This is a real story, based in Rajasthan, narrated by the Purvacharya Niranjanadev Tirathji Maharaj to Pujyapad Puri Shankaracharyaji.
There was one well educated but nastika pandit. He had plans to visit some relatives in another town. When his neighbour came to know about the pandit’s travel plans, he requested the pandit to take his son along since they had relatives in the same place. He was happy to offer the cost of travel and more, to the pandit, in case the child was hungry on the way, requesting the pandit to purchase food from the railway platform if need be. Panditji was happy to take the child along.
As soon as the train moved, the child said that he was hungry. Panditji assured him that he will get off at the next platform to buy something to eat and requested him to remain patient. The child slept off in sometime. Once the train stopped, panditji asked the child to get off with him, and select whatever he would like to eat.
The boy unexpectedly replied, “My sons have performed shraddha for me. My stomach is full now, no need to buy anything.”
The nastika pandit was shocked to hear such a statement coming from such a little child. The child also told him that this was the very village he lived in. Owing to the intriguing circumstance, their journey was halted at this station itself.
Panditji took the child with him and asked him to identify the house where he lived in.
The child guided him to the house where there were all signs of a feast having being completed. Plates, glasses, etc., were lying outside, reflecting that food was offered to brahmins and others, after the performance of shraddha.
The child exclaimed, “Look, my children have offered food to the brahmins after performing my shraddha!”
Seeing a pandit and a child at the door, the owner of the house respectfully asked them if they would like to have food or if they needed some assistance. He enquired as to what brought them to his home.
Panditji told the owner the whole story of how the child led them here.
The child pointed out to the gentleman (owner of the house) and said, “This is my son.”
The gentlemen said, “Oh! So you were my father in your last birth? I will believe this if you can tell me the location of a piece of jewellery. While, the records in the register made by my father say that it is in the cupboard, nothing was found there. Rest of the things were found as per what was noted by him.”
The child immediately reached out behind the cupboard, and took out the jewellery the man was seeking.
The gentleman asked, “How could you make this mistake? You wrote that it is kept in the cupboard.”
The child responded, “I was examining the diamond and assessing its value, when someone walked in. So that no one loots this precious jewellery in the future, I quickly hid it behind the cupboard. Then, I fell ill and did not get a chance to keep it inside.”
This story reveals the importance of performing shraddha.
A note on shraddha ritual:
In the Krishnapaksha of Ashvina month, shraddha ritual must be performed towards the ancestors, in accordance to our wealth and authority or adhikar. This act must be undertaken with devotion. Whatever type of birth our parents, grandparents etc., have had, the material offered in the shraddha ritual becomes their food, and reaches them.
Even if our ancestor gets moksha, which is very rare, shraddha still has to be done. The benefits of the ritual, in that case, go the one performing the act.
The death of the body does not cause the death of the jivatma and even though there are differences in various physical bodies, the jivatma remains the same. This principle has to be understood and shraddha, tarpana, etc., must be done.
Our thought while performing shraddha:
Those ancestors who have forgotten me, and I have forgotten them, to all of them, including those belonging to previous births – whatever loka they may be in, whatever form of birth they may have taken, may they receive the food, water, etc., that I am offering to them. In the entire universe, may all sentient beings be satisfied by my offering of food and water.
This is how expansive sanatana dharma is, and our very life embodies the ideal of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam.
Also read: Logic Behind the Shraddha Ritual