In the last discourse, almost all topics regarding Shraadh have been explained. Now we shall tell you the three main powers on which this Human life depends and the importance of Pitrs in this context. We shall also explain how this age old practice is for the welfare of all mankind.

It is a law that any non-living thing will only work when a living energy is introduced. It for this reason that the glory and splendor of the Lord is spread in nature.
The three main branches in which we can broadly classify PRAKRITI are:

ADHYATMIK-concerned with knowledge
ADHIDAIVIK----concerned with action
ADHIBHAUTIK----concerned with physical (pertaining to the gross body)

Let us understand this:
A ruler generally makes three departments for the welfare of his kingdom.
1. Education
2. Law
3. Organization (in which health is also an important branch)

In the same manner the Lord who is the ruler of this great universe also has three departments.
KNOWLEDGE, KARMA and HEALTH.

As in the educational institutes we have Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, we have the RISHIS as the main heads of the education department of the LORD.
In the Law department in our world we have Judges and lawyers who manage the legal affairs and in the universe, the KARMA department is handled by the DEVGANS (the messengers of Devtas).
In real life we have the commissioners, collectors, chief ministers and governors to manage the affairs of the state and in health department, there are health officers and doctors.
The universe that the Lord has created also has a special Health Department which is run by the PITRGANS.

It should be remembered that in the days when the Knowledge department was in the hands of the Rishis, we saw the appearance of learned people. The Rishis remain happy only when the people immerse themselves in study and try to accumulate knowledge.

It is with the grace of the Rishis that a newborn child gradually learns all that has to be learnt. The Rishis of the old ages inspired the youth to study.
The young were taught at the Guru's place and when they returned home and settled in the family, they continued to assimilate knowledge that helped them to live the life of a householder. When they entered old age, they were able to delve into the study of the Atma and Brahman.

To sum up, it was with the grace of the Rishis that the field of our knowledge was nurtured. In the past we have depended on this grace but we notice the lack of it in today's world. This is because we have stopped the study of our scriptures and have become lazy; thus the flow of grace that we received from the Rishis has stopped.

The interested and keen student is always blessed by the Education department and naturally loved more than the others. Special favours and gifts are granted in our schools and colleges to the studious. The manifold benefits that are granted by the Rishis is worthy to mention. The studious are awarded and the lazy are ignored by the Rishis.

If we have to bring back glory and progress in the department of Education, we should pursue studies and please the Rishis and obtain their grace.

Let us consider why Europe is at the peak of Knowledge.

In the past, the Indians received the grace of the Rishis but now we find that the Europeans are receiving that grace. The reason is simple, the Europeans spend a lot of their time in pursuit of studies, thus pleasing the Rishis. They have even studied our ancient scriptures 'Vedas' and spread its knowledge all over the world.

People like Max Mueller, Roth Keith, Eglin, Oldenberg, Griffith have studied the Vedas and accumulated all the information by deep study and then have translated the teachings in their own languages.

There was intense study of the four Vedas and the texts were published and a comparative study was also done with the other scriptures. This is called total love for studies.

Why were the Rishis not pleased with these people for their devotion to education?
A historian has written that it seems that Max Mueller is a reincarnation of SAYANACHARYA -a Rishi who lived 700 years ago!
Just as Sayanacharya spread the fame and knowledge of the Vedas years ago, Max Mueller has done it in the 20th century. It is due to the efforts and grace that these learned people have obtained from the Rishis that Europe has progressed.

We all know that Europe was not as civilized as it is now. Since people like Max Mueller have been born, we noticed a steady growth in Europe. These people gave importance to the study of the scriptures and hence were blessed by the Rishis.

Science too progressed and we saw many inventions and discoveries in Europe. People like Newton were born in Europe, who, through deep study unfolded many mysteries of nature.

Why is Hitler such a force to reckon with these days although he has a small army?
(Note: Swamiji had delivered this discourse in 1939 in Ahmedabad)


To summarize, it must be said that study and education can bring intellect and progress to an individual or to a nation because Rishis are benevolent to the race that is immersed in studies.

