Contents
1. Importance of performing Shraddhaby oneself
3. Performance of Shraddhaby women
1. Importance of performing Shraddha by oneself
‘Ideally, the host should perform the ritual of Shraddha by himself. However, since we do not know how to perform it, we get it done through the priest (Brahmin). Nowadays, it has become difficult to get priests for performing Shraddha. As a solution to this, one can procure the holy texts that describe the ritual and learn it by heart. This text is in Sanskrit. Akin to learning other languages, one should also try and learn Sanskrit, which is considered to be God’s language. Also, it is easy to learn Sanskrit.
(Although the point mentioned above is correct, considering the complexity in pronouncing certain Sanskrit words and limitation to understand the rites mentioned in the science, it may not be possible for everyone to perform the ritual as prescribed, by themselves. In such cases one can get the ritual performed through priests and if they are not available, then the ritual can be performed with the help of knowledgeable people in society. One should remember that making the ritual of shraddha is more important – Compiler).
2. Hindu Dharma that does not give any cause for excuse for not performing shraddha due to the absence of a particular person!
Son (including the one whose threading ceremony has not been done), daughter, grandson, great grandson, wife, daughter’s son (if he is one of the heirs), real brother, nephew, cousin’s son, father, mother, daughter-in-law, son of elder and younger sisters, maternal uncle, anyone in the seven generations and from the same lineage (sapinda), anyone after the seven generations and belonging to the same family domain (samanodak), disciple, priests (upadhyay), friend, son-in-law of the deceased person can perform Shraddha in that order.
In case of a joint family, the eldest and earning male person should perform Shraddha. In case of the unit family, everyone should perform shraddha independently.
Hindu Dharma has made arrangement so that for each and every dead person the shraddha can be performed so as to give momentum to that person to progress to a higher sub-plane. Holy text Dharma Sindhu mentions that, ‘If a particular dead person does not have any relative or a close person, then it is the duty of the king to perform Shraddha for that person’.
3. Performance of Shraddha by women
1. In point2 it is mentioned that the daughter, wife, mother and daughter-in-law of the deceased person have the authority to perform Shraddha. In spite of this, in the current era, the priests who conduct Shraddha deny their consent for women to perform Shraddha. This could be because in the earlier days the thread ceremony was performed for females, and in current era, this practice has been discontinued in all classes. Therefore, in accordance to that, even performing of Shraddha has been disallowed for females. In emergency conditions, however, if no one is available for performing Shraddha, then it is better for it to be performed by women instead of not performing it at all.
2. The woman performing shraddha should place a clean cotton cloth on her shoulder while performing ‘Savya-Apasavya’
Reference : Sanatan’s Holy text ‘Shraddha’
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Can a married sister perform avidhava navami shraddha of her mother if her brother is alive?
Namaskar,
As per Dharmashastra, Shraddha has to be performed by the son of the departed. As per the order given in the article regarding other alternatives, a daughter cannot perform Shraddha rites if her brother is alive.
Regards,
Sanatan Sanstha
What if the brother who is alive refuses to do so or is not in a position himself to perform Shraddha.
Namaskar Shreya ji,
In such a situation, you can make the Sankalp, but you will have to appoint a representative and get the shraddha vidhis performed through him.
What if the daughter is elder than the sons
Namaskar,
A humble request to you. Can you complete your question?
an unmarried eleder son whose younger brother is married, i hear that shradha performed by such person is notfruitful. is it true?
Namaskar Ramesh ji,
An unmarried person whose younger brother is married can also perform the Shraddha rituals.
Regards,
Sanatan Sanstha
I am the only daughter of my deceased parents. Can my husband do Sradham on my behalf?
Namaskar,
You can ask other male members of the family to do the shraddha of your father (like uncle, cousin etc).
My mother did shradh work of her father in 3.5 days as per Hindu Mythology. And my late grandfather has one younger married son too.
But for male it is 13 days to perform shradhh.
So I want to know whether is it mandatory for daughter son(grandson) to attend shraddh at that time again?
Namaste,
Post-death rites are performed for 13 days. Shraddha is performed for one day.
MIL passed away March 2020 and FIL in Feb 2018. My husband was doing it for his father till 2020, but refuses to do shraddam anymore -says he doesn’t believe in it. MILs first year is coming in 2 weeks. Can I do them ? Pls help.
Namaskar,
You can give “Amanna” (dry food that is food grains etc) to purohit or vedpathshala or Goshala or temple (in this order). This is called as AamShraddha. You can do sankalp and perform this Shraddh.
