MYSURU: A week after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s demise and burial held with state honours at Marina Beach in Chennai, the family members of the AIADMK supremo conducted the final rites according to Vaishnava tradition praying for Jayalalithaa’s salvation.
The family members, who are unhappy with Jayalalithaa’s burial, got a team of priests headed by Ranganatha Iyengar to conduct rituals as per Vaishnava tradition.
Jayalalithaa’s brother Vasudevan, residing in T Narsipur village, has given a letter and power of attorney to his relative Varadharajan to conduct the rituals and eleventh day ceremony of the six-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
Priests used a bunch of 68 blades of grass (dharbe) to symbolise Jayalalithaa in the morning gave it a traditional bath, conducted Yama homa before it was set to flames during funeral at Paschima Vaahini on the banks of Cauvery in Srirangapatna.
All these rituals were to be held on the day of conducting last rites. However, the Tamil Nadu government and Jayalaithaa’s close confidants decided for a burial which is against Vaishnava dharma.
Rangantha Iyengar said Ekadasha Shraddha will be conducted on Wednesday and Thursday.
They will also conduct Narayana Bali inviting aged priests from Brahmin community to conduct rituals to Jayalalithaa who passed away in Dhanishta Nakshatra.
While, they will offer food to a few Brahmins on the 13th day and observe Vaikunta Samaradhane to celebrate entry of the departed soul into Vaikunta.