Is the 3rd day havan after the death of a deceased mentioned in our scriptures?
Well before I answer this question, I will quote from the Garuda Purana and other scriptures on what should be performed during the 12th/13th days after the cremation of the deceased.
“To ensure that the soul does not remain in a subtle body hovering on this earth planet, daily offerings are made to the departed person. During the aashauca period (the first 10 days after the cremation) daily offerings of sesame (til) seeds and water, and pinda (rice flour mixed with sesame seeds, ghee and honey) are offered to the departed person.” (Page 150 Sat Kriya Sara Dipika)
“The soul without the body is like a flame without fire. After leaving the earthly body, the soul immediately obtains an airy body. In that action less body he moves in air only. Pindas are offered unto the airy body of the deceased. Whatever pinda the son gives to him during the 10 days, the same unites the Vaayuja (airy) body with the pindaja (form made from pindas) body. If the pindaja body is not there the Vaayuja body suffers.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda Chapter 10 verses 72-83)
“Until the funeral rites are properly performed the dead man, ever hungry, roams about day and night in the form of airy matter.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda Chapter 13 verse 23)
“If the funeral rites are not performed properly”, he (the deceased) returns to his home, stays on the roof and watch the activities of his kin. He then causes diseases and grief to his relatives.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda Chapter 20 verse 8)
“If the funeral rites are not performed in the prescribed way, the soul of the deceased (in rebirth) deviates from the righteous path and falls in the company of the wicked.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda Chapter 20 verse 42)
“The 10-day observance of aashauca (impurity): - The sons and relatives of the deceased should observe aashauca for 10 nights. For 10 days, without intermittence, the son should offer pinda and pour handful of water (water in a saucer) in favour of the deceased.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda. Chapter 15 verses 61-62)
“He should offer nine pindas in nine days (i.e. one pinda on each day). After giving the tenth pinda, one becomes pure.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda. Chapter 5 verses 18-19)
“With the offering of ten pindas (in 10 days) by the descendants of the deceased the soul acquires a new body.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda. Chapter 34 verse 44)
“In death impurity last for 10 days, O bird.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda. Chapter 39 verse12)
“If the soul is not propitiated duly during the 10 days it will have to wander in the ether without food, agitated by hunger.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda. Chapter 34 verse 33)
“Once sapindya (the 12th/13th day prayer) is completed, the pretahood (the ghost form) ends.” (Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda. Chapter 5 verses 78-89)
Answer: This is a concoction and not prescribed in our scriptures. As you can read from the above verses if one performs the 3rd day havan for the deceased, the family members will incur the wrath of the deceased. When one offers pindas for the 10 days i.e. one for each of the 10 days then the new body is formed. “{On the first day by offering the first pinda the head is formed, by the second, the ears, eyes and nose are formed. By the third, the neck, shoulder, arms and chest are formed. By the fourth pinda, the navel and private parts are formed. The fifth pinda the thighs and calves are formed. The sixth pinda all the vital organs are formed. By the seventh pinda the nerves are formed, by the eight pinda the teeth and hair are formed. By the ninth pinda semen is formed. By the 10th day fullness is achieved and hunger is satisfied.” {Garuda Purana Preta Kanda Chapter 5 verses 31-37}
So by the 3rd day when one offers the daily pinda only up to the neck/chest is formed. The new body of the deceased is only formed in 10 days, thus by performing the 3rd day havan you are shant-ing (ending) the process but the new body is still incomplete. Now this is where the problem arises. This is when the deceased starts to worry and create havoc for his family. Below is what Garuda Purana states about the bad intentions of the preta (ghost) when the proper rites are not carried out. The family members get affected by the following mentioned below:-
One gets addicted to bad habits. One who gets sons who die young. One who is at daggers-dawn with his relatives. A woman who is barren or if she gives birth to children or they die at a very early age. If there is a sudden change in one’s nature. If one loses faith in religion or if he loses the means of his livelihood. If there’s regular quarrel at one’s home. When an incurable disease sets in, or when children suffer from pain or when the wife suffers immensely. When one loses faith in sastras. When one abuses the Devi/Devas, guru and the Brahmins. When the women suffer from abortion / do not conceive / when the children die young. When one does not perform the annual shraddha in sincerity. When both husband and wife quarrel at meals. I am very aware of some Hindu groups in South Africa who performs the 3rd day havan after the funeral day of a deceased, but do not lose hope if this has happen to your family members then the following is to be carried out to obtain relieve from the preta’s (deceased) wrath. He, who is devoted to Rudra (Lord Shiva), follows the path of righteousness, propitiates the Supreme Lord, the Devi and Devas, satiates the forefathers, speaks the truth and pleasant words, and is not tormented by the pretas (ghosts). Garuda Purana – Preta Kanda, Chapter 10 Verses 54-55 “If the son performs Shraddha at Gaya they uplift their ancestors from the lower region and themselves enjoy Brahmaloka together with their forefathers. They never suffer from hunger and thirst”. Garuda Purana Preta Kanda Chapter 21 verses 11-34 “If a person performs the holy rites for the redemption of the deceased, he will find actions fruitful. The deceased shall be satiated permanently. When the deceased is satisfied he will wish his kinsmen well forever”. So as Garuda Purana states in the verses above if the rites were not performed in the prescribed way then it has to be performed in the prescribed way. This means that one has to re enact the entire process again but this time according to the Garuda Purana. Garuda Purana states that one has to perform the 10th day and 12/13th day prayers, and so forth to form the new body, which takes 10 days. There are no short cuts in life especially in the final rites. PLEASE REMEMBER NEVER MESS WITH THE DEAD. Question: - But my priest says we must perform the 3rd day havan. So whom do I believe? Answer: - This is a very common question. Firstly if a priest performs the 3rd day havan ask him quite humbly where about it is stated that the 3rd day havan should be performed upon the death of a person. He surely will state that it’s in our Vedic scriptures. Then kindly ask him which Vedic scripture and what verse. This will stump him since nowhere in our Vedic sastras the 3rd day havan is mentioned. Question: - My father said in his will that he wants the family to perform the 3rd day havan after he dies because he doesn’t want to burden the family with all the formalities. Is this sastric based? Answer: - No as you have read from the above that this is certainly not sastric based. If the son cannot perform his parent’s last rites in the correct sastric way then my word what type of son is that. It’s a privilege and honour to perform one’s parent’s final rites. You have to do what is correct. After he passes on perform the rites according to the Garuda Purana which states that the 10th, 12/13th day, 6th month and 11½ months prayers must be performed. Thank you for taking time to read this article. We are trying to reach out not only to Hindus but to others of other faiths as well. By compiling and publishing these articles we hope that others will understand what a beautiful and diversified way of life Hinduism (Sanathan Dharma) really is. Please alert your friends and family of this website. You may pass these articles to friends and family who do not have access to the Internet or even print them and keep them in a file. These articles are published so that it will be a reference to you and your family when you need clarification of certain topics. Jai Shree Krishna.