These days in our country, people concentrate on acquiring physical might but ignore education and self study. We may find strong people like "GAMA" in India. But in Europe we can find a person like "JIVISKO" who was an athlete and a graduate. People understand the importance of education. In India we find that education is for the purpose of employment and not for invention or discovery.

Thus, when we are not inclined towards education, how shall we receive the grace of the Rishis?

The reason we were praising the Europeans was just to bring our attention to the laziness that has crept into our country. We have to let go of this apathy and strive towards progress by immersing in deep studies.

The person, nation, race or society that strives towards education becomes a blessing to the universe. These are the powers of RISHIGAN. They are capable of bestowing unlimited grace.

Now we shall see how the DEVGANS affect our life.
By performing Yagnas and other rituals, we can receive the grace of DEVGANS.
As and when our Karmas become purified and effective, we will become recipients of grace.

It is common knowledge that if we want to please a person who is HEAD of a department, then we need to be in his good books. The Devtas will also be pleased if we perform Vedic Karmas and Yagnas etc.
In Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta Chapter 3 verse 12:-
We learn that Prajapati Brahmdev ordained that we perform Yagnas to please the Devtas so that we can progress and get their blessings. It seems Brahmdev had asked us to negotiate and trade with the Devtas by performing Yagnas (as if it were a passport or a visa). The Devtas are grateful to bless us in return and thereby to fill our life with happiness and wealth.

They might give us a ticket for MOKSHA if they are truly pleased. But now we seem to have forgotten this message and promise of Prajapati and therefore we are devoid of their blessings. It is easy to be surrounded by problems and forget the message. Thus it is necessary that we remain alert.

The third power that rules us are the PITRGANS.

They are the head of the health and age department.
The changing of seasons (ritus) is also the jurisdiction of the Pitrs.

If we perform Shraadh and other rituals, we can keep them happy so that they will take proper care of the change of seasons thereby keeping us healthy and free of diseases.

When the Pitrs remain unhappy the weather condition is not conducive to good health. Pitrs are like our doctors and physicians. They are the ones who can give us a health certificate.

When we seek a job we have to produce a health certificate after completing all other formalities. All our degrees will go to waste if the doctor does not give a clean chit regarding our health. In the jurisdiction of the Lord; the Pitrs are indeed our doctors. They take the responsibility right from the time when we are in the womb of the mother.

The Pitrs are responsible to endow a healthy body to the mother to be able to produce a healthy baby. The Pitrs thus give us this gross body. Only when they are pleased shall we have a healthy and beautiful body.

A machine that is correctly manufactured will have a long run. In the same way, our body can be healthy if the Pitrs are happy with us. In the olden days, youth were strong and good looking, which showed that the Pitrs were indeed happy with the performance of Shraadh.

Thus if we Indians remain steady and perform shraadh, we will never have to undergo any health problems.

PITRS UPAASANA is indeed Universal Brotherhood.

Swamiji says: The gratification of the Pitrs is indeed the gratification of the universe. A health officer does not take care of only his family. He takes the responsibility of everyone's health without any bias. Pitrs are just like these health officers who look after all the departments of Health. They worry about the health of the world at large.

When we perform Shraadh we are not only taking care of our health but also of all mankind. A person can do good for the entire universe sitting in any corner of the world. When we look after every individual it is implied that we care for the whole world. Our Rishis have said that we can merge our Atma with the whole world by performing Shraadh and dedicating our rituals to everyone.

All the rituals point to this VASUDEV KUTUMBAKAM feeling. This whole world (vasudha) is one big family (kutumb).

At the beginning, we invoke all our ancestors by sitting on the Kusha grass. By reciting the mantras, we call our family, the mother's family and all our friends. This shows that the mantras are for the benefit of all mankind.
In the next mantras, the invocation is to Brahman, all the Devtas, Rishis and dead relatives.

A prayer is sent for their gratification and also for those who may be anywhere in the 7 continents as they may be related to us in some birth or the other. If we consider past life, then we are sure to be connected to someone or the other in the entire universe.

