Dear Swamiji.
Pranams.
In our Pithru kaaryas, we refer to the deceased father as 'Vasu roopa', grandfather as 'Rudra roopa' and great grandfather as ' Aaditya roopa'. What is the significance of these?
How long do the departed souls reside in the Pitru loka before they return on rebirth?
When some one from the present generation leaves the earth apparently the departed soul becomes 'Vasu', his father' Vasu' becomes 'Rudra' and grandfather 'Rudra' becomes 'Aaditya', for the departed person's son. Again when a paternal uncle and nephew do these karmas the same departed soul (grandfather of the nephew and father of the uncle ) will be 'Vasu roopa' for the uncle and 'Rudra roopa' for the nephew. How the same soul can be in two forms at the same time?
I presume these terms do not refer to Vasus (Ashta), Rudras(Ekadasa), and Aadityas(Dwadasa) referred to in the scriptures as they are divine beings higher in status than the Pitrus. Kindly enlighten me on this.
Pranams once again.
L
Answer
Dear and blessed L,
The second part of your question “how long do the departed souls reside in the pitr loka before their return on rebirth”. This you can say is partly a question concerning me and our life. In the Vedas, they speak of two propositions, one is the experiential, another is the non-experiential. With regard to the non-experiential propositions like heaven, hell, pitr-loka, birth, re-birth etc. there will always be doubt whether it is true or not. Whether the heaven is or not. The doubt can never be removed. We are living in the pratyaksha, experiential empirical world and these concepts are not empirical. Living in an empirical world how can we get an empirical proof for all these things? Because they are items which follow our death here. There are items which exist before birth, whatever is before birth and after death cannot become a matter of concern and meaning for us, because for us the world is valid and actions and consequences here and now alone are valid. So with regard to in-experiential or non-experiential things there always be doubt and the doubt can never be removed.
Knowing that it is so, the right course will be for the discreet man to take up only the experiential items. When you take up the experiential items, the life and the duration between birth and death of the body alone is valid. Live your life in such a manner that you are not troubled at any point of time. Look after your health, by giving it the right nourishment and exercise, in the same manner ensure the health and well-being of your mind begetting the right kind of peace, contentment and poise. Equally so, look after the health of the intelligence by gaining the necessary knowledge, harmony and fulfillment. All these are hundred percent possible.
The moment you start inquiring into the life after death, the existence and condition of pitr’s etc. you will start understanding that all these are simply fictitious, non-existential and illusory. They are all like dream. Nevertheless, these rituals are incorporated so that they will instill a measure of austerity, discipline, godliness and sacrifice in the minds of the performers. And all these are qualities and virtues which everyone needs. They come under three heads, yajna, daana and tapas. Whatever is done in the name of the God, the invisible is yajna. Whatever is given to those who are not related in blood or matrimony is daana. And whatever you incorporate newly in you or you avoid as a daily habit in you that becomes austerity. Austerity is including something additional to your daily routine or dropping something regular as a routine. This austerity can begin from anywhere and reach anywhere. There can be panchagnimadhyatapas also.
So yajna, daana and tapas are the most noble and elevating aspects of human life, which everybody should have. The shraadha is included in this, all forms of prayer become part of it and all forms of austerity are also part of it. It is through yajna, daana and tapas, that the human individual elevates himself, enlightens himself and fulfills himself. Let me know after this (unable to make out).
Love and blessings,
Antaraatma,
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
