Pitru Paksh Shraddh, Tarpanam or Shraddham are the various names used to describe the rituals performed for the dead relatives and ancestors in Hinduism. Shraddh holds an important place in rituals associated with Hindu religion and it is performed without fail by most Hindus. Apart from the immediate rituals after a death, there are also annual rituals like Pitru Paksh Shraddh in North India and East India , Aadi Amavasai in Tamil Nadu, Karikadaka Vavu Bali in Kerala and Amavasi rituals in other places.
Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita talks about the journey of the dead and about the importance of the rituals dedicated to them. Annual Shraddh is usually performed during the Dakshinayana period (July to December). Prashna Upanishad indicates that the rituals performed on the first Krishna Paksha Amavasi during Dakshinayana period directly reach the Dead. In Shraddh should be performed with a pious mind. The person who performs the Shraddh should realize that for his birth, body, knowledge, wealth and sanskar he/she is indebted to the ancestors. All that is there was given by the ancestors. So the rituals performed is accepting this fact and is sort of thanksgiving. Both male and female relatives of the dead can perform the rituals.
The rituals including the ‘pind dhan’ that are performed reach the dead ancestors through the rays of Surya (Sun.) It is said that a year of humans is a day for the dead and therefore the ancestors enjoy the fruits of the annual Shraddh throughout the year.
Another belief is that the souls of dead remain in peace in Pitru Loka as a result of the rituals performed by their children or relatives. It is also said that the dead bless them for this and it helps the children and relatives to lead a good life on earth.
Equally important is feeding the poor on the day. Whenever rituals dedicated to the dead are performed, people distribute food and clothes among the poor.
Usually the rituals are performed on a riverbank or on seashore. There are also temples in India
The method of performing the rituals slightly varies from region to region. But the essence of the ritual is the same.
31 comments:
thanks for wonderful information ,its useful to new generation.
B
Thank you for this but can you please elaborate on this as I know that the 8th day is for sabhagyawatis. There are some days for very young ones but I do not know which day. I lost my newly born sister and brother some 42 years ago and now since both my parents are gone, I remember their death anniversaries. I would also like to do shradh for my brother and sister I mentioned therefore could you please let me know which shrad day I should consider. Many thanks, Bharati Patel
The entire period of pitru paksh is ideal; you can opt for the Mahalaya day which is very auspicious and this year it coincides with Somvati Amavasya. In 2008, it is on September 29. This is if you are North Indian.
Thanks for the vision regarding Pitra paksha.
I would like to know what ritual are to monitored while the priest or brahmins is performing. If suppose we dont find a priest what ritual we should perform
Thanks for the vision & importance of Pitra Paksha. 1. I would like to know about what ritual Priest or brahmin perform & what should be monitered.
2. If suppose we are not able to get a priest, what ritual we should do.
3. Is it neccessary that only married should perform or eldest person in a family should perform. I m staying far from parent's what should i do on a shradha day.
The Shradh rituals varies from region to region. The ideal choice would be to talk about it with the Temple priest or learned person from you region.
There is nothing to monitor - all that matters is that you perform the ritual with full devotion.
Anyone can perform Shradh.
And remember never let anyone fool you in the name of rituals...these are simple pujas that we perform to remember our ancestors.
Just giving a small amount of cooked rice and praying is more than enough. Take the advice of an elderly person whom you respect.
Hi Abhilash,
Thanks for the most useful information. I am living in Singapore for last 3 years and performing my mother's shraddha since i got married. But i am not aware of the actual rituals and i am following what my father use to do. But after reading about pitru paksh and shraddha in Vishnu puran, i learnt that i am not doing the rituals to the full extend. Because it involves priest (bramhin) and the person (pitru) we call to accept our offering/food on the day. my origin is from maharashtra, can you please tell me which is the best way i can perform shraddha in Singapore with unavailability of priest and relatives?
Thanks,
-Sachin
There are several temples in Singapore (South Indian) you can consult them or take opinion from elders in India. Mahalaya Pitru Paksha an important day for Shraddha is on September 28 and September 29, 2008. You can perform Tarpan on the day.
Thank you for a very helpful artticle. Can I just clarify, I am the youngest in my family and am not sure whether I am supposed to be observing the rituals. Also does the stuff about not buying new clothes etc during the fortnight apply to only those who are observing the rituals or does everbody in the family have to abstain from, for example, buying new clothes?
It is important to at least remember and say prayers or meditations for one's ancestors. The ancestral line from the first of the species has gone through disease, war, plague, crime, and hard work to reach the stage of the present representative of the genetic line. Hauntings can occur if one does not behave properly and upsets the spirits of their past. Apart form ritual trying to get on in life with least grief caused to one ancestral spirits is advised and minimise the shame to them.
Here is a weblink for those interested in doing Pitri Tarpan themselves (The supershort version simplifies it and makes it do-able for all)
http://www.vedicastrologer.org/tarpana/index.htm
Hope this helps.
