What is aparaahnam? It is said that tharppanam must be performed only during aparaahnam. Adiyen usually does the tharppanam after 1 PM. Kindly clarify whether this is appropriate.
Vidwan’s reply:
For a given day, the daytime is split into 5 periods. The 4th period is called Aparaahnam. It is the Afternoon in English.
A daytime exists approximately for 30 Nazhigais. Dividing this into 5 parts, the duration of each part is 6 Nazhigais. The period between 18th Nazhigai and 24th Nazhigai is called aparaahnam. It occurs roughly after 1 PM. Hence, performing tharppanam is appropriate.
Can the balance Perumal tirtham after distributing to others and Tirukkaaveri tirtham used for Tiruvaradhanam be reused for cooking purposes? What to do with the balance tirtham?
Vidwan’s reply:
It is not a practice to reuse the balance Perumal tirtham for cooking. We must dispose of the tirtham at a place where we do not step on it; a tree or Tulasi shrub cane watered with the tirtham.
If a Srivaishnava Groom marries a non-Srivaishanava Bride, is he qualified to perform pitru kaaryam (rites performed for ancestors)? For the Bride qualify to perform our traditional rituals and practices, can she undergo Samashrayanam?
Vidwan’s reply:
When a Groom from Srivaishnava tradition marries a non-Srivaishnava Bride, he is qualified to perform pitru kaaryam.
For the Bride to perform our traditional practices and rituals, she can undergo Samashrayanam.
Doing so such persons become Srivaishnavas and can carry out activities in rituals such as shraddham without any conflict.
What are the general rules to observe Shravana vratam? What rules that married ladies should follow to observe Shravana vratam for Thiruvenkatamudaiyan or Oppiliappan?
Vidwan’s reply:
General rules to observe Shravana vratam:
On the day of fast (vratam), one must bath in the morning
For Oppiliappan, only food prepared without salt must be partaken
Only once on that day food must be partaken, if needed, on can take fruit based diet during the second part of the day.
One can visit temple to worship Perumal
Recite Stotras
A general rule for the Vratam
One should avoid entertainments on that day
Avoid wearing new clothes
Vratam should be observed by adhering to the above rules and most importantly one should contemplate on Perumal during the observance.
Which Desika stotras can be recited to cure skin diseases?
Vidwan’s reply:
While there are many stotras, reciting Garuda Pancashat will be a remedy for skin diseases. If it is difficult to recite, one can repeat after hearing or replaying any elder’s recitation.
What is the rationale behind offering the first tonsured hair of a child to God?
Vidwan’s reply:
Offering tonsured hair to Perumal is like offering the head itself. Azhwar has said ‘kambara thalai siraithu’. The tonsured hair of the child is offered to signify that the child is offered to the Lord. As the hair grows again, there is no harm in doing so.
Adiyen had undergone Samashrayanam and Bharanyasam from a Acarya. Adiyen is not willing to celebrate Vinayaka caturthi; but my family who had done Samashrayanam and Bharanayasam celebrate it by preparing modagam and insist that adiyen should also celebrate. How to make them understand?
Vidwan’s reply:
Vinayaka has gained popularity only recently. We can make them understand this by pointing out:
Vinayaka has not been mentioned in the Vedas. Out of the many gods that have been mentioned by Vedas the name Vinayaka is not there. There is no doubt that Vinayaka is a devata, but he is not Vedic God.
During ancient times Vaidikas including Smarthas did not worship gods like Iyappa, Vinayaka, etc as they are not mentioned in the Vedas.
Vedas have indicated Lord Vishnu alone is the Supreme Lord. We shall not draw the wrath of other demi-gods when we do not worship them as we are the devotees of Lord Vishnu.
The principle of Veda is to worship Lord Vishnu which in turn pleases Vinayaka.
My daughter and son-in-law happened to go for two years higher study to France. Are there any atonements for crossing the sea to go abroad?
Vidwan’s reply:
Going to France will certainly ensue the sin of crossing seas. You can consult your elders for suitable atonements for crossing the sea. Generally, elders would advise to do Sethu snanam or kushmanda homam as a remedy.
My aunt had performed pancha-samaskaram about 45 years ago from a head of a mutt in a village, but she does not remember any of the mantras. Can she perform pancha-samaskaram again by approaching another preceptor?
Vidwan’s reply:
There are ways to remember the mantras. There is no need to perform Samashrayanam again.
The mantras will come back to memory by listening to Srimad Rahasya Trayasaaram kalakshepam and she can approach a preceptor for kalakshepam. It is accepted in tradition to emboss the conch and discus symbol again, but one should not perform Bharanyasam again. As per the laws of Brahmasthra which can be applied only once, performing of Bharanyasam again will not fructify at all.
