Nasira: Why is Swamiji is not giving answer of my question? I know he is busy but he answered other people.
Swami Ram Swarup: I’m sorry if I’ve not replied your question, my daughter. Yet, I
remember that every question of the readers is always answered. So, please check. If you’ve not received reply then send your question again, please.
SKB: Mere pita 5 saal pehle expire hue the. Hum yaha maloom karna chahte hain, ki kiss tithi ke din unka shradha karein aur khana denge. aur pitro ki aur pitaji ki kab vidai karenge. kripya yaha bhi bataiye ki vidhi kya hogi.
Swami Ram Swarup: Yadi aap shradh karna chahte hain, jaise ki aapne likha to kisi bhi local pandit se advise leikar kar sakte hain. Lekin jaisa charon ved, shastra aur upnishad aadi ka sachcha gyan hai, usmein shradh ka varnan nahin hai, isliye ved ke jaanne wale kabhi shradh nahin karte. Are path,Yagya, havans etc., after death of a person or tarpan shradh etc., of any beneficial to departed soul?
Soul is dependent and therefore cannot do any deed etc., without senses, perceptions, mind and body whereas, God is independent. He is Almighty and needs no help from anybody to control the universe. So He never takes any assistance/help like of any human body or of bow-arrow, gun etc., to kill anyone. At the time of death, soul goes out of the body and body with mouth, ear, eyes etc., is burnt. Thirty-ninth chapter of Yajurveda throws light that at this stage, soul remains in sushupt stage i.e., like in coma, because the soul has no assistance like mouth, ear etc., so she cannot take in food, drink water, do any thing. After thirteen days the soul based on his previous lives’ deeds enters the womb. Therefore neither soul can be ghost nor can he take food etc. So according to Vedas, shradh, tarpann cannot be done.
No doubt, soul has to face his karmas-both karmas i.e., pious as well as sins. Please refer to the article on three types of karmas. Vedas as well as yog shastra 2/16 states “Heyem Dukham Anagatam” that present sins/bad deeds as well as previous lives’ sins can be burnt with the help of present pious kriyamann karmas like paath, yajyen, havan mainly listening of Vedas, name jaap of God, learning of yoga philosophy from a true acharya (who is learned of Vedas) and its practice there of etc. Benefit of the same worship is awarded when soul remains in body. Soul leaves the body to take rebirth based on sanchit karma i.e., benefit of the worship had already been awarded by
the God. If soul is really interested to get salvation, then he contacts with an acharya to learn the said worship and may be able in this birth or in the future births to get salvation. But in no case,
the real worship based on Vedas goes in vain. This is also stated by Shri Krishna in Bhagwad Geeta shloka 9/31.
Reshma: Is it not the duty of wife to help her husband in time of financial stringency?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, a housewife should support and do pious deeds to earn the money as per her capacity and ability during husband’s financial stringency. However, the main responsibility to feed the family lies on husband’s shoulder.
