaada to me”. After that, they have to be seen off. First the pitrus and then the devaas. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 47: ****Maataamahaanam api evam saha devaih kramah smrutah | ****Bhojane cha svashaktyaa cha daane tatvat visarjane || **Even for maataamaha, in the same way, along with the devaas. In bhojana, and daana, as per one’s capability, offering them dakshina, and also seeing them off in the end. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 48: ****Aapaada shouchanaat poorvam kuryaat deva dvijanmasu | ****Visarjanam tu prathamam paitra maataa maheshu vai || **First, paitru maataamaha, then the devaas. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Aapaada iti | Vaishvadeva tatra pakshe poorvam vaishvadevikaan dvijaan ****archayayet; tatah pitruvargaan, tatah maataamahaadeen; visarjanam tu ****prathamam pitruunaam tato maataamahaadeenaam iti arthah | ****Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 49: ****Visarjayet preetivachah sammanaabhyutthitaam tatah | ****Nivartetaabhyanujnyaataa aadvaaram naananuvrajet || **Telling them kind words, and thanking them profusely, they have to be seen off. After they get up and are prepared to leave, one has to thank them profusely and see them off. After that, after taking their permission, the kartaa has to return www.sadagopan.org [[177]] of 219
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back. He has to go up to the door and see them off. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Visarjayet iti | Tatah sammaanya abhyarthitaan devaan visarjayet | Douhitrah **uddeshyasya | Pitaro hi sapta ganaah kanyaa santati pradhaanaah | **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 50: ****Tatah tu vaishvadevaakhyam kuryaat nityakriyaam budhah | ****Bhunjeeyaat cha samam poojya bhrutya bandhubhih aatmanah || **After that, the kartaa has to do vaishvadeva, the nitya kriyaas have to be done. Along with respectable people who are elders, who are there, and his relatives, he has to sit, and has to offer them food. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 51: ****Evam shraaddham budhah kuryaat paitryam maataamaham tathaa | ****Shraaddhaih aapyaayitaa dadhyuh sarvaan kaamaan pitaamahah || **In this way, one has to perform pitru and maataamaha shraaddhaas. They will offer whatever is desired to the kartaa, if one does shraaddha with great interest and devotion. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 52: ****Treeni shraaddhe pavitraani douhitrah kutapastilaah | ****Rajatasya kathaa daanam tathaa sandarshanaadikam || **Three things are said to be most sacred, in a shraaddha. First is douhitra, then kutapa, then tilaa. Keeping silver vessels is very good. The Brahmins have to be seeing silver vessels. Or, offering them daana, dakshinaa, silver items. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Treeni iti | Kutapah divasasya ashtamo muhoortah | Anye cha kutapaah santi * ****Madhyaahnah svangapaatram cha tathaa nepaalakambalah | Roopyam darbhaah ****tilaa gaavo douhitrascha ashtamah smrutah | Paapam kutsitam iti aahuh tasya ****santaapakaarinah | Ashtou ete yatah tasmaat kutapaa iti vishrutaah || * iti | ****Rajatasya kathaa - keertanam | Aadi shabdena raajatapaatraadi gruhyate | **Kutapah is eighth muhoorta of the day, very sacred for shraaddha. Inviting the douhitra for the place is supposed to be very good. Woolen kambala is placed for them to sit. One who does not treat these properly, is said to be a sin. That is why they are said to be very sacred. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 53: ****Varjyaani kurvataa shraaddham krodhodhvagamanam tvaraa | ****Bhokturapi atra raajendra trayametat na shasyate || **The three things which are to be definitely given up while they are performing the shraaddha, are - one should not get angry, one should not go out in-between, one should not hurry up. One should not go away and come in-between.