Can we the Srivaishnavas accept the prasadam prepared by a non Srivaishnava Brahmin in a temple?
Vidwan’s reply:
Only Srivaishnavas should prepare food in a temple; it is better if that person transforms into a Srivaishanava.
This is a tricky situation; it is better if it is accepted as Perumal prasadam but one has to ponder carefully if the food is not cooked by a Srivaishnava.
Can a prappana partake food in a Srivaishnava house who has not undergone pancha-samaskaram?
Vidwan’s reply:
From the standpoint of orthodoxy (Acaram), a prappana must not partake food from that house.
Notes:
Samskara denotes eligibility of an individual. One loses that qualification if they have not performed pancha-samsakram. It is better to avoid partaking food from those houses.
As adiyen has to travel to Auckland for 6 months, how to carry Salagrama deities there and what are Acara Anushtanas that are to be followed?
Vidwan’s reply:
We can carry the Salagrama deities while travelling abroad in a wooden box wrapped in a shawl or silk cloth, with a count of 3, 4 or 7 Salagrama murtis. One can continue the tirvuaradhanam there by performing the first thirumanjanam in milk.
Notes:
Sometimes when you check in, the officers have the right to inspect the belongings; in that case we are forced to show them the deities as sometimes they might appear like a metal during scanning. The officers might have to touch the deities. It is important to cleanse the deities by performing thirumanjanam in milk during tiruvaradhanam.
So, some say it is better to wrap the deities with layers of silk cloth so that it cannot be seen while scanning and take utmost care to carry Perumal hygienically.
During Pitru paksha period, should the tharpanam be done before tiruvaradhanam? During this period can one render kainkaryam at temples or mutts by participating in recitations?
Vidwan’s reply:
As for as rituals such as shraddham, etc. are concerned, tiruvaradhanam precedes tharpanam. Only on masa pirappu days, if the month occurs early, tharpanam precedes tiruvaradhanam.
Adiyen’s mother had attained the eternal abode in a car accident while returning after worshipping Thirumogur Azhagar koil and Periazhwar thiruvarasu koil; aidyen’s brother does all the rituals and as her daughter what are the anushtanams should adiyen follow and what stotras can adiyen recite?
Vidwan’s reply:
There is nothing much for a daughter to perform. As your brother is doing the required rites, you can help by participating in the rituals. There is no specific anushtanams for women as such.
You can also join in the annual obsequies; if you cannot join you can think about your mother on her shraddham day. You can recite all stotras. You can recite stotras like Daya Shatakam to overcome the grief due to the loss of your mother.
We perform Pancha-samaskaram without knowing it’s meaning and greatness. Would Perumal still grant salvation for us as we do the Bharanyasam and Samashrayanam through an Acharya ritualistically alone without any knowledge? Adiyen apologises if it is an improper query.
Vidwan’s reply:
Though we perform pancha-samaskaram and sharangati without any knowledge, we do not do them ourselves but through a preceptor. Perumal grants us the fruits based on the preceptor’s faith.
But it is on us to know about its importance, value and adhere accordingly. As the ones who submitted our souls to Perumal we must practise the prescribed achara and anushtanams.
My elder sister Smt Saroja’s first annual ceremony will be this coming Karthikai month, sukla paksha trayodasi day. So far, all monthly and periodical ceremonies such as maasiyam and unam have been taking place properly. But, Karthika month sukla paksha trayodasi is not in the panchangam. Given this, how to conduct varushapthikam, unaaptikam, etc.? On which days must these be performed? We are clueless. Kindly clarify
Vidwan’s reply:
As per the general scriptural approach, if a shraddha tithi is not available in the month of Karthikai, the annual ceremony must be performed during the preceding month. Because both Karthikai and Marghai have 29 days, it is common for a tithi to be missing during these months. If a shraddha tithi is not available during the months of Karthikai, Margazhi or Thai, the shraddham is performed during the month preceding these months, as per the rules of scriptures.
It is better to have these ascertained in advance.
On my husband’s side, the agnates (kinsmen – my father-in-law’s 4 brothers and their children) are alive. Most of us live either live in India or at the USA. Recently my father-in-law’s elder brother and his son attained the eternal abode. Even though we observed 10 days of asaucam, I have doubts about the rules and rituals to follow when an agnate attains eternal abode and I pray to the Vidwans that these doubts be clarified so that it is valuable for us and the generations to come.
My father-in-law is alive – given this, must my husband perform kuzhi tharpanam on the 10th day wherever he is at?
Can we render services at Perumal temples?
Can Perumal be brought in procession to our residence as part of Dolotsavam?
Can we light maavilakku during the month of Purattasi and are we allowed to celebrate the Tirunakshatrams of Perumal and Acaryas?