For complete details about this Shraddh, please refer point 2A in the article on the following link : https://www.sanatan.org/en/a/109582.html
Pray earnestly that the offering be received by the ancestors.
Can daughters(no son) perform Shraddha? If yes, can you please let us know the procedure
Namaskar,
You can ask other male members of the family to do the shraddha of your father (like uncle, cousin etc).
Is the photograph of a dead person is mandatory to perform adya sraddhya? Moreover which holy text / book cleared the concept of sraddhya? Veda / Brammana / Aranyaka / Upanishad ?
Namaskar,
The vidhi which is performed on the 11th day after demise is called Adya Masik (not Adya Shraddha). For Shraddha vidhi, photo of the deceased is not required.
In Dharmasindhu, rules of Shraddha are given.
What about the wife of the deceased who do not have children or any relatives?
Namaskar,
The wife can do sankalp and perform Shraddha for her husband through the medium of a Brahmin.
Can a girl on her periods perform shradh pooja for her deceased parents?
Namaskar,
No, she should not perform the ritual during this period.
Who should do shradha of my deceased mother, my father or, My elder brother who is married.
Namaskar Shri. Umesh ji,
If your father is alive, then he should perform Shraddha for your mother.
My wife had lost her father long back. My wife lost her mother recently and all the last rites were performed by her paternal uncle since my wife is the only child to her parents. However, since her uncle is also old, he cannot perform the annual Shraddha. In this case how do we get the Shraddha done? Who has the right to perform Shraddha?
Namaskar,
You can do the Shraddha rites for your wife’s parents. You can do sankalp and perform the shraddha on her behalf.
Namaskarah Mahodaya,
Dhanyavaadaah for your reply. But as I am the eldest son to my parents, they have reservation on I doing the Shraddha for my mother-in-law. In that case can my have the right to perform Shraddha for her mother? Pls guide us.
Namaskar,
Yes, you can perform shraddha for your parents as well as for your wife’s parents also.
I have lost my only son, we are divorced parents. First shraadh was done by us together. For future anniversaries can I do it on my own? Where and how should it be done?
Namaskar Poornima ji,
The father has the right to do his child’s Shraddha. Even after divorce, the father is expected to do his child’s shraddha or other rituals. But, if the mother wants to do it, and because after divorce it is not possible for her to do everything at the father’s place, then she can do tarpan for the child (through the medium of a purohit), or give Amanna (dry food that is food grains etc) to purohit or vedpathshala or Goshala or temple (in this order), or donate a specific amount.
Namaskar,my parents and in-laws left this world long ago.my brothers and husband don’t believe in performing shradh every year but I want to do it. Please guide me is it possible that I can do shradh for my parents and in-laws, if yes , how? 🙏
Namaskar,
You can do sankalp and perform Shraddha for them through the medium of a Brahmin.
Or you can give Amanna (dry food that is food grains etc) to purohit or vedpathshala or Goshala or temple (in this order), or donate a specific amount. This is called as ‘Aam Shraddha’.
i am recently divorced but i had a very good relation with my mother in law. she was like a mother to me. can i continue doing shrad for her?
Yes, you can do.
Namaskar, my wife’s mother passed away in 2021. Her younger brother (only son) does not want to do the shraddha. My wife is the eldest daughter is very anxious for it to be performed and would like to do it by herself through the medium of a brahmin. Please let us know if there are places in Karnataka where this can be possible. If not, Karnataka please let us know which other places allow shraddha by women. Thank You.
Namaskar Shri. Nandu ji,
You can perform shraddha for your deceased mother-in-law. Else, your wife can do the sankalp and get the shraddha performed through a priest (brahmin).
Husband died early. Widow wife died next leaving married daughters. Who can perform Shradha of that widow mother?
Namaskar Shri. Parimal Kumar Datta ji,
A son-in-law can perform shraddha for his mother-in-law. Or if the widow mother’s husband has a brother, then he (or his family) can also perform shraddha for her. Please take opinion of the local priests (purohits) also, since there can be variations due to local customs and traditions.
I have elder brother but he is not able to perform shradh. I am married.. n I have been donating n offering to my deceased mother every year. Is my offer n donation fruitful? what do I do for mooksh of my mother? please help me
Namaste Chandra ji,
If your father is still alive, then your father should perform the Shraddha. If your father is no longer alive, then you can call a priest and perform the Shraddha.
Warm regards,
Sanatan Sanstha