My paternal uncle (Father’s younger brother) had attained the divine feet of Acharya; what are the karmic duties that I have to follow? Am I allowed to worship at kshetrams and hilly Divya Desam? Can I celebrate festivals and render service to Perumal?
Vidwan’s reply:
After the demise of your paternal uncle, you would have performed kuzhi tharpanam, and observed theetu which is sufficient.
Only the karta should not visit kshetrams, take a holy dip in the sacred waters, and should not visit hilly Divya Desam for a year; and it is not for others.
You can celebrate festivals in a low-key manner since whatever we do, we do it for the sake of Perumal hence we have to celebrate it simply (ordinary manner).
Why do we not use thulasi, neem, or lotus bead garlands during japam? What garland should women use during japam?
Vidwan’s reply:
Have heard our elders saying that it is superior to maintain count with the fingers during a japam; further, it appears our elders have not used any type of garlands for japam. It appears that the best way for both males and females should keep counting with fingers during japam; this way our concentration will be better.
Is varnashrama due to birth or karma (karma in this birth)? If it is due to karma, can one not become a Brahmin simply by performing the duties of a Brahmin? Are there any statements or text as a basis for this? Kindly clarify.
Vidwan’s reply:
Varnashrama is due to one’s birth. Apasthambha’s statement “chatvArO varNA: brAhmaNakshatriyavaishyashUdrA teshAmpUrvaspUrva:” is the pramAnam.
Are there any stipulations for changing the sacred thread (Yagnopavitam)? For example, must it be worn before partaking food or before Madhyanikam?
Vidwan’s reply:
Usually, the Yagnopavitam is changed in the early part of the day or forenoon; it is a practice to continue with daily prescribed duties after changing Yagnopavitam. It is better to perform Madhyanikam after changing the Yagnopavitam.
Can we include a new Dwaraka Shila along with Salagrama Perumal-s to perform Tiruvaradhanam? Are there any stipulations to be followed like consecrating it, etc.?
Vidwan’s reply:
One can certainly include the new Dwaraka Shila along with Salagrama Perumal-s to perform Tiruvaradhanam. During the first time, it is enough to perform Tiruvaradhanam with milk.
At home on Dwadasi day, for Acharya Paduka aradhanam, can we use the same divine bell used during Perumal aradhanam? Or must we use a separate divine bell?
Vidwan’s reply:
For Paduka aradhanam, it is not a practice to use any material used during a Perumal aradhanam, and separate materials are used.
Can we use 2 different divine bells at home?
Vidwan’s reply:
Usually, our elders have only one divine bell at home. If 2 different bells are to be utilized at home, there must be a person dedicated to using the divine bell. Due to this, our elders maintain one divine bell at home for Tiruvaradhanam.
When an elder brother and a younger brother happen to perform the annual oblation ceremony of a father separately, in whose house must the mother be present? Kindly explain the method to follow.
Vidwan’s reply:
If the elder and younger brother need to perform their father’s annual oblation ceremony separately, the mother must mandatorily be with either of the sons. If she cannot be with any of the sons, she must perform the ceremony on her own.
While the mother is alive, can the Gaya shraddham be performed for the deceased father after the first death anniversary? Can the younger son perform Gaya shraddham before the elder son due to travel conveniences?
Vidwan’s reply:
It is not wrong to do Gaya shraddham after the first death anniversary of the father, but one has to go again to offer pindam at Gaya when the mother attains Paramapadam.
Looks like it is not wrong if the younger son performs rites at Gaya before the elder son does.
We are reconstructing the independent house that we live in as a flat; we have been told there is no need to do gruhapravesam again as it has been done for the house and it is enough that we just perform shanti homam and ritual boiling of milk at the reconstructed house; what is appropriate to follow?
Vidwan’s reply:
As you are demolishing the existing house to reconstruct it as a flat, the vastu will change; hence it is better to perform gruhapravesam, and the ritual boiling of milk alone is not sufficient. I have seen the practice of elders performing gruhapravesam as part of their austerities.
Should we consume agathi keerai only on Dwadasi or shall we partake them on other days as well?
Vidwan’s reply:
Agathi keerai should be consumed during Dwadasi; it can be used during shraddha and amavasyai days; but it can also be used as a medicine during other days.
In Munitraya tradition, we observe fasting during occasions like Ekadasi, Shravana Dwadasi, Sri Rama Navami, Sri Narasimha Jayanthi, Srijayanthi and once on the days of eclipses, if the eclipse ends after sunset. The day after such days, should we cook food according to the paranai menu or as per the cooking on normal days?
Vidwan’s reply:
We cook food as per the paranai menu only following Ekadasi, Srirama Navami, Sri Narasimha Jayanti, Srijayanthi, etc.; we do not add tamarind for paranai; partaking food after an eclipse is forbidden hence during eclipses a householder does not take food, which is not fasting. If the sunsets during eclipse, there is no paranai after the eclipse ends.
Adiyen’s mother-in-law attained the divine feet of Perumal 15 days ago; what are the austerities that adiyen and adiyen’s husband should follow?
Vidwan’s reply:
Masyam and Oonam have to be done without fail.
Purity in food must be maintained to the extent possible; eating outside food should be avoided, we can eat food at our relative’s house provided the purity is maintained. Orthodox people will not take food other than from their home due to its purity, any other food outside of the home is called para-annam.
During the first year, one should not visit hilly Divya Desam, not go on pilgrimages, not take a bath in the ocean; these are to be avoided so that masyam can be performed without any hindrance.
Masyam and maintaining purity are important; besides, one can continue the daily austerities and worship Perumal.
Note: If the question is asked by the elder, they have to perform all the masikam, oonam austerities; if the query is from younger brother, it is enough that they assist the elder in all such rituals.
My daughter and future son-in-law have undergone pancha samskaram and bharanyasam; can we conduct the wedding at other religious halls like Jain Hall, etc.?
Vidwan’s reply:
It is better to conduct them at a divine place or kshetram.
These days not everyone gets the opportunity to conduct them at holy places. The rent we pay to conduct at such halls can be taken as kraya suddhi.
One can perform punyahavachanam before conducting other rituals.
