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In Favor of Last Rites Etc
In our Hindu society, it is a custom to have a body of the dead, to perform his last rites. After performing the last rites, there are some other rites too which are performed for a few days. After them annual ceremonies are performed, Shraaddh, Tarpan etc. For all of them a son is needed, because according to Hindu Dharm a daughter cannot perform these rites. There was a discussion in a Group that whether a person has the right to donate his body parts or the whole body.

Our scriptures have conflicting statements. When one talks in one context, he cites one example, when the same person talks in another context he talks some other thing...

One argument is from Geetaa, 2/22 where Krishn tries to convince Arjun to fight with Kaurav emphasizing the importance of soul over the body, saying "As a human being put off his old clothes an puts on the new clothes, in the same way this soul also put off its old body and takes up new body."
This seems to be spiritual way of thinking.

Another argument is that we normally perform 16 Sanskaar, since pre-birth to last rites. Why do we do that? Why people insist on getting bodies of their loved ones if they are drowned in a river, or if lost in a forest, or lost in a flood etc.
Because they want to perform last rites of the person. Why?
This seems to be related to Karm Kaand.

Examples
Here I cite some examples from our scriptures related to this problem...

(1) The very first example comes from Raajaa Sagar. When Raajaa Sagar's 60,000 sons got burnt by the sight of Kapil Muni, he sent his grandson Anshumaan to search his sons. Following the footsteps of his uncles he came to Kapil Muni's Aashram and saw his uncles' ashes. He understood and asked Kapil Muni that how his uncles could get Mukti. Kapil Muni told him to bring Gangaa on Prithvi so that the touch of its waters can give them Mukti. First Anshumaan tried, then his son Dileep tried, then Bhageerath tried and got success in bringing Gangaa on Prithvi and gave his forefathers Mukti.
This shows that there is something like "Mukti" for souls who could wait even for 3 generations.
is there anything like Mukti for a soul?
If it is there then where the soul lives till it is not Mukt

(2) The second example comes from MBH, G-0-Prolog/6. The story of Jaratkaaru. He wanted to be bachelor and perform Tapasyaa. Once he saw some people hanging upside down in a hole and the rope with which they were tied was eaten by a rat continuously. He was surprised to see this and asked them who were they and why that rope was eaten by the rat?

They replied - "We are Rishi of rigid vows. We have no child that is why we are sinking inside the Earth. We had a son named Jaratkaaru who has also become a Yogee. He does not think about his children. That is why with the fear of the end of our race, we are hanging here. Who are you who is asking our welfare like a friend?" Jaratkaaru said - "I am Jaratkaaru and you are my ancestors. Tell me how can I serve you?" They said - "Try for a son so that our family line can extend. This will be good for both of us. Penance does not acquire so much merit as becoming a father."
Why those Rishi needed sons? To do their after-death rites?
Is Tapasyaa lower than having a son? Then why people do Tapasyaa, they should just try for a son and get Mukti.

(3) My third example is again from MBH, G-4-Van/17, of Maharshi Agastya. he also saw his Pitri hanging upside down in a pit. On asking they told him that they were longing for Agastya's son so that they can come out of this Hell.
It has the same implications as of Jaratkaaru's.

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