Can we celebrate other festivals such as Varusha Pirappu, Navarathri, Deepavali, Karthikai, Kanu, etc.?
Kindly forgive me for a lengthy query.
Vidwan’s reply:
When a person’s father is alive, that person need not perform kuzhi tharpanam; only those without fathers alive must perform kuzhi tharpanam.
During the 10 days of asaucam:
Must not render services at Perumal temples
Perumal must not be brough in procession to homes as part of Dolotsavam
Must not light Purattasi mavilakku and celebrate Acaryan Tirunakshatrams
If the person observing asaucam is chief member of the household, asaucam is applicable for that entire household. Hence, if a Perumal Tirunakshatram must be celebrated without fail, it must be celebrated by one who is not tainted by the asaucam and at a different place that is not tainted. If there are sons, these can be performed through them. Elders say that it is better to avoid these during the 10 days of asaucam.
Varusha Pirappu, Navarathri, Deepavali, Karthikai, Kanu, etc., if they occur during the 10-day period, they must not be celebrated.
Adiyen’s eldest brother-in law performs tharpanam at Mahalaya tithi for my father-in-law; but my daughter’s birth star coincides on that day. Is there anything wrong in doing it on that day?
Vidwan’s reply:
One need not consider other aspects when one performs Mahalaya sraddham on the same tithi that one’s father has departed.
If the daughter’s birthday happens to occur on the same day, one can perform tharpanam on another day, it is accepted practise to perform it within the stipulated 15 days.
One can do tharpanam on auspicious days like madhyashtami and there is no such compulsion that it has to be done on father’s tithi; but if one is willing to do tharpanam on the same day they can overlook birthdays or else it can be done on some other day.
Can we draw kolam at Perumal sannidhi coinciding with that particular day?
Vidwan’s reply:
Yes, kolam can be drawn in conjunction with days at our homes.
Adiyen had done Samashrayanam; after listening to many upanyasams, adiyen desires to do Prapatti. But the elders at home worship other gods along with Perumal and celebrate their festivals too. In this situation can adiyen undergo Prapatti and what are the post prapatti requirements?
Vidwan’s reply:
When the elders of your family worship and celebrate other gods, you can remain detached from it. We are not against other gods. Since we are devotees of Perumal there is no need to worship other demi-gods.
After performing prapatti one must not worship other gods and partake their prasadam.
It is written in saiva agama that one must not accept the prasadam of demi-gods but now it is been altered by their followers. The learned Vaidikas will not accept those prasadam. We are not stating anything new here. They will rectify this fault in future. So, without feeling guilty one can continue to contemplate on Perumal alone.
Adiyen has asaucam for ten days and before this was over, another ten-day asaucam happened. How to observe asaucam period? How to perform kuzhi tharpanam?
Vidwan’s reply:
If the second 10-day asaucam occurs while observing a previous asaucam for ten days, the second one will be over along with the first asaucam.
To know about this in detail please refer to GSPK’s Sudarshanam publications ‘Theetuk Kanakku’.
Adiyen has performed Samashrayanam and Bharanayasam; can I celebrate Saraswathi pooja as before or should I worship Hayagriva Perumal now?
Vidwan’s reply:
As you have performed Samashrayanam and Bharanayasam, you can worship Hayagriva Perumal; worshipping Hayagriva Perumal would mean worshipping of Saraswathi Devi too.
Hayagirva pooja is also Saraswathi pooja and there is no need for separate Saraswathi pooja. Swami Desikan had also written ‘devi saroja sana dharma patni’ in Hayagriva sloka.
Can we bath in the holy rivers like Ganga, Cauvery while we observe one-year theetu, as adiyen’s husband is the kartha and is performing masyam?
Vidwan’s reply:
Theetu will not be for one year but ten days only. It is called deeksha, during that one-year period; couples who are karthas should not go on a pilgrimage and take holy dip in sacred rivers. But if we happen visit a place where per chance a holy river runs through, then taking bath in that river is permitted.
For example, if we have to visit Srirangam for some reason, then taking bath in Cauvery is considered special, similarly in Ganges as well.
Going on a pilgrimage involves taking an oath to visit sacred places and bathing in sacred waters so pilgrimage is not permitted during that period, otherwise when one gets an opportunity by chance to bathe in holy river, it is considered fortunate.
Can we accept thamboolam (betel leaves and nut) during tharpanam and sraddha days?
Vidwan’s reply:
During tharpanam and sraddha days one can accept thamboolam but chewing them is prohibited. When we happen to attend wedding during a tharpanam day and when we are offered thamboolam and as it is considered auspicious, accepting them will not be malefic.
We should consider sraddham as a revered occasion, try to avoid going out on that day and if by chance we are given thamboolam on that day, there in nothing wrong in accepting it. One should not accept any charities on that day.
