Any god is formless. When Brahman Himself is formless, how can there be forms to gods? For this answer, there is a natural question. Then why we have forms, when you say that Brahman is formless?One should understand the basic difference between Brahman and gods. Brahman is Supreme and from Him alone everything originate. For example, there is the Self within my body and my body misrepresents Brahman within, by wrongly projection me as Ravi, a person with a form. But what is the reality? My body is only a sheath that covers Brahman within and everyone calls me Ravi due to māyā. But for a realized person, I am also Brahman, as he sees beyond three types of bodies, gross, subtle and causal. Gods and goddesses that we speak of are energy levels created by Brahman to sustain the universe. How do we know that a departed soul moves from the earth to the heaven or hell, if they are there. How do we know that the soul moves from Vasu to Rudra and Rudra to Adithya. We will never know this. When the soul leaves the body, it carries with it, the impressions of subconscious mind, where karmas are stored. When the karma is ripe enough, the subconscious mind enters into another body. Soul acts only as a propeller, as without soul, the subconscious mind cannot move. Based on these factors, we say that soul merely remains as a witness. I have written in detail about this in several places in this site.

It is always a ticklish situation and cannot be explained unilaterally. There are two kinds of people. First group comprises of spiritually advanced persons and the second group comprises of rituals oriented. Former believe God is within and the later has not matured enough to look for the God within. They continue to live in the world duality (dvaita). They also will transform one day either in this birth or in future births. Therefore, this needs to be explained from the points of view of both. For ritual oriented persons, all the rituals, prescribed in dharma śāstra-s, they have to necessarily carry out all the rituals for the first 13 days. If they do not, their conscience will hurt them. But monthly rituals are only later developments and need not be done, as these rituals for the whole year are done during the first 13 days. Obviously, these people have to do yearly ceremonies. But the perception of realized souls are totally different. This is based not only on truth revealed by Upaniṣad-s, but also on logic. First question, who are you? You are the Self, you are Brahman. They confidently know they are Brahman. They also know that no power in the universe can do away their accrued karmas; their karmas are to be experienced only by them. For the Self within, no body can do ceremonies. It is like undermining God Himself. Therefore, absolutely there is no need to perform any ceremonies for the dead. Vedas too never ask anyone to perform ceremonies either at the time of death or later. There are some Vedic mantras, about which I have explained already in this site. Further, one f the thriving businesses is performing last rites. Priests ruthlessly demand huge money and if money is paid, they do perform anything in order and skip many mantras. By giving money to someone who is worthless, the giver also accrues bad karmas. For such people, these ceremonies have no significance. I do not perform any of these ceremonies. But, I served my parents during their old age and always ensured that they spend their old age happily and gracefully. Both of them died instantaneously, in my presence. I have the satisfaction of serving my parents and there can be no happiness than this. There is no need for me to perform any rituals to them. I know very well, they will bless me. Why should I waste money and accrue bad karmas too by paying to someone, who is not worthy of it. It is always better to go with your conscience and spiritual intellect.

I have one more questsion. According to our vedic mantras we have a particular form for each God or Goddess. Where as in case of pithru devatas, say Vasu Rudra and Adithya - do they have a form or they are formless?

Thank you so much for your reply Sir, The main belief of giving birth to a male child in the family is that he will do the pithru karyas so that the departed souls of the family will get mukti or any sort of relief. Nowerdays I see many are not doing any shraddha karmas even though they have taken birth in a family which has all the hindu culture. Due to various reasons I have seen in my own family they are not interested in doing these pithru karmas. After the 13th day ceremony they straight away do the yearly ceremony and later on forget that also. This is really pity. In these conditions what will be the condition of the departed soul do you think it has to suffer?

One your desire to do sadhana is primary and Guru's will is secondary. A Guru will know on seeing the disciple, what is right for him.

One your desire to do sadhana is primary and Guru's will is secondary. A Guru will know on seeing the disciple, what is right for him.

Can you please let me know who is eligible to get the initiation of Panchadasi mantra. What criteria a person should have.

Can you please let me know who is eligible to get the initiation of Panchadasi mantra. What criteria a person should have.

Please contact me at ravi@manblunder.com

Please contact me at ravi@manblunder.com