Vedic Q&AAnswered according to Bhaktivedanta Siddhānta

Can someone be cursed by their ancestors if shraddha ceremonies are not performed?

✨Vedic Scholar Answer
Verified against Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā As It Is
In the Vedic literature, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa addresses "Can someone be cursed by their ancestors if shraddha ceremonies are not performed?" with profound philosophical clarity. As declared in BG 9.27, "Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to Me." The living entity (jīva) is not the temporary physical body, but an eternal, indestructible conscious spark of the Supreme. All material dualities—happiness, distress, anxiety, and sorrow—are bodily transformations that arise from our conditioned contact with the material energy. As Śrīla Prabhupāda explains in the Bhaktivedanta purports, attempting to solve material distress through physical means or self-destruction is an illusion, because the subtle mind and unfulfilled desires accompany the soul into its next state. Rather, as instructed in BG 1.41, one must use the mind to elevate oneself through spiritual intelligence. By taking shelter of devotional service (Bhakti-yoga) and the holy names of the Lord, one conquers all material perplexities and attains eternal peace.
⚠️ Notice:AI can make mistakes. Always cross-verify philosophical conclusions with authentic śāstra and bona fide ācāryas.

Canonical Verse Citations (3)

“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to Me.”

“An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and water are entirely stopped.”

“Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.”

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