Hari Om
Thank you - its a very informative blog. I have a question though. We are living in UAE and finding a 'brahamin' is not that easy here. What we have been doing for past 10 years is feeding the poor or offering fruit, milk, clothes etc to a small girl on the particular shraadh day for my in-laws and my husband's grandfather. I would still like to know if this right or we should be performing Shraadh in a different manner. Please advise. thanks.
Your article on Pitru paksha and Mahalaya was very informative. I also liked many of the comments you have recieved and was pleased to read that even in the diaspora Hindus (men and women young and old )are concerned to keep their dharma alive. For me the most sensitive and heart warming moment of the shraddha is when the three pindas (boiled rice balls) representing the three immediate generations of the pitars are mixed together thereby symbolically re-establishing the bond with our immediate ancestors.
Shrinivas Tilak
Hi,
Thanks for giving this information.
It really helps to know what we are doing.
Sachin
To remember the ancestors is something to do for the descendants. This can be done informally in one's own private time. The lineage goes as far to the first humans. It then could go through the different stages of evolution. Before the first human and the first life form there was the interaction and compounding of matter to make the conditions to allow life to begin its progress. Before the existence of matter there was an emptiness. These are all points derived from evidence, postulations and assumptions. Still, besides this many varied theories on this existence have been passed down by soothsayers, seers, oracles, scholars, and those who are involved in religious, spiritual, mystical and divinatorial affairs. All give more meaning and hold many interesting ideas on the details of creation, existence and interrogatives related to these topics.
Is it auspicious to deliver a baby during shraddhs? Can somebody throw some light on this topic please. Its my first baby and my due date is around the same time. Thank you.
What about shraddh for pets? Is there any particular auspicious day for this? I know these are not my ancestors etc but my 2 dogs died recently and I wondered if there was anything specific that could be done at any particular time of the year to bring their souls peace.
When thinking of the ancestors the descendants should consider some things. There has to be an understanding that a person is from a line of ancestors. There also needs to be an appreciation that apart from the physical body the ancestors have souls. Moreover there are parts of the spirit that are multifarious. The ancestors would have consumed plant and animal matter, these living beings also have spirits and have contributed to the ancestors. There needs to be a belief that the spirits of ancestors can be in this dimension and their presence felt. The entities of the ancestors know more about a person than the person knows about them. The person can show respect for the ancestors in both pragmatic terms and spiritual terms. Personal rituals and prayers can be done for the ancestors.
I am the younger son & want to offer 'PINDO' at GAYA to my parents, passed away 10 yrs back.I known that PINDO is to be offered at GAYA.My elder brother is still present. My question is(1)CAN I ALONE OFFER IT GOING TO GAYA? (2)IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC TIME FOR OFFERING ? (3)WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY PARENT SOUL AS IT HAS NOT YET BEEN OFFERED?
Please through some light on this.
@ Above PINDO Yes you can offer Pindo at Gaya. You can do this during the Pitru Paksha Sharadh Period in September - October. If this period is not possible then opt for any Amavasya or no moon day.
My daughter's mother in law before passing away, specifically stressed that there should be no rituals performed as she didn't believe in them.Can I on behalf of my daughter and son in law do some remedy for this lapse? I respect the lady's last wish but at the same time I want her soul to rest in peace and that her descendants are not affected by this.
I feel you are worried about your Grand Children. There is nothing to worry.
As you are not related you performing ritual will have no effect. It is like drawing line in water.
You should respect the sentiments of the deceased. It is better you avoid performing rituals for her.
If her son wants he can perform Shradh
thank you supriya! What you say is sensible!
Can you tell me what shradh day is my mom-in-law as she expired on 20th Dec 2004
Is there a temple or institution receiving endowment and performing the Pithru Shradham on the specific day every year ? Madhya Kailash temple in Chennai used to receive Rs 5000 for a lifetime endowment and perform the Shradh every year, but now they have stopped accepting fresh endowments. Can u guide me whether there is any other place accepting such endowments.
Hi I live in south africa and my in laws have passed on. Due to marriage I observe pitar paksh. Unfortunately my husband does not reside with me anymore, I am not sure how to perform the prayer and if I am allowed to still do it now. Do I observe the full 15 days. Offer food as my in laws did and do I need to do this outside or can I do it inside my home or is there a specific manner in which to do so, this is for when I end the fast. I also read that certain days are specified eg accident deaths ect. Do I still observe those days. Also here in SA we conclude or end our fast any time within the 15 days is this acceptable or must it be concluded only on the last day.
I m keen to
Know about how we need to perform shradh.,. I have no clue
How is this ritual performed. Pls help I have no clue abt it
Myfater's tithi is Ekadashi.We shall be performing the tarpan and other rituals like every year.Is the date of tarpan auspicious for starting a new venture,joining a job,entering a new house and buying a car.Since we are big joint family and we have grand children too ,we are contemplating to consider this date as very auspicious,Your urgent advice on the issue please?Regards
J N Sahay
Is there a place / ashram / temple, where I can perform death anniversary rituals /shardham for the departed soul of my father
Is there any place in Chennai that I can perform my fathers death anniversary rituals?
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