WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A SON?

As per Scriptures, the following are the three important duties of a Son (Putra):

1. Following the words of Parents when they are alive

2. Performance of annual ceremony (SrAddha)

3. Performance of pinda dAnam at GayA

jIvator vAkya karaNat pratyabdam bhUri bhojanAt !

gayAYAm pinda dAnAt ca tribhih putrasya putratA !!

REVIEW OF OUR BOOK : HUMAN VALUES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS" BY BUSINESS LINE

In the Book 2 Byte Column of Business Line dated 14th September,2009, a brief review of our Book " Human Values and Professional Ethics" from an IT perspective has been published.

http://www.blonnet.com/ew/2009/09/14/stories/2009091450050200.htm

WHETHER LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF SVADHARMA IS THE MAIN PROBLEM FACED BY VIPRAS?

It is not that Vipras do not know what is their svadharma . There are many dharma SAstras to explain this. Also there are a few role models.

Most of the Vipras are entangled in the Web of the pressures and pulls of modern living. The moot point is how to balance the karmAnushtANas and the Spiritual pursuits along with the struggle for earning livelihood and maintaining relationship harmony.

WHETHER KANDA RISHI TARPANAM HAS TO BE PERFORMED ONLY DURING UPAKARMA?

KAnda Rishi tarpaNam is part of the nitya karma while performing deva- rishi-pitru tarpaNam.

This has to be done daily along with rishi tarpaNam as part of Brahma yajnam.

WHETHER BRAHMA YAJNA HAS TO BE PERFORMED ONLY DURING UPAKARMA?

According to tradition, Brahma Yajna has two parts. One is recitation of Veda. Another is deva- rishi-pitru tarpaNam.
Brahma Yajna has to be performed on a daily basis after mAdhyAnikam. Alternatively, it can be performed in the order : Brahma Yajna (Vedic recitation) --mAdhyanikam -- deva- rishi-pitru tarpaNam. Please note that this is a nitya karma which has to be done daily. According to TaittirIYa AraNyakam, one who daily performs Brahma Yajna reaches the Brahman. BrahmaNas sAyujyam gacchati. Now since most Brahmins have given up this daily practice, it is being done at least on the day of upAkarma.
One important aspect is that this daily Pitru tarpaNam has also to be performed by a person whose father is alive.

GAYA SRADDHAM, PRATYABDIKA SRADDHAM AND MAHALAYA TARPANAM

As per tradition, one has to perform Pitru tarpaNam for 96 days in a year. This is known as shaNNavati tarpaNam which includes 16 days of mahAlaya tarpaNam.

The annual pratyAbdika SrAddha is different from the one performed at GayA. There is no pramANam for abandoning the annual SrAddha or MahAlaya Tarpanam once GayA SrAddham is done. According to the Scriptures, these have to be performed till one is alive.

REVERENTIAL SALUTATIONS TO THE TEACHER THROUGH THE VOICE OF THE VEDAS

The Vedas glorify the Teacher in many ways.
AcArya devo bhava!
Teacher is God.

athadhi vidyam! Acaryah pUrva rUpam ! antevAsuttara rUpam!
vidYA sandhih ! pracvacanam sandhAnam ! ityadhi vidyam !
Now regarding Learning.
Teacher represents the prior form.
Student represents the posterior form.
Learning is the intermediate form.
Instruction is the connection.
One shall meditate upon Learning as aforesaid.

AcAryAya priyam dhanamAhritya prajA tantum mA vyavachetsIh!
The Student shall offer the fees desired by the Teacher (guru dakshiNA) and shall not cut the thread of his (Student's) lineage.