Avidhavā-navamī-śrāddha
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Sometimes transliterated as: Avidhava-navami-sraddha, AvidhavA-navamI-ZrAddha, Avidhavaa-navami-shraaddha
Avidhavā-navamī-śrāddha literally means obsequial rites to a dead non-widow, on the ninth day’.
Married women cherish death before their husband's. Such ladies are called ‘avidhavās’ or ‘non-widows.’ The śrāddha or obsequious rite for such women is performed on the ninth day during the dark half of the month Bhādra- pada (corresponding roughly to September) by their sons or younger male relatives.
One of the specialties of this rite is that not only a brāhmaṇa but also married ladies whose husbands are alive, are invited, fed and given presents. The rite generally ceases to be performed when their husbands die.
References
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore
