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Sapinda in Hinduism – Sapinda Relationship and Funeral Offering

Sapinda in Hinduism is of two types one is Sapinda Relationship and another is the funeral offering.

Sapinda Relationship
Sapinda is the term used to define those who have a common ancestry from the father’s or mother’s side.

Sapinda Relationship is based on

  1. Blood relationship
  2. Marriage
  3. Inheritance of property
Blood relationship
Seven generations in a family are governed by Sapinda blood relationship on the paternal side for seven years and on maternal side for five years.

Sapinda Marriage
In the case of a marital relationship, seven generations on the paternal side and five on the maternal side are governed by sapinda relationship.

For example, if I get married to a girl who is the offspring of one of the seven generations on the paternal side then I have a sapinda relationship with my wife.

Similarly, if I get married to a girl who is the offspring of one of the five generations on the maternal side then also I have a sapinda relationship with my wife.

Sapinda relationship prohibits marriage between persons up to seven generations on the father’s side and five generations on the mother’s side.

Property
In case of inheritance, the relationship prevails up to three generations.

Sapinda in Hindu Funeral

Sapinda in Hindu funeral refers to the offering of cooked rice made into balls (panda) to the departed soul. The cooked rice is made into three balls. It represents three ancestors of three generations.