August 6, 2006
Viya Varusham
Greeshma Rithu
Aadi Maasam 21th day
Sunday
From being ancestors to becoming spiritually elevated Pitru beings
Only those of our ancestors who have accumulated great spiritual merit get elevated to the status of exalted pitru beings. What about the rest? It is the duty of the progeny to work towards their spiritual elevation. Why? Because elevated pitri beings can do a lot of good in this world. Just like Siddhas and Maharishis are commanded by God to work for the spiritual uplift of humanity, so also ancestors who have attained the lofty state of elevated pithru beings can work for the spiritual uplift of the world.
Over millions of births, one has had millions of ancestors!
Can all of one's millions of ancestors become spiritually elevated pitru beings? Yes, say the Siddhas, but desiring that is one thing and achieving it is entirely another! When one performs the 96 tharpan and sraddha poojas every year with sincerity and devotion over many years, surely that long term pooja will help elevate that person's ancestors.
Today is the Vaidhriti Sraddha day, one of the 96 tharpan days in a year. One who performs tharpanam on each of these 96 days every year will assuredly attain that peace of mind which so eludes most human beings, say the Siddhas.
Peace of mind is not got through money. This world correlates money with peace of mind, but this is not correct. Why do we find millionaires searching for peace of mind in spite of their millions? That goes to show that money can't buy peace of mind. Why?
Because money acquired through improper means (bribes, theft, plunder, money not worked for, etc.) can never give peace.
If money should give peace, it should satisfy two conditions: It should have been gotten through dharmic means and it should have been used for the betterment of people with a sense of tyaga. So one must think hard about the origins and destinations of one's money.
The 96 tharpans per year are a simple way to achieve peace of mind.
One does not have to be wealthy to do tharpan.
Tharpan is also very easy to do. Refer to the books published by the Agasthiar Ashram that explain how to do tharpan in simple terms.
Those who take this on as a spiritual vow and do this without fail will surely gain that spiritual merit which gets translated into contentment, peace of mind, courage and a will to face any problem with a serene, spiritual attitude. They will have a determined sense of purpose for further progress on the spiritual path.
How can a tharpan pooja for ancestors be considered pooja for God, one may ask. The Siddhas have answered this. They say God accepts anything done selflessly for the betterment of others as a pooja done unto Himself. So if one does tharpan sincerely for the spiritual elevation of ancestors, most assuredly that is pooja. As we have pointed out, not all of one's ancestors can be considered to be at an elevated pitru state. Many of one's ancestors could have taken birth as plants, birds and animals. Those with a lot of bad karma (suicide, abortion, etc.) may not even be able to take birth in a new body; they may be roaming around as disembodied beings desperately yearning for a spiritual push from some kind soul. One does tharpan selflessly for these souls so that they may advance in their evolutionary path. Rest assured that this selfless act of tharpan, done for those who have passed on, gets the appreciative nod of the Divine.
Today also being a Sunday, tharpan on this Vaidhriti Tharpan day can contribute greatly to the spiritual elevation of one's paternal ancestors (ancestors on one's father's line).
Today is also a Shannavadhi tharpan day. On this day, do tharpan not only for your ancestors, but also for your pets, trees and plants that may have passed on. This is known as Karunya Tharpanam. Note that your pets and your plants have some connection with you. That is why you cared for them, just like you care for your near and dear. Without this connection, they would not have come to be associated with you.
Today's thithi is Dvadasi.
All tharpan days are associated with Lord Mahavishnu, because Lord Vishnu is the Pitru Nayaka, the Divine Controller of the Pithru beings.
So this Dwadasi Tharpan Sunday has been called Damodara Dwadasi.
Damodara Dwadasi is a great day for Dwajasthamba pooja in all Narayana temples.
The great Nitya Suris, who are ever resident with Lord Narayana, perform this Dwajasthamba pooja in all Vishnu temples on this day.
Pooja on this Damodara Dwadasi as prescribed by the Siddhas has the potential of elevating all of one's ancestors to exalted pitru states.
But this is not that easy. As pointed out before, one has had millions of ancestors over millions of years. For all of these to get
elevated is not an easy task. But there are those who have taken this as their spiritual vow and worked towards it. Those unique ones
whose ancestors have all been elevated to the state of exalted pitris are known as Damodara Pavitras. Such people don't have to do any
tharpan since all their ancestors have been elevated. But if they perform tharpan pooja, it become Karunya Tharpan done on behalf of
the world. These Damodara Pavitras attain much happiness in this world.
As we have said elsewhere in this site, Lord Sarabeswara and Lord Narasimha manifest themselves in temple pillars.
Those who do regular Sarabesvara and Narasimha pooja and also
those who do Dwajasthamba pooja become eligible to reach the state of Damodara Pavitras. But like Bhairava upasana,
Sharabeswara and Narasimha upasana can be very demanding. Seek the guidance of a Sathguru.
Abishekam ceremonies are performed for the Dwajasthamba in the Sindhupatti Perumal temple near Madurai.
Undertaking to do this on Dwadasi days is a special vow. This can help foster smooth relations between siblings and between
parents and children. It can usher peace into families.
There are some renunciates who start their four month Chaturmasya vow from this day.
Onto to some solemn reflection now. This Vaidhriti Tharpan day can offer relief even to those departed souls that have
committed very bad karmas. Among your ancestors, if there was someone who did not lead a good life, who indulged in
bad karmas (suicide, murder, plunder, etc.), perform a sraddha ceremony for them through out the entire day today.
Such a full day sraddha ceremony done with utmost sincerity will do at least some good to that grieving soul.
On this day, worship Lord Narayana in those shrines where He bears the name Damodara.
The Siddhas suggest that one should visit at least 12 Vishnu temples today.
This is a good spiritual observance for this Dwadasi Vaidhriti Sunday. Om.