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Also, the Brahmins who have come for taking the food - for them also, the same rules apply. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 54: **www.sadagopan.org [[178]] of 219
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**Vishvedevaah sapitarah tathaa maataamahaa nrupa | ****Kulam chaapyaayate pumsaam sarvam shraaddham prakurvataam || **One who performs the shraaddha, properly with great devotion, all the vishvedevaas and pitrus, and maataamahaas, will be very happy and very pleased, if the shraaddha is done properly. Their entire kula will get all good things. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 55: ****Somaadhaarah pitrugano yogaadhaarah cha chandramaah | **Shraaddhe yoginiyogah tu tasmaat bhoopaala shasyate || If yogis are invited for nimantrana, it is supposed to be most sacred. Also, those who have indriya niyamana. Yogis means sannyaasis also. Because pitrus are depending upon Soma. Soma is none other than Chandramaa, is residing in Yoga. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Somaadhaarah iti | Aadhikaaridevataa agnishvaatta aadyaah vasu rudra aaditya ****roopaah santi | **Agnishvaatta are adhikaari devataas. They are present in the form of *Vasu, Rudra, *Aaditya. **Te asmat aadi nimantrita vipraan aavishya tat mukhena shraaddham bhuktvaa ****truptaah santo nityam sva yoga aapyaayita soma dvaaraa asmat aadi pitruun tat ****lokasthaan tarpayanti, kartruun cha asmadaadeen kaarmaih vardhayanti | **Then enter into the Brahmins who have been invited for nimantrana, aavesha will happen, they get pleased with the food; they actually take the food which is offered to the Brahmins, daily through this yoga, moon will be very pleased, they please the pitrus and those who are there in those lokaas. Also, they make us prosper by all the karmaas that we do. For the kartrus like us. **Te cha adhikaari pitruganah sapta chatvaarah moorti mantro atra trayah ****yeshaam moortayah te api yoga balena somam aapyaayanti | Somo api ****asmadaadi pitruunaam aadhaarah poshakah cha, teshaam cha yoganishthaah ****priyaa iti shraaddhe yogee nimantryah | **There are reasons and pramaanaas given why yogis are supposed to be invited. **Tena asmaakam pitru ganaah somaadhaaraah praak eva uktaah | Sa cha somo **adhikaari pitruunaam yogena dhaaryah | Pitruganaas are depending on Soma, Chandra. This was told earlier itself. Soma is depending on yoga. *Te hi prajaasarge niyuktatvaat agni somaatmakasya jagatah somaamsha ashikya *bhaavanaaya srushtim pushnanti | This world is said to be Agni Somaatmaka. When Soma amsha is more, then they do creation. They nurture the creation. Evam anye api yoginah | Yogis are said to be very sacred. **Tathaa harivamshe bheeshmam prati shantanu uktih - [* Aadideva sutaah taata **www.sadagopan.org [[179]] of 219
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**pitaro divi devataah] * Aaditeyaah tu te taata pitaro aditi devataah || Taan ****yajasva mahaabhaaga pitru shraadhaih atandritah | Te hi shreyo vidhaasyanti ****sarva kaama phala pradaah | Tvayaa eva aaraadhyamaanaah te naama gotra ****aadi keertanaih | Asmaan aapyaayayishyanti svargasthaan api bhaarata | ****Shraadheshu ye pradaasyanti treen pindaan naamagotratah | Sarvatra ****vartamaanaan svaan pitruun atha pitaamahaan | Bhaavayishyanti satatam ****shraddhadaanena poojitaah | iti | **Harivamsha pramaana is told. This tells how pitrus are pleased with yogis. Telling the name and gotra, three pindaas are given with great devotion. Pitrus and pitaamahaas will always be pleased. **Tatra eva devaan prati brahmaa * Shraaddhaih aapyaayitaah cha eva pitarah ****somam avyayam | Aapeeyamaanam yushmaabhih vardhayishyanti nityashah || ****Shraaddhaih aapyaayitah somo lokaan aapyaayayishyati | Shraaddhaani pushti ****kaamaah cha ye charishyanti maanavaah | Tebhyah pushtim prajaah cha eva ****daasyanti pitarah sadaa | iti | **Brahma’s pramaana is told here. The pitrus please the moon, and the kartaa pleases the pitrus. The moon increases every day, and brings all kinds of prosperity. For them, all the prosperity, wealth, progeny, they bestow. **Tatra eva * Ete hi pitarah taata yoginaam yoga vardhanaah | Aapyaayayanti ye ****poorvam somam yogabalena vai | Tasmaat shraaddhani deyaani yoginaam dvija ****sattama | iti | Vaayuprokte cha * Shraaddhaih preetaah punah somam pitaro **yogamaasthitaah | Aapyaayayanti yogena trailokyam tena jeevati | iti | Many pramaanaas are told for the same thing, about the two shlokaas here. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 15, Shloka 56: ****Sahasrasya api vipraanaam yogee chet puratah sthitah | ***Sarvaan bhoktruun taarayati yajamaanam tathaa nrupa || For thousand Brahmins, if one yogi is there, he will bless all the Brahmins, and also the yajamaana. This completed Amsha 3, Chapter 15. || Iti Sri Vishnu Puraane Truteeye Amshe Panchadasho Adhyaayah || || Iti Sri Vishnu Chitteeye Vishnu Puraana Vyaakhyaane Truteeya Amshe Panchadasho Adhyaayah || *** **www.sadagopan.org [[180]] of 219
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|| Atha Shodasho Adhyaayah || ****Food to be Offered, Braahmana Bhojana **Niyama Now, Chapter 16. Here is told what are all the kinds of food offered in a shraaddha. What is allowed, and what is not allowed are going to be told by Ourva rishi.