KakaBali (Vaayasa Bali) during Pitru Sraaddha (why we feed Crows)

 KakaBali (Vayasa Bali) during Pitru Sraaddha.

There is a sampradaya to offer Anna to Crows at the end of Pithru Sraaddha with a belief that if the Crow/s touches/eats the offering, Pitrus gets satisfied (Trupti). It is a Vachana given by Sri YamaDharmaRaja that has an anecdote...

dating back to Ramayana kaala during the regime of Ravanasura, when Bramhaadi dEvatas attend Yagna performed by a SuryaVamsa King (Marut) in the guise of birds. Sri YamaDharmaRaja attend in the guise of a CROW. After the Yajna, Devathas gave boon to respective birds.

ये च मद्विषयस्थावै मानवा क्शुधयार्दिता: |

त्वयि भुक्ते सुत्रुस्ताप्तॆ भविष्यंति सभांधवा : ||

ಯೇ ಚ ಮದ್ವಿಷಯಸ್ಥಾವೈ ಮಾನವಾ ಕ್ಶುಧಯಾರ್ದಿತಾ: |

ತ್ವಯಿ ಭುಕ್ತೇ ಸುತ್ರುಸ್ತಾಪ್ತೆ ಭವಿಷ್ಯಂತಿ ಸಭಾಂಧವಾ : ||

Lord Yama gave a vachana/boon to Crows that during Sraaddha kaarya, Pitrus in His Loka gets Trupti (satisfaction) through them when they eat the Anna (Pinda) offered to them at the end of Sraaddha kaarya.

This is called Kaka Bali or Vayasa Bali that we come across during, Pithru kaarya during Death related ceremonies and during regular Pithru Sraadha.

Lord Yama has given CROW boon to consume PiNda & in turn ensure Trupti to Pithrus; Crows act as conveyors for the food/messages to ancestors;

Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama

Sri GuruRaajo Vijayate

It is believed that our ancestors come to earth in the form of crows. For this reason, giving food to crows is seen as feeding our departed ancestors. Crows also act as messengers to Pitru Loka.

In Valmiki Ramayana, we find an excerpt of Jayant, Indra's son being disguised as a crow and cursed by Lord SriRama for disturbing SitaDevi's comfort. Once in their Vanvasa, SitaDevi was sleeping in SriRam's lap while Jayant, disguised as a crow pecked her on the feet. SriRama recognized Jayant and cursed him for being so discourteous.

He said, “From now on, you will have only one eye. You will only be able to use one eyeball at a time, not both.” Therefore, crows cannot see with both eyes together. They do not have clear vision when they use both eyes together.

On asking for forgiveness Prabhu SriRam was pleased & gave him a boon, “whatever is invisible to the two-eyed creature will be visible to you.” That means crows have the power to see Jeevaatmas in the pretayoni, pishachayoni and the Pitriyoni also.

Jayant is pleased when the crows are fed. Once the crows are satisfied they carry the messages to PitruLoka.