Shradhkarma – Human Body is created from 5 Koshas – 1. Annamaya Kosha (body), 2. Pranmaya kosha (heart), 3. Manonaya Kosha (Mind) 4. Vigyanman Kosha (wisdom and knowledge), 5. Anandmaya Kosha (blessings). These 5 koshas area unit tangled into each other therefore on facilitate America transcend the cycle of life and death and attain liberation or merging with the Supreme.
After death, four koshas stay during this world. Different koshas keep moving and their movement is named Bhootgati. These Koshas leave the body one by one. In the end, once form is burnt, soul departs from form and everyone’s koshas enter in Pretyoni. Manomaya kosha is extremely vital during this yoni. So, it is body of the human that ends at the time of death and therefore the soul that resides within the body, bears pleasure and pains due to needs of this yoni.
Once these needs finish then this kosha is additionally liberated. All different 3 Koshas get Devgati. Now, Anandnaya kosha remains unaccompanied and this gati is named as Ishtgati. It denotes each manifestation and completion of the physical universe in total. In Ishgati, the being doesn’t feel pleasure or pain and reaches Surya lok.
From Surya lok it comes back to earth by the rays of the sun and enters the female internal reproductive organ. Within the tenth month, it takes birth as human being in this world. Those who are liberated once death, their fireplace koshas are liberated too and that they don’t suffer in anyone of these Gatis.
This is the natural cycle which indicates that a human being mainly faces 2 sorts of Gatis once death. One is Liberation and second is being at bay during a continuous cycle of life and death. In the initial case, a being is liberated from all pains and needs while in the second case, being must go or bear four Doshas and Yonis.
Bhoot Yoni dies once the body is burnt, that’s why a dying person hardly stays there in Yoni. At this point, there’s no reason to perform any Shradhkarma or yagya. Of course, pind daan will be done. The period of staying in Pretyoni depends upon the lust and needs of the dying person.
One cannot execute any Karma or spiritual work; neither can it experience physical pain or pleasure because of its karma.
Happiness and sorrow both are state of mind. Both worthy and ferocious get liberation from their subtle body after getting the results of their karmas (good or bad) and when their desires are gratified. It is obvious that by performing Shradhkarma in Shradhpaksha for the silence of ancestor’s souls in this birth, deceased ancestors get freedom from their bad deeds or sins.
That is the reason, those who are actually present in this world, perform shradkarma for their deceased ancestors during Pitra Paksha (fortnight of the ancestors is a phase of 16 lunar days when Hindus pay respect to their ancestors especially through food offerings).
Some Pandits consider that Shradhkarma should be performed only in the tribute of dead ancestors, who are now inhabitants of Pitralok (abode of ancestors) because when invocation is performed, these ancestors arrive and receive whatever is offered to them.
But if we think tentatively, we find that the ancestors who are displeased souls who could not fulfill their desires in their lifetime need admiration and help from their successors to release them from the pain, as they are unable to free themselves from the trouble due to their non-existence in the world.
Prehistoric literatures have described the instances of the appearances of the deceased souls from Pitraloka during the time when Shradhkarma was executed. Some scriptures have described only the instances of some enormous men, accepting the worship performed by their successors.
But these Vedas do not have references of getting homage by normal souls. In fact, our ancestors have not been profited much by Shradhkarma, the way their successors or offspring are benefitted, because it is a custom to repay debt to our late ancestors by gratifying their feelings and it is their religious duty also in order to liberate their ancestors from their sins. That’s why Shradhakarma should be done with full affection and in accordance with the values described in Shastras.
