Thread by @SparesofWar

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi Thank you, Chits :) This is a slightly complex topic, but I will explain to my best possible knowledge to set a basic premise without diverting too much.
I think most of the confusion stems from not knowing the concept of pinda pradhaana in a holistic sense. 1/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi People tend to just think of it as just another ritual and a "compulsion" of sorts instead of understanding the gravity of it and what it means for not just their ancestors but also for their future generations. 2/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi Devakaaryadapi sadaa pitrukaryam vishishyate
Devataabhya pitrunaam hi purrvamaapyayanam shubham acc to Garuda Puranam. Pitrukaryam is always more important than even Devakarya i.e. pujas, krathus, vrathas, etc.; satisfying Pitrus prior to satisfying Devathas is more auspicious.

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi To understand the reasoning behind this, one must first know the elaborate system of Pitru ganas, the associated Devatas, how a deceased person becomes a Pitru in the first place, and how they influence all that happens in our lives. That is a topic for another day. however. 4/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi Suffice to stay for starters that the entire Pitru loka is an aspect of Paramatma Himself. In fact, Ambal, in the form of Swaaha Devi nourishes the Devas and in the form of Swadha Devi nourishes the entire Pitru loka. 5/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi Now coming to pinda daana. Think of it as a currency exchange system. You may have copious funds, but no matter how rich you are, no one in the US will accept money in INR. It has to be converted into local currency.
Yadaahara bhavanchyethe pitaro yatra yonishu. 6/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi When one does this with sincerity and in accordance with one's present state (this is very imp.), the pinda is converted into the nourishment of the corresponding loka. For example, if the person's ancestors have attained Swarga, the Pitru vyavastha converts it into Amrutam 7/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi If, unfortunately, that person has become a Pisacha, this pindam will be converted into blood. Not just that. Even the pindas offered by one's children from the previous janma ensure that one is able to get food in the present one. 8/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi Now comes the question who can offer pinda daanam. For pitru karyas to be effective, it has to be done in accordance with the Sastras with proper mantra intonations and following due rituals. This is important as Mantras are verily Devathas in aural form. 9/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi So, one should treat them in the manner described in Vedic customs and our sense of equality, right/wrong, translations, do's/don'ts should not be applied here as this is not a worldly affair. 10/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi In the same Garuda Purana, Narayana says,
Putra: poutra: prapoutrou va tadbhrata bhratrusanthathi: |
Sapinda santatirvaapi kriyaarh: khaga jnaataya ||
Oh knowledgeable among Khagas (Garuda), son, grandson, great grandson, brother, bro's progeny, and all those in sapinda can 11/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi perform pitrukaryas. Also included are samanodaka (7 gens after the departed but belonging to the same lineage), one's guru, disciple, son in law, and friend. One can even do pindadaanam to orphaned prethas and infact, that is the only equivalent to Aswamedha in Kali Yuga 12/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi In those days, females also underwent upanayana and hence were fully authorized to do pitrukaryas. This practice is not followed much these days for various reasons and hence they usually do not perform the karyas themselves. 13/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi That being said, in circumstances where the entire lineage does not have a male heir, the female can absolutely perfom pitrukaryas. Remember that there are many classes among the pitru ganas themselves and they are ever thirsty. some even drink the water from drying clothes! 14/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi So, instead of totally abstaining from the kriya, it is okay if females take the lead. They can ensure someone is officiating as a male on their behalf and perform the rites and ensure a happy and successful lineage. 15/n

@Sundaramchitra2 @sun_usind @SharadBishnoi05 @MahalaxmiRaman @lakshmianand96 @sriraghavanR @sdjoshi55 @sridhariyer5 @Deepika75578196 @vbanno @achu21in @hindujedi However, as I said before, one's intent also matters. If one is capable, simply doing hiranya sraddham by offering 10 Rs in the hundi and calling it a day will make your ancestors look at you in amazement. They wont curse but they won't be happy either. Hope this helped. n/n