This is just to clear some misunderstanding about karmic rituals pertaining to diksha initiated devotees. The question is: When I take a diksha initiation, do I still follow the karma kanda rituals?
The answer is: No.
In this world most of the people follow karma kanda, i.e vedic rituals. Starting from birth until death, the vedic sastras recommend many rituals. The reason is that from our birth to death we are indebted to so many beings – the rishis, devatas, ancestors, parents, government and relatives.
So, we see many people spending much of their time and money in observing special vratas and paying oblations following these karmic rituals. When anyone violates these rituals, the worldly people with no devotion, especially the relatives, may even criticize or condemn.
However, taking initiation under a pure bhakti yoga places the devotee in a different position. Taking initiation is taking the second birth. It is called dvija – twice born. The first birth is the seminal birth from the parents which puts us into such debts. However, once one has taken shelter under a bonafide guru and taken diksha in front of fire yajna, the person has taken the second birth. For this person, the guru becomes the spiritual father and mother and in fact there is no more bondage to his seminal parents or relatives in karmic way. This devotee comes directly under the protection of Lord Krishna and has no binding karmic duty to any one according to the vedic rituals meant for the karmis.
An excellent answer is given in Srimad Bhagavatam:
devarsi-bhutāpta nrṇām pitrṇām
na kinkaro nāyam rṇi ca rājan
sarvātmāna yah saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam (SB. 11.5.41)
“One who completely surrenders to Bhagavan Mukunda (Krsna), the affectionate protector of the surrendered souls, no longer remains indebted to the devatas, forefathers, other living beings, kinsmen, or guests. He is not subordinate to anyone, and he is not obliged to serve anyone.”
There is even a higher truth behind taking diksha. It is said that when one takes diksha connecting to Lord Krishna, the ancestors become so happy that they start dancing and they get liberation. Even if they are in hell, they will be liberated. This seems unbelievable but that is the power of accepting a guru but only under a sampradaya of pure bhakti.
Also depending on the level of devotion by the devotee, many levels of his ancestors will be liberated. For a kanishtha devotee (who just accepted initiation), ancestors of 7 generations before and 7 generations later get liberated. If the devotee becomes a madhyama adhikari, 14 generations before and 14 generations after will get liberated. In the case of uddhama adhikari, 21 generations before and 21 generations after will be liberated.
So, we clearly see the effect of diksha and level of devotion. Here one may even ask a specific question: “My father/father had passed away and now I have taken diksha. Should I have to perform the shrata or yearly rituals?”
When a parent passes away, instead of doing karmic ritual, it is better to do the bhakti way and be done with it. No yearly shrata is needed. When one has taken initiation, the ancestors have been liberated anyway. So, what is the point in wasting our time in this unnecessary karmic rituals? Instead, one can perform special chanting, or follow Ekadasi for them – no karmic rituals.
As after diksha, one is relieved from all karmic rituals and karmic duties, the actual duty of a diksha devotee is to serve guru and Krishna, hear harikatha and visit the holy places to increase the devotion. Performing karmic rituals is like a pebble with no value, whereas performing sadhana and visiting holy places and serving Guru and Krishna is like a big gold mountain.
However most of the people on this earth are karmis, and so fascinated and attracted to karmic rituals. This is called kartavya-buddhi that does not give the highest goal. This human birth is extremely rare to get. So, instead of wasting our life in karma, jnana or yoga, an intelligent person will engage in Krishna Consciousness and follow pure bhakti and become a uddhama adhikari bhakta.
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā … CC Madya 19.167
“One must be devoid of all karmic rituals, jnana obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve to make Krishna happy. That is uddhama bhakti”