Perform Shraddha Even in Poverty

Financial conditions are not the same for everyone. Sometimes, a person may face a shortage of money. In such situations, when shraddha is essential, the scriptures have provided certain alternatives according to one’s financial capacity:

(1) If there is no money to buy food or clothes, then shraddha should be performed using vegetables (shaka) in the proper manner. The scripture says:

 तस्माच्छ्राद्धं नरो भक्त्या शाकैरपि यथाविधि
-  even vegetables are acceptable if offered with devotion.

(2) If even vegetables cannot be purchased, then one should sell whatever is available — such as grass, twigs, or firewood — gather money from that and buy vegetables to perform shraddha. Since this shraddha involves greater effort, its fruit is multiplied manifold.

(3) Sometimes, due to the nature of place or season, even firewood may not be available. In that case, the scriptures say that shraddha can be done with grass. One should cut grass and feed it to a cow in the name of one’s ancestors. This instruction is given in the Padma Purana. Along with this, it includes a short story:

A man was in extreme poverty. He did not even have money to buy vegetables, so he was not in a position to perform even a shaka-based shraddha. The date of the shraddha had arrived, and the kutapa kaal (the sacred time for the ritual) had begun. Once this time passed, the shraddha could no longer be done. The man became anxious and began to cry — how could he perform the ritual?

A scholar nearby suggested: 'It is still kutapa kaal. Quickly cut some grass and feed it to a cow in the name of your ancestors.'

As a result of this act, the man attained the divine realm —
एतत् पुण्यप्रसादेन गतोऽसौ सुरमन्दिरम्
(पद्मपुराण, सृष्टिखण्ड ५२.३१९)

(4) If the situation is such that even grass is not available, what should be done?

The scriptures provide a solution: if grass is also not obtainable due to time and place, the performer should go to a quiet place, raise both arms, and with sincerity recite the following verse, praying to the ancestors:

न मेऽस्ति वित्तं न धनं च नान्यच्छ्राद्धोपयोग्यं स्वपितृन्नतोऽस्मि।
तृप्यन्तु भक्त्या पितरो मयैतौ कृतौ भुजौ वर्त्मनि मारुतस्य॥
(विष्णुपुराण ३.१४.३०)

Meaning:
O my ancestors! I have neither wealth nor any materials suitable for the performance of shraddha. I bow down to you. May you be satisfied with my devotion. I have lifted both arms toward the path of the wind (sky), as per scriptural instruction.

This shows that even when resources are unavailable, pure devotion is enough.

For those who do have resources, the scriptures warn against stinginess:
वित्तशाठ्यं न समाचरेत् — one must not be miserly when performing shraddha.

Whatever is available should be used with faith and reverence. These alternative methods make it clear that shraddha must be performed in some way. The scriptures have not only prescribed the ritual but also clearly forbidden its neglect:

अतो मूलैः फलैर्वापि तथाप्युदकतर्पणैः
— whether with roots, fruits, or even water offerings,

नैवं श्राद्धं विवर्जयेत् (धर्मसिन्धु)

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi