KAINKARYA CHARITABLE TRUST

"HIS HOLINESS CHANDRASEKARENDRA SARASWATHI SWAMIGAL", the MAHAPERIYAVA of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in one of his discourses enlightens us about the performance of the last rites to the departed souls. Talking extensively on the need of the Pretha Samskaram, HE questions, should we not offer due tribute to a person, who had done a lot of good deeds using his body? Explaining in detail on this, an individual can perform lot of yagas and yagnas himself to relate to his merits and demerits (Papa and Punya) but cannot perform his final yagna, the Antha Ishti where his body is offered back to the Lord who created it.

HE concludes that the body which is the greatest creation of God should be returned to HIM with due respects after it is dead. While the relatives perform the final yagna, the last rites, for the departed soul, HE questions the plight of the destitute or orphans who have no relatives. Under these circumstances he directs that it is the responsibility of the members of the society to perform the last rites of such orphans. He emphasizes that it is a sin to dispose of the bodies without any rites as done by the authorities of Municipal and Panchayat.

In his words, “Doing Paropakaram" (social service) itself is equivalent to performing Ashwamedha Yaga. And with that we can get the grace of Ambal, I have till not told you which Paropakaram gives the same benefits as that of performing an Ashwamedha Yaga! What Paropakaram is that? The answer is Pretha Samskara. It is the most supreme amongst all Paropakarams. Shastra says “Anatha Pretha Samskarath Ashwamedha Phalam Labet” When we help perform Pretha Samskara for orphaned or unclaimed bodies, it saves us from committing the impending sins and thus helps us help our own selves too. On the death of an orphan, irrespective of the religion or caste he belongs to, we must help is own community in doing the Pretha Samskara rituals as stipulated for the community. One should take special interest and liberally offer money and inputs to the bereaved family to carry out Pretha Samskara rituals as per Shastras.