I started reading the short version of the Garuda Purana and I got to the part where it talks about things you must do for someone who has died.
I cannot do a lot of these things, but I want to do what I can for any of my family members who pass away. Can someone please tell me, what are the most important things to do for someone who has died, to help their soul?
I was just reading this the other day
Purport for Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 1.41
According to the rules and regulations of fruitive activities, there is a need to offer periodical food and water to the forefathers of the family. This offering is performed by worship of Viṣṇu, because eating the remnants of food offered to Viṣṇu can deliver one from all kinds of sinful actions. Sometimes the forefathers may be suffering from various types of sinful reactions, and sometimes some of them cannot even acquire a gross material body and are forced to remain in subtle bodies as ghosts. Thus, when remnants of prasādam food are offered to forefathers by descendants, the forefathers are released from ghostly or other kinds of miserable life. Such help rendered to forefathers is a family tradition, and those who are not in devotional life are required to perform such rituals. One who is engaged in the devotional life is not required to perform such actions. Simply by performing devotional service, one can deliver hundreds and thousands of forefathers from all kinds of misery. It is stated in the Bhāgavatam (11.5.41):
devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāḿ pitṝṇāḿ
na kińkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan
sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaḿ śaraṇyaḿ
gato mukundaḿ parihṛtya kartam
"Anyone who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, the giver of liberation, giving up all kinds of obligation, and has taken to the path in all seriousness, owes neither duties nor obligations to the demigods, sages, general living entities, family members, humankind or forefathers." Such obligations are automatically fulfilled by performance of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/1/41/en
thanks!
Chandra, Haribol! I don't know if you remember me... we met at the temple in Dallas when I was on spring break. Thank you for the information:]
Oh yes now that there is a
Oh yes now that there is a photo, yes I do.
"what to do when one of dear ones depart?"
in relation to Garud Puran, it enlists various rituals that are supposed to be followed for the 'sadgati', the painless post death life, of the departed soul. But for people of Vaishnavism Krishna Consciousness are not required to follow all the prescribed rituals. For the 'Sadgati' of departed soul only few of Following rituals can be performed:
A) 'Saptahaparayanam' , week long recital of Sreemad Bhagvatam Mahapuranam, followed by Gayatri homa and feeding of Vaishnavas at the end of it.
B) 12 Lac Harinaam Sankeertan Yagya, means reciting Mahamantra
||Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Hare ||
||Hare Rama Hare Rama Hare Rama Hare Hare ||
12,00,000 times. This can be done by any no of devotees at same time in the residence of the departed.
C) Recital of Garud Puranam in 10 days immediately after the death of the dear ones.
D) 'Pindadaan' the cerimonial offerings to the departed at Gaya, Vrindavana, Mathura, Dwarka or at any Vishnava Shrine.
if any of these rituals are performed the departed soul can live in peace.
At the feets of Divinity
""great insignia of divinity""
Varun Nigam
Call devotees and everybody
Call devotees and everybody else and have Hare Krsna kirtan.
Then distribute prasadam to all. Serve prasadam to the departed soul as well.
Have more kirtan.