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It is a period when Hindus offer prayers to their ancestors, especially through a ritual of offering prayers, food and water to the departed souls of the family, which is known as shraadh.
Consisting of a fortnight of the lunar day, Pitru Paksha is also known as Pitru Paksha, Pitri Pokkho, Kanagat, Jitiya, Mahalaya Paksha, Apara Paksha and Sola Shradh. It is celebrated in the lunar month of Bhadrapada beginning with the full moon day or the day after the full moon day as per the South Indian Amavasya calendar and in the lunar month of Ashwin beginning with the full moon day in Bhadrapada or the next day of full moon day as per North Indian Purnimanta calendar.
The rituals as per both calendars are the same, which is offering Shradh to the ancestors. Pitru Paksha becomes auspicious if the death rites are performed during the ceremony, known as Shradh or tarpan. The Sun travels from the northern to the southern hemisphere during this period.
What is the meaning of Pitru Paksha (Shradh)?
Pitru Paksha spans over 16 days this year. During this period, a variety of food which was once liked by the deceased member during their life on earth is offered when the Shradh is performed. These 16 days consist of a powerful time frame to make the souls of the deceased ancestors happy and contented. It is a ritual known to clear the hindrances and liberate the souls of the departed ancestors from being attached to the worldly things and people on earth. This custom makes the journey towards heaven smooth.
According to Hindu tradition, the karmas of the previous life are carried on to this life, and we must therefore complete the unfinished karmas that we due to our ancestors to give them comfort and assist them in continuing their path to heavenly planes without any obstructions.
The significance of Shradh is briefly mentioned in holy scriptures such as the Agni Puran, Vayu Puran, Garuda Puran, and a few other sacred texts. Shradh is an ancient tradition that is performed in Hinduism and many other faiths. It is a longstanding tradition carried out in memory of the departed souls.
Pitru Paksha 2024: Nakshatra, Tithi & Muhurat (Date & Time)
September 17, 2024, Tuesday, Purnima Shraddha, Bhadrapada, Shukla Purnima
September 18, 2024, Wednesday, Pratipada Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Pratipada
September 19, 2024, Thursday, Dwitiya Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Dwitiya
September 20, 2024, Friday, Tritiya Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Tritiya
September 21, 2024, Saturday, Chaturthi Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Chaturthi
September 21, 2024, Saturday, Maha Bharani, Ashwina, Bharani Nakshatra
September 22, 2024, Sunday, Panchami Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Panchami
September 22, 2024, Sunday, Shashthi Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Shashthi
September 23, 2024, Monday, Saptami Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Saptami
September 24, 2024, Tuesday, Ashtami Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Ashtami
September 25, 2024, Wednesday, Navami Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Navami
September 26, 2024, Thursday, Dashami Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Dashami
September 27, 2024, Friday, Ekadashi Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Ekadashi
September 29, 2024, Sunday, Magha Shraddha, Ashwina, Magha Nakshatra
September 29, 2024, Sunday, Dwadashi Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Dwadashi
October 12, 2023, Thursday, Magha Shraddha, Ashwina, Magha Nakshatra
October 1, 2024, Tuesday, Chaturdashi Shraddha, Ashwina, Krishna Chaturdashi
October 2, 2024, Wednesday, Sarva Pitru Amavasya, Ashwina, Krishna Amavasya
Pujas And Rituals Associated with Pitru Paksha
Since it is puja for the departed soul, no prasad is sent.
Pitru Paksha is a 16 day period when one offers reverence to their ancestors in the form of Tarpan or Shraddh Puja. As per Brahma Purana and other Vedic scriptures, worship and rituals offered during the time of Pitru Paksha help the souls of one’s ancestors to attain peace and move on to the next realm.
Group Pitru Paksha Shradh Puja at Trimbakeshwar
Thus, doing Shradh Puja in Pitru Paksha is immensely important both for the well-being of oneself and of the souls of one’s ancestors. It is believed that when one’s ancestors are pleased, even Gods are pleased, and the native is showered with blessings.
Group Pitru Paksha Shradh Puja
Puja for peace of departed soul. Shradh or Shraadh, also spelt sraddha, in Hinduism, is a ceremony performed in honour of a dead ancestor. The rite is both a social and a religious responsibility enjoined on all male Hindus. The importance given in India to the birth of a son reflects the need to ensure that there will be a male descendant to perform the shradh ceremony after one’s death.
Tripindi Shraadh Puja
It helps cleanse all the sins, and reactions of misdeeds of the departed souls. It helps them rest in peace. It liberates your family from all the hardships and failures.
Narayan Nagbali Puja
Narayan Nagbali is a three-day Hindu ceremony held at Trimbakeshwar, Nashik District, Maharashtra, India. Families conduct the Narayan Nagbali ceremony to release the spirits of family members who died an untimely death or Durmaran. Death is referred to be untimely or Durmaran in the Indian language when it occurs for an improper reason and at an inappropriate age.
Group Narayan Nagbali Rites
Narayan Nagbali puja consists of two different rituals. Narayan Bali is done to get rid of the ancestral curse (pitru dosh /Pitru Shaap), while Nagbali is done to get rid of the sin of killing snakes, especially cobra, which are worshipped in India. Narayan Nagbali is the most important vidhi done in the name of ancestors for their souls to get free from this world and attain the highest state of liberation from this cycle of human birth and death.
Pitru Dosh Nivaran Puja
Pitru Dosha Nivaran Puja is done to rectify the Pitru Dosha in one's horoscope. The Pitru Dosha is caused when one's forefathers and ancestors have not received proper last rites or Shradha or are unhappy or unfulfilled for some reason and due to negative deeds of one's forefathers.
Mahalaya Shraadh Puja
This puja is performed for an individual on the last day of the Shraadh period and is dedicated to all the ancestors, including those who have been forgotten. This marks the end of the Pitru Paksha, and the Mahalaya Shraadh puja performed on this day ensures a complete liberation of all the ancestors who bless protection, peace and prosperity.
Importance Of Shradh
As per the Vedic scriptures and customs, the souls of the 3 previous generations of one's ancestor dwell in the Pitru Loka, a place ruled by Yama between heavenly planets and the Earth. Yama, the god of death, takes the soul from Earth to Pitru Loka. When a family member of the next generation passes away, the first generation moves to higher planes or heaven wherein he unites with Shri. In this case, Shradh offerings are not made. These offerings are given to only the previous three generations in Pitru Loka.
Pitru Paksha starts when the Sun moves into the zodiac sign of Libra (Tula), and it is thought that the souls depart Pitru Loka and reside in their descendants' homes for a month until the Sun moves into the next zodiac sign of Scorpio (Vrichchhika) when there is a full moon.
Ancestors in the first half during the dark fortnight are appeased with Shradh, according to Garuda Puran, where it is also stated that a householder should appease his ancestors who when pleased bless health, wealth, knowledge and longevity, and ultimately heaven and salvation (moksha).
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Because most individuals in Kaliyug do not engage in spiritual practice, they are stuck in Maya. Therefore, even after death, their subtle bodies are unsatisfied. Dissatisfied subtle bodies get imprisoned in the Pitru Loka.
Following that, based on their karma, they move to higher areas, namely the Swarg Lok. As a result, the troubles they cause to their offspring on earth are reduced. Some individuals construct the last resting place for their dead family members in front of, or near their home, and they frequently worship them with flowers. Their pictures are displayed throughout the home as a token of love and memory.
In certain areas, it is customary to keep money in the temple at home to remember the Pitrus. All these actions imprison the subtle bodies of departed family members in such locations. As a result, their spiritual journey is hampered, and they must also endure pain.
We fail to return our ancestors' debt if we keep them ensnared in gross things, as stated above, and do not give them Shradh to provide them with a force. In such situations, since they are disturbed, they hinder our spiritual practice. We should do Shradh for our ancestors to repay their debt and give them a stimulus to move forward in their paths.
According to ancient holy Hindu scriptures, it is only during the fortnight of the Pitru Paksha that our departed ancestors pay us a visit on this earthly plane. This is the most important moment to seek blessings from our ancestors. People affected by Pitru Dosha are often advised to do Shradh for the whole fortnight of Pitru Paksha. This is said to pacify the dead ancestors and get their valuable blessings. The blessings we get from our dead ancestors have a beneficial impact on our lives and make us joyful.
What Is Pitra Dosh In Kundali ? (Meaning)
Pitru Dosha in a horoscope indicates that a person has not done enough for his or her ancestors or that they remained dissatisfied with them for some reason. Pitru Dosha can also result when a family member dies of unnatural death or if someone has not offered his respects to the souls of deceased loved ones. As per Vedic astrology, Sun-Rahu unfavourable combinations and placements between both planets are considered the main warning of Pitru Dosha.
When a person’s departed forefathers or ancestors have not attained peace due to lack of religious rituals at the time of their death, a 'Dosha' develops into one’s Horoscope, which is known as 'Pitru Dosha'. Pitru are those people who died of unnatural death and did not get salvation. Due to this, people perform remedies for the pacification of Pitru Dosha. Also, it is due to negative deeds of one's forefathers.
Pitru Dosha can lead to many hardships in life, and thus, Pitru Dosha Nivaran Puja is recommended for happy and peaceful worldly life and for the attainment of peace for the departed souls of one's ancestors.
Signs & Symptoms of Pitru Dosha
If there are issues with pregnancy, such as recurrent miscarriages, or if the children at home are often ill. Furthermore, children are more prone to suffer from physical or mental disorders.
There will be no male kid born in the family to carry on to the next generation, or there will be no child at all.
There may be children in the family who do not want to marry, or after numerous attempts, no appropriate match for the marriage could be found.
Scarcity has often surrounded these families, and they have had little success or fortune in anything they have attempted.
There may be recurring (cyclical) issues at home or in the workplace that have no logical cause or source, causing significant difficulties.
Natives are often in debt, and, despite their best efforts, they are unable to repay it. The native's family lags in financial progress. And they are often surrounded by poverty and lack of resources.
There is an absence of peace and harmony in the home or business, and bad feelings are experienced anytime they enter the dwelling.
Despite their best efforts, a person's overall development seems to have stalled.
People who have this Dosha are likely to have a lot of problems with their marriage. Regardless of their best efforts, they are unable to marry at the appropriate moment or with the right person.
Diseases often surround the home, causing a slew of physical, mental, and financial issues for the family.
How to do Pitru Paksha Puja Vidhi at home:
The native should feed the Brahmins. Donate money and red clothing to them. To get relief and emancipation from their ancestors, the native should arrange for Pitru Dosha specific pujas to be done. Natives should remember and honor their ancestors by performing the Shradha rites with the utmost sincerity and trust. During the Shradha, natives should give water to their Pitrus for a fortnight. Aside from that, giving water to the Banyan tree and Lord Shiva on a regular basis reduces the harmful effects of Pitru Dosha in the Kundali. Some other natives use chants to invoke Sri Gurudeva Dattatreya for the same restorative purpose.
As per the Vedic injunction, the eldest son, a male relative of the paternal branch of the family performs the rituals. A woman’s son can perform the ritual if she has no heir in her family. Following are the steps for Puja to do at home:
Place a wooden stool in the southern direction. Take a white cloth and cover the stool. On the cloth, spread barley seeds and black sesame seeds. Keep a photograph of your ancestor on it. Instead of the photograph, you can also use Kusha grass, as it is believed to have Bhagwan Vishnu particles in it. The next step is to invite the ancestor or ancestors for whom the pooja is held. Call their name (including surname) in this manner, “We, the entire family, invite you to visit our home during this period of Pitru Paksha.” Then take a bronze or copper utensil and fill it with water. To this, add some cow’s milk (raw), sesame seeds, rice, barley, too. Then keep the vessel before the image.
Making the Pinda
Take cooked rice and add honey, milk, and gangajal. Make a ball of this rice mixture and keep it before the ancestor’s image. The rice ball should be placed on a leaf. The ball is called Pinda, and it’s used in the Pinda Daan ritual. After completing the ritual, the rice ball can be offered to a cow. If there is a river nearby, it can be immersed in the river also.
Another method
In case you cannot perform the above-mentioned ritual, there is another method. Take a roti and put a little ghee and jaggery on it. This should be offered to the ancestor by placing it before the ancestor’s image. This can be done every day, and then the roti can be given to a cow. Apart from this pooja, you must also invite a priest to your home and offer him food and new clothes on this day.
Jaggery and Ghee Offering
Yet another offering to ancestors is possible. A cow dung cake should be burnt almost completely, and then some ghee should be poured on it. Then keep a small bit of jaggery on it. If the jaggery piece is fully burnt, we can conclude that the ancestors have consumed it.
By performing the Pitru Paksha Amavasya Pooja, we express our gratitude to our ancestors. It is a way to honor and remember them for all that they have given us. When we perform the Pooja, we will receive their blessings as they will be pleased with us. This will enable us to lead a happy and prosperous life.
Food offered at Pitru Paksha Puja:
The Shradh food offered to the ancestors includes:
Kheer or lapsi (a sweet porridge made of wheat grains)
Rice, dal (lentils), the vegetable of Spring bean (guar) and a yellow gourd (pumpkin).
These food items are generally prepared in silver or copper vessels and served on a banana leaf, or cups made of dried leaves.
Mantra for Pitru Paksha Puja and Tarpan in English & Hindi:
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Pitru Gayatri Mantra is chanted 11 times as an act of invitation of your Pitrus
“Om Pitru Ganaaya Vidmahe Jagat Dhaariney Dheemahi Tannoh Pitro Prachodayaat.”
ॐ पितृगणाय विद्महे जगत धारिणी धीमहि तन्नो पितृो प्रचोदयात्। -
Avaahanam Mantra: “Om Aagachhantu Me Pitru Emam Grihanantu Jalaanjalim.”
'ॐ आगच्छन्तु मे पितर एवं ग्रहन्तु जलान्जलिम'
The meaning of the above mantra is “I wholeheartedly invite you (ancestors) into my home to accept my offering of sesame seeds & water to quench your hunger & thirst” -
Pitru Mantra: “Gotre Asma Pitaamah (name of forefathers) Vasurupat Triptayaamidam Tilodaham – Va – Jalaanjalim… Tasmai Swadhaa Namaha… Tasmai Swadhaa Namaha… Tasmai Swadhaa Namaha… Tasmai Swadhaa Namaha…”
गोत्रे अस्मत्पितामह (पितामह का नाम) वसुरूपत् तृप्यतमिदं तिलोदकम गंगा जलं वा तस्मै स्वधा नमः, तस्मै स्वधा नमः, तस्मै स्वधा नमः - Take black sesame seeds in your right hand. While chanting Pitru Mantra, pour water over the sesame seeds onto the plate. Water must flow in between your thumb & index finger and not from the front of your palm flowing over other fingers. The water that will flow between the thumb & index finger will flow towards the South direction as you are facing East. The direction of Pitrus is South. As we sit facing the east, this is the best way to do it.
- If you have anything else to tell your Pitrus you may do so now. Finally, you may request them to proceed to Vishnu-Lok, the gates of which you have desired open by your prayers and good wishes.
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Gayatri Mantra: “Om Bhur Bhavah Swaahaa Tat Savitru Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Deemahi, Dheeyo Yonahah Prachodayaat”.
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं। भर्गोदेवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात्।
Which food should not be consumed during Pitru Paksha or Shradh?
When it comes to food, there is a whole list which should be completely avoided while following the other rules. Here are some of the foods that are said to be banned during this period:
Needlessly, one should completely avoid:
Non-vegetarian food eggs and alcohol.
Chickpeas
Black chana
Masoor dal
Black urad dal
Black mustard seeds
Cumin seeds
Black salt
Bitter gourd and cucumber
Along with these, any Tamasic food must be avoided during this period that includes - onion, garlic, and brinjals. Not just these, but there are some common foods that must be avoided like rice, wheat, chana sattu, potatoes, colocasia (arbi) and radish. It is also advised to avoid the consumption of Paan, Supari and tobacco. Also, it is extremely important to avoid consuming any stale food during this period.
Why is Pitru Paksha Auspicious?
Belief holds that during Shradh Paksha, the spirits of ancestors revisit the earthly realm to receive the offerings made by their descendants. This sacred period is deemed exceptionally auspicious for performing rituals such as Pitru Tarpan, Pind Daan, and Shradh.
Benefits Of Shradh During Pitru Paksha
- Provides cordial and harmonious family relations
- Relief from physical and mental ailments
- Provides financial stability and peace of mind
- Relief from inexplicable or unexpected obstacles in life
- Provides career growth and paves the way for new opportunities
- Relieves the problem of delays in marriage or wrong partners
- Helps married couples to maintain harmony between them
- Attracts positive energies and peace into the house
We at Rudra Centre offer Pitru Paksha puja services. The puja is performed as per the scriptural rules under the auspices of qualified Karma kandi Pandits from Kashi.
Legends Of Pitru Paksha
Once upon a time, Karna, a renowned warrior, was killed in battle. During his time on Earth, he was very kind and gave valuable jewels, gold, and silver to the brahmins. His soul rose to heaven at the time he died. Karna's soul was constantly served rare jewels, gold, and flawless silver, which perplexed Karna's soul. Tired and annoyed by hunger and thirst, Karna's soul went to Yama and questioned him why he wasn't given food to eat and water to drink. This is when Lord Yama informed Karna's soul that while he was on Earth, he only gave jewels and valuable metals but never food or water.
Karna's spirit felt sorrowful at hearing this. Yama then instructed him on the Shradh process and offered him fifteen days to correct his error by offering food and drink to his dead ancestors and asking them for forgiveness with pure resolve; only then would his soul be freed and achieve moksha. Karna's soul performed precisely what Yama ordered, and the ritual of completing Shradh has been practised ever since.
What Not to Do During Pitru Paksha Shradh
- Buying clothes and shoes is prohibited during these days.
- One must avoid organizing auspicious events such as Marriages, Engagements and Roka Ceremonies.
- It is inauspicious to get involved in Tamasik activities.
- Avoid eating onion, garlic, egg and meat during these days.
- Consuming alcohol is strictly prohibited.
- Avoid buying a new vehicle and a new house.
- Never do Girha Pravesh during these days.
- One should not visit prominent temples.
- Buying gold, silver or artificial jewelry is considered inauspicious.
- Maintain celibacy during these days.
- One must avoid haircuts, nails and shaving.
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