Few doubts Having consulted the family priest, the eldest son-in-law performed final rites as the deceased does not have a son on their own, though they have a grandson; yet he could not perform the rites as he is at school. Will there be an annual ceremony for parents who have only daughters? After my father’s demise, we accept kaipul (darbha grass) from my mother and perform the annual ceremony; what is the procedure after the demise of my mother? It is said that the sins and virtues of a grandfather pass on to the next generation; but how can the grandfather be punished for his wrongs when he is not alive? It is hard for the sons and grandsons to undergo punishments for wrongdoings. It is fate that one has to be born to a particular parent; similarly is it fate that one gets married to a particular person or is it a relation that continues from the past?

Scriptures have listed who can perform rites for one who has no son. If there is no son, then the daughter’s son is eligible foremost to perform rituals; if he is not available, the son-in-law can perform the rituals by getting the grass from the daughter of the demised as the daughter is the kartha here.
The grandson can perform the annual ceremony if there is no son in the family; if there is no grandson, then the son-in-law can perform the ceremony by accepting the darbha from the daughter of the deceased. When the son-in-law does so, it becomes his duty to do it every year.
The karmic effects of a grandfather’s sins or virtues do not directly pass on to the next generation; we undergo experiences as per our karmic effects. We also get associated with each other through karma. When a grandfather passes away after committing sins it is not a must that the sons or grandsons acquire his sins. He has to undergo whatever he has done. It is due to the effect of karma that the son or grandson takes birth by being related to him. The effects of karma are real, and one has to undergo the effects as per one’s karma, hence the birth.
Any physical relation is according to one’s karma including husband and wife. Emperuman associates each one as per their karmic bond and it takes effect accordingly.