<!--QuoteBegin-k.ram+Jun 24 2008, 05:11 PM-->QUOTE(k.ram @ Jun 24 2008, 05:11 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A person dying without progeny usually means that no proper last rites were conducted, since antyeShTi and shrAddha are supposed to be performed by a son.
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Ashokji, what is the recourse for such hapless parents?
Also, what do shastras say about marriage outside jaati and kulam? From what I have been told (anecdotally), that such people lose rights to do any shraaddha and anthyesti or ancestors' link gets cut off or something to that effect - True?
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While we wait for Ashok Ji to answer, here is what I had read at some place in mahAbhArata. For one who does not have sons, one of the putrikA* daughters may perform the rites, or her husband, or her son. For a wife, husband may perform it too. If parents don't have a daughter either, they may adopt a dattaka putra or putrikA. If they can not do even this, then they should perform their own shrAddha before dying. They may also instruct a trusted young brAhmaNa to do so after their death (young, so he himself does not die before their death). Other relatives, like nephew etc may do it too.
*putrikA is different from putrI the normal daughter. those who don't have sons should raise one of the daughters like sons, giving her similar education, upbringing, temerament, and marry her to a boy who lives in their own household, and before marriage, the daughter and the groom should promise to give their eldest son to the girls parents as their own spiritual son.
about marriage outside jAti and kulam.
outside jAti: is permissible, though not recommended. thumbrules are this. The girl should always be married in a varNa higher than her own. So, a Sudra girl may marry grooms from other 3, but brAhmaNa girl only a brAhmaNa. However the reverse is naturally permitted. So a kShatriya boy may marry a vaishya girl. All these permitted combinations are called anuloma-vivAha. The reverse that is pratiloma-vivAha where girl comes from the higher varNa - is not permitted, and results in a "loss of jAti" and genetic derioration.
Now, within a varNa. the girl and boy should NOT be from the same gotra. They should also NOT be related from both maternal and paternal sides going as far back as 7 generations. (This ensures a very rich diversity in gene pool!) Marrying a known blood relative (cousin of any sort) is an absolute 'NO'! They should not be from the same village, least neighbours. The last sentance is true about Arya marriage and Deva marriages only, but it might be permitted in other marriage systems. Now, widows may be married too. Especially in kShatriya's if a younger brother of the slain warrior is marriable, the widow may take him as a new husband.
Most of the above is from mahAbhArata. There are some variations in it as per different shAstra-s.
So in the case of the loss of jAti, it sounds reasonable than the lineal linkage is severed. Not sure completely what is its impact on the last rites.
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Ashokji, what is the recourse for such hapless parents?
Also, what do shastras say about marriage outside jaati and kulam? From what I have been told (anecdotally), that such people lose rights to do any shraaddha and anthyesti or ancestors' link gets cut off or something to that effect - True?
[right][snapback]83270[/snapback][/right]
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While we wait for Ashok Ji to answer, here is what I had read at some place in mahAbhArata. For one who does not have sons, one of the putrikA* daughters may perform the rites, or her husband, or her son. For a wife, husband may perform it too. If parents don't have a daughter either, they may adopt a dattaka putra or putrikA. If they can not do even this, then they should perform their own shrAddha before dying. They may also instruct a trusted young brAhmaNa to do so after their death (young, so he himself does not die before their death). Other relatives, like nephew etc may do it too.
*putrikA is different from putrI the normal daughter. those who don't have sons should raise one of the daughters like sons, giving her similar education, upbringing, temerament, and marry her to a boy who lives in their own household, and before marriage, the daughter and the groom should promise to give their eldest son to the girls parents as their own spiritual son.
about marriage outside jAti and kulam.
outside jAti: is permissible, though not recommended. thumbrules are this. The girl should always be married in a varNa higher than her own. So, a Sudra girl may marry grooms from other 3, but brAhmaNa girl only a brAhmaNa. However the reverse is naturally permitted. So a kShatriya boy may marry a vaishya girl. All these permitted combinations are called anuloma-vivAha. The reverse that is pratiloma-vivAha where girl comes from the higher varNa - is not permitted, and results in a "loss of jAti" and genetic derioration.
Now, within a varNa. the girl and boy should NOT be from the same gotra. They should also NOT be related from both maternal and paternal sides going as far back as 7 generations. (This ensures a very rich diversity in gene pool!) Marrying a known blood relative (cousin of any sort) is an absolute 'NO'! They should not be from the same village, least neighbours. The last sentance is true about Arya marriage and Deva marriages only, but it might be permitted in other marriage systems. Now, widows may be married too. Especially in kShatriya's if a younger brother of the slain warrior is marriable, the widow may take him as a new husband.
Most of the above is from mahAbhArata. There are some variations in it as per different shAstra-s.
So in the case of the loss of jAti, it sounds reasonable than the lineal linkage is severed. Not sure completely what is its impact on the last rites.