Who can perform death rites?
If the son is alive, he is the main adhikari. If not, the duty falls in descending order to the next eligible relative.
For Men:
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Aurasaputra – son born out of a customary marriage in the same varna. If there are multiple sons, the eldest son should perform it. In special situations, a younger brother may also perform it with permission from the elder.
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Son's son
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Son's son's son
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Adopted son
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Adopted son's son
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Son given away in adoption
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Daughter's son who will inherit wealth
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Daughter's son
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Wife
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Daughter
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Younger brother
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Eldest among brother's sons
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Stepbrother (same father, different mothers)
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Son of stepbrother
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Father
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Elder brother
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Mother
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Daughter-in-law
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Son's daughter
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Daughter's daughter
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Wife of son's son
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Daughter of son's son
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Wife of the adopted son or one given away in adoption
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Sister
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Sister's son
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Sapinda
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Samanodaka
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Mother's sapinda
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Mother's samanodaka
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Student
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Son-in-law
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Friend
For Women:
-
Aurasaputra – son born out of a customary marriage in the same varna. If there are multiple sons, the eldest son should perform it. In special situations, a younger brother may also perform it with permission from the elder.
-
Son's son
-
Son's son's son
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Adopted son
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Adopted son's son
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Son given away in adoption
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Daughter's son who will inherit wealth
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Daughter's son
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Son of co-wife where partition has not taken place
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Husband
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Son of co-wife where partition has taken place
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Daughter
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Husband's younger brother
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Eldest among the sons of husband's brothers
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Husband's stepbrother
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Son of husband's stepbrother
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Husband's father
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Husband's elder brother
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Husband's mother
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Daughter-in-law
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Son's daughter
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Daughter's daughter
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Wife of son's son
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Daughter of son's son
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Wife of the adopted son or one given away in adoption
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Sister
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Husband's sister's son, own sister's son, own brother's son
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Sapinda
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Samanodaka
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Mother's sapinda
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Mother's samanodaka
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Student
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Son-in-law
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Friend
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