The annual worship of ancestors or 'Pitri-Paksha' is a period that is observed during the dark half of the Hindu month of 'Ashwin.' Days between Ashwin Krishna Pratipada (day after full moon) to Ashwina Krishna Amavashya (no moon day) according to Hindu or Vedic calendar are called Shraddh Paksh or Pitri paksh (Pitru paksh). It is also called Kanagat. Pitri Paksha Shraddh reaches the ancestors immediately and provides their souls rest and peace according to Hindu mythology. This period of 15 days is set aside for remembrance of ancestors. During this fortnight, Hindus donate food to the hungry in the hope that their ancestors will also be thus fed.It is during this time that Hindus throughout the world reflect on the contributions their forefathers made to their present life, and the cultural norms, traditions and values they set for us in order to make our lives better.
Shraddh
The word Shraddh means respect and faith and is a ritualistic custom and holds a very important place in Sanatan Dharma.Paksh means fortnight. In Sanskrit it means the wing of a bird. Indian linguists imagined a lunar month with two fortnights as two wings of a bird. Hence, a fortnight is called Paksh.All medieval Hindu scriptures depict the significance of the Shraddh.Shraddh and funeral rites are different from each other. Funeral rites (antyeshti) are Amangal (inauspicious) but Shraddh is Mangal (auspicious). The abode of the Pitris(Ancestors) is called Pitri Loka. The word Pitri means father. Departed souls take many months to reach Pitri Loka. Relatives of departed soul perform Shraddh to help him or her in this journey. The ceremony is called Pret Kriya. The son of a deceased person performs Shraddh for attainment of salvation of his father or mother. He also performs it for the immediate three generations of ancestors.It is believed that the soul cannot rest in peace and undergoes painful experiences without Shraddh. Hindus consider it their duty to help their ancestors attain salvation by performing Shraddh. The performer offers Kusha (sacred grass), Pushpa (flowers), Tandula (Rice) and Jaladhara (sprinkle of water). It is believed that performance of Shraddh and Tarpan (libations of water) relieves the hunger and thirst of the departed soul during its journey to the Pitri Loka. It is also told that Shraddh not only liberates the ancestors but benefits the performers too.Ancestors are pleased and bless them with prosperity, wealth, and happiness. Mantras of the Sam Veda are chanted during Shraddh and are performed with faith and devotion. Shraddh and Tarpan show gratefulness to ancestors.Some do it more rigourously and feed Brahmins on the Tithi of the departed soul.Others do Tarpan in which Til and water is offered to gods, Rishis, and ancestors. For Gods one faces east, for rishis north and for ancestors south.
Three Debts
Vedic scriptures indicate that an individual is born with three debts. The debt to God,to the sages and saints and to one's parents and ancestors and are an attempt by Hindu scriptures to create an awareness of one's duties and responsibilities. The third debt an individual is expected to pay during one's life is to one's parents and ancestors. One's entire existence, including the family name and the great dharma one belongs to and are the gifts of one's parents and forefathers. Just as one's parents brought them into this world, protected them when they were weak and frail, fed, clothed and taught them, their grandparents performed similar duties for their parents. Ancestors are anxious to help them in all endeavors and the departed souls are capable of doing so. However, they have one expectation from all and that is to perform acts of charity on their behalf during their annual visits to homes in their subtle, invisible bodies.
Mahalaya
In Pitri Paksh, Vasu Rudra and Agni (gods) act as intermediaries between the relatives performing the rituals of Shraddh and the ancestors and carry the food ofered.People who were unable to offer annual Shraddh perform it in Pitri Paksh. Pitri Paksha Shraddh is also offered to childless relatives, unknown ancestors and victims of accidental deaths. Ashwin Krishna Amavasya, the last day of the Shraddh Paksh is very significant for Hindu rituals. It is called Mahalaya Shraddh.The customs and rituals during Pitri Paksha vary place to place and person to person. Some people observe specific customs like fasting on the day or being vegetarian. Abstaining from shaving and cutting hair is a popular ritual on these days.Generally a priest performs the rituals of Shraddh in a sacred place or along a river bank. It is believed that as the physical body is lost after death, the absolute earth element from the sheath surrounding the subtle body reduces and the absolute water element in it increases. The constitution of the sheath is such that level of subtle humidity in it is maximum.Since the rituals performed are related to the subtle body of the deceased, rituals are performed on the banks of a river where humidity is high and attracts the subtle body. This is the reason that post death rites are performed along river banks.
Since it is purely based on faith it is called 'shraddha' or faith. It is the responsibility of everyone to keep up the pride of the family lineage by performing actions that promote the good of all. The fortnight of ancestor worship is nothing but a reminder of one's lineage and duties towards it.
How we can help
We have made arrangements to help you perform rituals for your ancestors at Kashi on the banks of the Ganges. Puja will be performed for your ancestors and annadhan will be done for Brahmin priests. Annadhan will include food, clothes and sacred thread. It will be performed during Pitra Paksha or if availability permits on Mahalaya.If you may be interested kindly let us know well in advance by sending an email to mahesh@saranam.com
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