Mysuru: A tenth day ritual called “Darbe Samskara” was performed according to the Vaishnava tradition to ensure late Tamilnadu CM’s soul rests in peace.
It may be recalled that the mortal remains of deceased Jayalalithaa was buried adjacent to MGR memorial, instead of being confined to flames according to her Brahmin family tradition.
The ninth day ritual was performed by Varadaraju, Jayalaithaa’s cousin, by offering “Pinda” (normally a pot with ashes and remains) at “Sangama” in Srirangapatna. Three Purohits (priests) took part in a special ceremony to ensure her spirit gets merged in Panchbhootha’s (earth, water, fire, air and space).
The 11th and 13th day rituals too will be held on the banks of river Cauvery at Paschimavahini, according to the priest Ranganatha Iyengar who led the priests.
Jayalaitha being a spinster, her step brother Vasudevan had written a letter authorising Varadarajan to perform the rites. Due to illness and age related issues Varadarajan had expressed his inability to be present at the special rituals performed on the Cauvery river bank for five days.
After the ninth day “Pinda Pradhana” ceremony at Paschimavahini, 10th day “Darbe Samskara ‘ was held outside the town limits which involved a series of rituals which are performed for the soul of the deceased as per the Vaishnava tradition on December 14.