We could have been born time and again in any corner as any species.

In the 8.4 million species that are in this world, we have surely been related to each other as a mother, son, daughter or friend at some point of time. When reciting such an intention with the Vedic Mantras, are we not spreading the Universal Brotherhood message.

The people today fail to understand this deep meaning and thus fail to perform Shraadh. It is the duty of one and all to continue this ritual which is for the welfare of everyone.



THE MYSTERY OF KAAK BALI - CROW
We Indians offer grains to the crow (kaak bali) which proves the universal brotherhood feeling. Today people often ask the reason for feeding a crow during Shraadh.

How do the ancestors get gratified by the mere feeding of a scavenger bird?
Are the ancestors related to the crows in anyway?
Kaak Bali reflects the love for the universe.

This practice states very categorically the love Indians have for the entire human race. Generally people even hate to hear the irritating caw-caw of the crow and sometimes consider it a bad omen. If one is to witness the crow mating, it is considered as a signal of impending death.

Among all the birds, the crow is considered a harbinger of sorrow. We never hear of anyone keeping a crow as a pet. In spite of this, the crow is offered food during Shraadh. What could be the reason for this?

By offering Bali food, we are proclaiming that all beings are a part of the Lord -AMRATSYA PUTRA. We are all the children of that one Father so why shall we not show love for all the living beings.

Why can we not consider our Atma to be part of the Universal Atma?
It is to illustrate this viewpoint that the food is offered to a lowly bird like a crow during Shraadh. The Hindus thus show that they are broad minded and generous when it comes to acknowledging Universal Brotherhood.

Another very interesting reason given for the crow is that it symbolizes the God of Death, Yamraj who is also black in colour and is fond of all black things. He has a black buffalo as his mode of transport and his attendants are all black in colour.

During the Shraadh ritual, black sesame is mixed with water to offer oblations.
Thus we see the crow has come to be known as a messenger of Yamaraj (the Lord of death) on earth.

The crow is expected to eat the food offered and when he does that, it means that the deceased is left with no attachments in this world. If somehow the crow does not eat the food offered, it indicates that the deceased is yet attached to the world.

To summarize, we offer food to the crow to please the Lord of Death. When he is pleased, he will not give much trouble to our ancestors.

PANCHMAHAYAGYA and its meaning

Swamiji says, there are several ways we can describe the universal brotherhood feeling in our culture.

Our scriptures indicate 5 yagyas that have to be performed on a daily basis. The fruit of these 5 daily yagyas is not only for the individual who performs it but indirectly benefits all living beings.

In the Manu Smriti - (3-70)
Manu Maharaj says the 5 mahayagas to be performed daily are:
1. Brahm Yagya
2. Pitr Yagya
3. Dev Yagya
4. Bhoot Yagya
5. Manushya Yagya

Teaching and learning is the Brahm Yagya.
The Rishis of ancient times have filled our scriptures with a wealth of knowledge through intense penance. It thus becomes necessary for us to pursue the studies and also to distribute that knowledge.

The daily rituals that we perform are Dev Yagyas.

Bhoot yagya is performed daily when we offer food to the cow, dog or a crow.

When we look after and honour the guests at home it is known as Manushya Yagya.

People are afraid of divine punishment if the above are not performed and indirectly the performance of these daily rituals prevents laziness from creeping into the life of a person.

As mentioned earlier, in a householder's life, there are 5 sins accrued on a daily basis:

• While cooking food
• While sweeping the floor
• While grinding masalas
• While filling water for drinking
• While grinding grain

A householder's life would not be possible without performing the above actions on a daily basis.

A sin would not be so grave if we accept it. Hindus accept the fact that we do sin on a daily basis knowingly or unknowingly and thus try and atone for it.

Shraadh that is performed on a daily basis is Pitr Yagya - one of the 5 mandatory yagyas.

This helps our Atma merge with the all pervading Atma in the universe.


23^RD OCTOBER 1938