नवीनतम
15-day Pitru Paksha begins
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Pitru Paksha or Shradh Paksha holds great significance in Hinduism. According to the Hindu Calendar, it begins after the Full Moon day (Purnima Tithi) in the Ashwin month, Krishna Paksha (as per Punimant calendar) and Bhadrapada (as per the Amavasyant calendar). Though, the names of the months differ, the date remains the same.
Pitru Paksha is observed the fortnight following ‘Ganesh Utsav’ and occurs in the second ‘paksha’ (fortnight) of the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada (September). This year, ‘Pitru Paksha’ will begin on September 10 and go until September 25, when the nine-day Navratri festival will start.
The fifteen days of Malaya Paksha consist of 15 Tithi (also called Tithi). They are Pratipat, Dvitiya, Tritiya, Chaturthi, Panchami, Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dasami, Ekadasi, Dvadasi, Trayodasi, Chaturdashi, Amavasya (new moon).
In Hinduism, Pitru Paksha is the devotional ritual performed by relatives for the departed souls of the dead ancestors, parents and relatives. During the rituals, Tarpan and Shraddha are performed, and offerings are made to priests or pandits in the name of the deceased ancestors. Special dishes which were liked by the ancestors are cooked and pandit or Brahmin pair is invited for lunch. At sunrise on this day, til, rice, and other food items are offered to the ancestors. ‘Puja’, ‘havan’, and ‘daan’ are then performed. No celebrations are allowed, and nothing new may be purchased, during this time.
HISTORY
According to a legend when Karna died in Mahabharata and his soul reached heaven, he was astonished to find that every food item he touched turned into gold, leaving him extremely hungry. When Karna and Surya asked Indra about the reason, he told them that while Karna had donated gold, he never offered food to his ancestors during Pitru Paksha due to which they cursed him. While Karna said he was not aware of who his ancestors were, he was eager to make amends and offered to return to earth for a period of 15 days to perform shraadh rituals and donate food and water in their memory. From that time onwards, the 15-day period came to be known as Pitru Paksha.
Significance of paying tributes to deceased ancestors
Pitru Paksha falls after the Full Moon Day and marks the beginning of the waxing of the Lunar cycle. According to the Hindu religion, it is believed that the souls of the ancestors reside in Pitrulok and they descend on earth during these 16-days of Pitru Paksha. Therefore, family members ensure that their ancestors attain moksha (liberation) and do Pind Daan (offering food consisting of cooked rice and black sesame seeds). It is an act of appeasing the ancestors.
It is also believed that it is a crucial time for those who suffer from Pitru Dosha (when ancestors are not happy). For this, people perform various rituals and offer food to the crow (beings that represent dead). It is believed, if the crow accepts the food offered, then it indicates that ancestors are pleased. However, if it refuses to have the food offered, it means that the ancestors are displeased.
Several prayers are offered and rituals are performed to help the soul get freed from the cycle of birth, life, and death. It is said that if the Shradh is performed in the right way, then the soul of the deceased comes down to bless their dear ones.
The ritual is also held on the death anniversary of the ancestor. The shraddha is performed only at noon, usually on the bank of a river or lake or at one's own house. Families may also make a pilgrimage to places like Varanasi and Gaya to perform Shraddha.
