By सनत्कुमार to कृष्ण-द्वैपायन-व्यास in अवन्तिक्षेत्र-माहात्म्य of आवन्त्य-खण्ड of स्कान्दम्हापुराण - The greatness of performing श्राद्धम् in अवन्तिक्षेत्र - Just see the sheer range of categories of dead ones for which one can perform श्राद्धम्.
ये नरा रणमध्यस्थाः पितृवंशविवर्जिताः॥ ३९ ॥ - For those who died amidst a war, for those who have lost their patriline (no succession) or abandoned by it, श्राद्धम् in अवन्तिक्षेत्र offers aid.
गर्भपाते मृता ये च नामगोत्रच्युतास्तथा ।
स्वगोत्रे परगोत्रे वा आत्मघातमृताः परे ॥ ४० ॥ - In the case of one who died during a miscarriage/abortion, one whose name & gotra have fallen [into oblivion/disuse], one of one's own gotra or another who did आत्महत्या.
स्वगोत्रे परगोत्रे वा आत्मघातमृताः परे ॥ ४० ॥ - In the case of one who died during a miscarriage/abortion, one whose name & gotra have fallen [into oblivion/disuse], one of one's own gotra or another who did आत्महत्या.
तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय तत्र श्राद्धं विधीयताम् ।
उद्बन्धनमृता ये च विषशस्त्रैर्मृताश्च ये ॥ ४१ ॥
दंष्ट्रिभिर्व्यंगतो वापि दौर्ब्राह्मण्ये मृताश्च ये ।
तेषामुद्धर णार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते ॥ ४२ ॥
अग्निदग्धाश्च ये जीवा नाग्निदग्धास्तथा परे ॥ ४३ ॥
उद्बन्धनमृता ये च विषशस्त्रैर्मृताश्च ये ॥ ४१ ॥
दंष्ट्रिभिर्व्यंगतो वापि दौर्ब्राह्मण्ये मृताश्च ये ।
तेषामुद्धर णार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते ॥ ४२ ॥
अग्निदग्धाश्च ये जीवा नाग्निदग्धास्तथा परे ॥ ४३ ॥
श्राद्धम् in अवन्तिक्षेत्र is done for the upliftment of one who has hung oneself, one who has been poisoned, one who has been killed by tuskers/sharp-toothed beasts, one who died in the course of being a दुर्ब्राह्मण, one who died in a fire, one who died without cremation.
A whole lot of other categories is mentioned, including those who have gone to terrible hells, those who have died in water, those who have died due to being seized (possessed) by beings such as शाकिनी-s, etc, those who died without शौच or आचार, those who died without children.
More categories for whose upliftment श्राद्धम् in अवन्तिक्षेत्र can be done, including: those for whom human birth has become difficult to attain (stuck in animal or plant realms)+
Ones [known to us] in another birth but had no बन्धु-s, who were our बन्धु-s in another birth, or related to us in another birth, friends or enemies, those from ब्रह्मलोक downwards who suffered an unnatural death (!!), those who became pretas or have become mlecchas.
Had the chance to read this chapter today. Couldn't help but feel that a revival of such sacred तीर्थ-s or क्षेत्र-s & such ancillary श्राध-s will be a source of great blessings for our धर्म. The exact place in अवन्तिक्षेत्र is known as महाकालवन.
One can see that many of the enumerated categories of souls traditionally do not receive the benefit of श्राध-s.
But they are able to receive at the abode of महाकाल, the supreme God who endows with authority all श्रुति-s & स्मृति-s, adds to them or vitiates them partially or even wholly as per His will & limitless sovereignty.
*श्राद्ध-s
*श्राद्ध-s
This is a particular place at Mahākālavana (Ujjayinī) which mirrors Gayākṣetra in Magadhadeśa & contains its own Gayātīrtha as well as a Phalgu-nadi. This Aujjayinīya Gayātīrtha can be seen here: youtu.be
This is where Śraddhās for all kinds of souls can be done.
This is where Śraddhās for all kinds of souls can be done.
*Aujjāyinīya
Loading suggestions...