Manmohan: My mother had expired recently. We had performed cremation in Punjab and her Asthi Visarjan was performed in Haridwar on 10th day but we all came to Delhi after the 4th day. Kindly let me know that where should we perform Brahm Bhoj on 17th day? Some Panditji has said that Brahm Bhoj is to be done at the place of death only. Kindly guide me. I have yourselves only and no one to guide.
Swami Ram Swarup: The matter of Brahma bhoj does not exist in the eternal philosophy of four Vedas, knowledge of which emanates direct from God. After hard study of Vedas and practice of Ashtang Yoga Philosophy , several Rishis of ancient/present times have attained salvation, who further wrote six shastras , upnishads, Valmiki Ramayan and other spiritual authentic holy granths. Matter of Brahma Bhoj, shradh etc., does not exist in them as well. So, being unauthentic learned people do not believe in the same, please. Now, it is your own desire whether do or not.
Amit Bajaj: Swamiji pranaam, there are many smritis like Parashar Smriti, Yagyavalkya smriti & Manu smriti. In all these smritis shudra is treated very badly. In Parashara smriti it is said if one eats food of shudra he commits a sin. Swamiji do you believe these smritis as authentic because many controversial things are said in these smritis? Do you believe them as written by their corresponding sages?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. In reality when Vedas do not say about caste –system by birth then Vedas being the main proof of our culture/life. We must promote brotherhood and love all mankind. Rest I can state that our culture has been manipulated by several kings of past time like Mughals, Britishers etc. so such books are not true. However, Manusmriti never states about caste-system.
I have already written about caste system (varn vyavastha). Yajurveda mantra 31/11 says that caste is based on present deeds (karmas) and not by birth. The sense of Mantra is that if a son of shudra studies Vedas, controls senses/organs and mind, does practice of Ashtang yoga, then he will be considered Brahmin and a Brahmin who has no such qualities he will be treated as shudra etc., etc. There is no caste system in Vedas based on birth and the other holy books like Manusmriti, six shastras, Upnishads, Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharat (Bhagwad Geeta) etc., were written by ancient Rishis/Munis based on only the knowledge of Vedas, so no caste system exists therein based on birth.
In this connection Yajurveda mantra 31/11 also says that he who knows Vedas and God, he is Brahmin being most supreme in the world like a mouth in the body. So anyone (of any caste) can be a Brahmin by hard studies of Vedas, practising Ashtang yoga therein and thus realizing God. One who has physical power in his arms, he is Kashtriye-Rajput to protect the country. So anyone can be a Rajput, holding the said qualities. One who has powers in his thighs to travel and to do hard work to establish business, he is Vaishya (businessman). One who has not studied, based on his qualities that he could not gain the qualities of Brahmin, Kashtriye and Vaishya, he is shudra (may be of any caste).
There is a symbolic story in Mahabharat. That once Yudhistar saw that his brother Bhima was caught by a huge python. Yudhistar asked python that my brother is a great warrior having sufficient power that you could not catch him. So really you are not python, tell me, who you are. Python replied that he was a yaksha. O Yudishtar! If you would answer my question, then your brother would be released. Yaksha asked Yudhistar that if a son of Brahmin takes wine, meat, gambles and does bad deeds then whether he will be considered as Brahmin and when a shudra (lowest caste) reads Vedas, does practice of Ashtang yoga, controls his five senses, five organs and mind and does always pious deeds then whether the son of such shudra will remain shudra? Yudhistar replied that the Brahmin will be treated as shudra and shudra will be treated as Brahmin.
King Janak called all the emperors/anybody to break the bow to prove to be the best powerful emperor amongst all to marry his daughter Sita. So King Janak did not make any objection of caste system. So was the case of marriage of Draupadi where in the dress of a Brahmin Arjuna pierced the eye of the fish with arrow and Yudhistar married Draupadi. Draupadi was daughter of Khastriye, Rajput whereas in the dress, Yudhistar was Brahmin. So qualities are to be checked either of boy or girl.
