Gaya Shraddham.m4v

Prayage mundam -- Kashi dandam -- Gaya pindam, so goes an ancient saying...(In Prayag get the hair shorn, in Kashi accept the Lord's caning, and in Gaya offer pindam/shraddham rice-balls to ones forefathers). The symbolic rice and sesame offering when done with love and affection reaches the Pitru-Loka. -- three generations of the ones dead parents called Vasus, Grand parents called Rudras and Great Grand parents called Adityas. In a normal Shrardham, 3 pindams are offered (one for each generation which has passed on); in a Teertha Shrardham , as at Kashi, Allahabad, Rameswaram, etc., 16 pindams are offered, including all ancestors on both parents side; in the Gaya Shrardham, 64 pindams are offered, of which 32 are for the mother alone, 16 for the ancestors, and 16 for all others And of the 32 offered for the mother - half is offered at the Vishnu Padam and the other half at Akshaya Vatam. As you will see and hear in the video about why 16 pindams are offered to the mother at each place - for all the pain and sacrifice she willingly underwent during pregnancy, delivery, feeding and raising each child.... it is really a moving experience and is difficult to hold back your tears. The greatest part of this Gaya shraddham (Gaya Yagnam as the purohit says in this video) is, ones offering of the Pindam and the Prayers can cover three generations, relatives, friends, pets, near, far, known, unknown people who might at some point may have touched ones life. As one goes about the Pindam Offering, there is a very great filling feeling of Gratitude. The Gratitude (in offering the pinda and the remembering) is key to render unto oneself and to ones progenies the blessings of the Pitrus and everyone else. Please pardon me for any mistakes in the interpretation of the rituals.