Tremendous advancement of science and technology as well as rational thinking has contributed to the loss of faith in our ancient scriptures, the Vedas, the epics, the Puranas and the Bhagavadgita! Modern civilization has gone to the extent of making man question the very existence of God! The present world is almost a world of atheists! They have no faith in the existence of the One who is the cause of all this wonderful and beautiful creation called the universe! Faith is sine quo non for the existence of human subsistence! The husband should have faith in his wife and she on her husband! Children must have faith in their parents and they must have faith on their children! Otherwise life will be a veritable hell! Many families have been destroyed for lack of faith among its members! It is a pity that people have lost faith in performing the funeral rites for the departed elders of the families! When they are almost forgotten even during their lifetime, it is no wonder that they are neglected and not remembered after their demise! Our sastras prescribe certain funeral rites to be performed by the members of the family soon after the demise. But most of the families do not perform the funeral rites for their elders properly!
The annual ceremonies performed in remembrance of the departed elders is called “Shraaddha”. That which is performed with “Shraddha” or faith is called “ Shraaddha”. Non performance of the funeral rites and “Shraaddhas" regularly invite the wrath of the “pitrus” that create hurdles and difficulties in the families. Families remain childless and some chronic ailments affect the members of the families who wantonly desist from performing annual ceremonies! This is the strong belief among the people.The annual ceremony or “Shraaddha” consists in inviting two or three brahmins of good Vedic proficiency who invoke the ‘Pitrus’ or the departed souls with Vedic mantras to come and partake of the offering of Anna or food. The Vedic scholars are fed later sumptuously and given 'dakshina’--some money. They bless the family for their wellness and prosperity!
No ceremony should be performed without faith or Shraddha". There is an interesting story related to the performance of this ceremony. A person was there who always wanted to perform the annual ceremonies with intense faith. Normally he used to invite a great Vedic scholar, a “Purnagnihotri” for meals during the annual ceremony. He was so particular of such a person that he would not perform the ceremony but postpone it to some other day! He would perform the ceremony on that day when such a great person is available! Even if it is a different day, not connected to to the demise of the pitrus, he would perform the ceremony then! On a particular day a person of great Vedic erudition and radiance came to his house! Seeing him, the person’s joy knew no bounds as he was exactly the man he was expecting for the Shraaddha! “Today we are performing the annual ceremony for our ancestors! You are glowing with the radiance of the Brahman! You must accept our hospitality and partake of the meal”, implored the person. The Brahmin accepted the request of the person and the annual ceremony started. The Brahmin was astounded at the faith of the performer.
The ceremony was almost over and the balls of food had to be worshipped with flowers and gingelly seeds and water. He offered flowers and the gingelly seeds and took the vessel to pour water on the balls of food(pindas). At this point, the Brahmin guest made a signal and lo, not a single drop of water dripped from the vessel! The person was aghast at what had happened! He turned this side and that and wondered how liquid water turned into solid! The person trembled with fear. He gazed at the Brahmin and stood petrified with folded hands! The Brahmin admonished him and advised thus!
“ Your extraordinary faith in performing the ceremony is commendable! But you cannot expect the proper person to be fed every time! You cannot expect a “Purnagnihotri” every time. It is enough if you can get a Brahmin chanting the Gayatri Maha mantra! One who performs “Sandhyavandanam” always will be suitable for the ceremony. Follow my advice. Don't be in search of one who will not be available!” It was then that he understood the significance of the Gayatri Mantra! He assured the Brahmin that he would follow his guidance. At that very moment water, that had solidified, became liquid and started dripping from the vessel The person was astonished at this incident. Since the erudite Brahmin stopped the flow of water for a moment he came to be called “APASTHAMBHA!” Apah means water. Sthabhaha means one who has stopped it. Apasthambha was, like Manu, the codifier of ‘Sutras’ or laws!
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