Brahmanas represent Ancestors – story
Garuda looked at Vishnu and said:
“My Lord! The ancestors do not have gross body like us. How can it be true that they accept the food and the objects that we offer to them?”
Vishnu replied:
“It is true that Garuda. The ancestors do not have the same body as the people on earth. But the people invite Brahmins and serve them food in the Shrartha (annual ritual for deceased) ceremony, don’t they? The ancestors who come to the Shrartha enter the bodies of these Brahmins and take the food. I will tell you the story of Rama’s Shrartha ritual, listen.
While Rama, Lakshmana and Sita were in the forest, the news of Dasharatha’s death came to Rama.
Then Rama prepared a simple meal and called the sages and prepared to feed them.
When the sages sat down to eat, Sita was nowhere to be seen.
As time was running out, Rama himself served them and sent them away after they had eaten.
After the guests had gone, Sita came to Rama.
Rama asked:
“Where had you gone instead of serving food to the sages?”.
Sita replied:
“I thought that you called the sages only here and they have come on your invitation. But I was shocked when I saw the people sitting. My father-in-law. His father and his father had come and were sitting. It was embarrassing to come with this simple saree in front of my father-in-law. And he is the great king and hence I was too ashamed to give him such a simple meal. That’s why I ran away and hid,’ she said.
The Lord told Garuda:
“You should know that our Pithrus (ancestors) enter the bodies of the guests we invite and consume the food we offer,”
Sri Mahavishnu concluded.
MORAL:
Feeding the brahmanas means we feed the ancestors. The Brahmanas represent Ancestors during the Pitru rituals. This is the concept behind annual rituals for our ancestors.
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